Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-26
PLAYED GOOD POLITICS
IN TAFT ENDORSEMENT
Satisfies Minor Leaders Favorable to
the Administration.
LoNGwoRTH SHY OF HONOR
Cincinnati Member of Congress Not
Disposed to a Try Of Strength.
Sounds Key
note.
ciaI From a Stan Correspondent.

Special From a Staff Correspondent.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. July 26.-At 2:4o
o'clock this morning. when a coafer-
ence in the law Office Of Representative
Taylor broke up. the gubernatorial sit
uation consisted of two main factors:
first, that James r. Garfield was in the
lead for the nomination. backed by the
small leaders from many parts Of the
state; second. that Senators Burton and
Dick. and Boss Cox, watchful of their
prominence. were frantically casting
about for a candidate to beat Garfield,
and were trying to induce Nick Long
worth to enter the race.
In the conference were Senators Bur-
ton and Dick, Wade II. Ellis. State
Chairman Brown. National Committee
man Vorys, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Charles .. Hilles and Repre-
sentative Taylor.
The conference was necessitated by a
statement issued by Mr.. Garfield at II
o'clock last night. which was considered
as having materially benefited Mr.. Gar
fields candidacy, and strengthened his
position with the rank and file OF the.
delegates.
Not Hostile to Taft.
In that statement Mr.. Garfield dis
tinctly disclaimed hostility to President
Taft, and had practically indorsed the
administrators policies. The closing
sentences of the statement, which were
an outline of platform planks desired.
read as follows:
I'VE reaffirm our adherence to the
great policies announced in the last ma
tlonal republican platform.
I'VE express our confidence In the pa
in his efforts to fulfill our party pledges.
I'VE indorse his action In obtaining
much that was promised, and we pledge
him our loyal support in his endeavor
further to carry forward those policies
and to make them effective by proper
legislative and administrative action
Mr.. Garfield in an interview a little
earlier had said this
II have no personal fight with Presi-
dent Taft. No one. SO far as 1 know.
intends that the state convention shall
make an affirmative declaration aga.nsl
the President But we are standing for
aggressive fighting principles, looking
toward the future. 1t is absolutel idle
tc ask me to deviate or turn in the slight
est particular from the position l hav;
been fighting for years. Platform is
first, candidates. are second. There are
some l could not and would not stand on.
l came here with no chip on my shoulder.
This is not an anti-Taft fight. 1t Is -
tremendous contest for progress"
Pleased Garfield Boomers.
When the formal statement was read
out in the corridor of the Neil House,
great shout went up from the Garfield
boomers They declared that this franS
and friendly announcement by him oper-
ated to refute the charges of Senator
Burton and Senator Dick that Garfield
candidacy was impossible because of his
alleged hostility to the national admin
istration, which must be indorsed. A
great many of the minor leaders, they
knew, were unwilling to nominate a man
openly hostile to the President.
The Garfield supporters were confident
that the delegates would accept MIR.
Garfields statement as an overture of
peace, and they insisted that his in
dorsement of the administration and eX-
preston of confidence in the good in
tentions of the President ought to be
taken in good faith and put an end to
the charges of the ineligibility of Mr..
Garfield.
1t will be observed that the statement
did not indorse the tariff legislation of
the Congress, nor the votes of the two
Ohio senators who followed the lead OF
Aldrich, and in that respect the statement
was not pleasing to Senators Burton and
Dick.
The men who have been fighting for
the President we're at first blush inclined
to be content with the Garfield position
as announced. although they sympathized
with the plight in which 1t left the two
senators and Boss Cox.
Looks Like an Armistice.
This looks like Taft-Garfeld armis-
tice, leaving the two senators and Cox
high and dry" said a neutral republican,
after reading the statement.
The conference In Representative Tay-
lor's law Office was then called. to talk
over the possibility of picking a dark
horse to beat Garfield. Vorys and Wade
Ellis, representing President Taft. were
not enthusiastic about making an alii-
ance against the Garfield candidacy, in
the circumstances as modified by Gar
fields statement and interview. They
pointed out that the county chairmen
were very much interested in the situa-
lion in behalf of their county tickets. and
were seeking harmony, believing tina. IL
Garfield divested himself Of his attitude OF
hostility to Taft he would be strong
naa at the polls agains the democratic
candidate. Harmon.
Cox besought Burton to support his
nan Brown. but Burton had said too
much against Brown to retract. Hard
nR was mentioned and there Cox bolted.
Then they sent for Nick Longworth and
Burton sounded him as dark horse.
But Nick was shy. The conference broke