The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-05-31
MUST WIN OHIO
To Win and Republicans viii Make Hard
Fight on Gov. Harmon
in THE BUCKEYE STATE

Result Of Recent White House Com
ferences is that Defence of Payne
Aldrich Tariff Law Will Be Prin-
cipsl Factor in Ohio Congressional
Campaign.
p. H. MCGOWAN, in his Washing
ton letter to the News and Courier,
says the determination just reached
between President Taft and the lead
ing men in the Republican party TO
start the tariff issue in Ohio, with the.
fight against Governor Harmon and
the Buckeye Democrats, is taken at
Washington to mean that not only
will this be the great and all-absorb-
ing issue in the Congressional elee-
tions of the present summer and fall,
but this feature will also come to
the front largely in the national cleo
ton of 1912.
When President Taft's brother
Charles P. Taft-came to Washing
ton last week and spent several days
at the White House holding confer
ences with Senators Dick of Ohio;
Aldrich of Rhode Island, and others
high in the Republican councils, it
was believed that something of i'm
portance would develop and this has
proved to be the case.
The announcement made that
clean-cut defence OF the tariff bill
and the general principle Of protec-
ton would be the slogan of the Ohio
Republicans in the coming campaign,
and Governor Harmon and his Dem
ocratic lieutenants would be given
all they could do answering the on
slaughts of the Republicans, came as
no surprise.
This announcement is important
for many reasons. Not only is 1t
pointed out that Republican leaders
believe they must take firm stand
in the Buckeye State now in order
to save the memb bers Of Congress,
because of the opposition to the tariff
In that section, but It shows also that
If success is secured from the pres
ent number of Republicans returned
to Congress as are in it now which
would virtually be an endorsement
] of the tariff and protection, that
Knockout blow would thus be given
the Presidential hopes Of Governor
| Harmon.
He would see his own States re-
turn Republican members of Con-
gress to their present seats in spite
of the fact that the opposing Demo-
Gratis are basing their hope OF cleo
ton on the tariff question. For Ohio
to endorse the tariff now, it is believ-
ed, would be long step toward pfac-
ing that State squarely in the Re-
publican Presidential column In
1912, and none know this better than
President Taft and his brother,
Charles.
That this programme will go
through is not doubted, unless the
President should later on veto it and
direct that the fight proceed alons
other lines. But there is little prob
ability of a change in the present
however unwilling he may be to en-
ter into local politics in Ohio, is the
man looked to for setting the pace,
and it is to him that the Ohio voters
look to give the word that will put
the polite machinery in the Buck
eye State in lotion.
The President is considering the
various suggestions that have been
made to him, and is greatly interest
cd in the claims Of those who be-
lieye that a straightout Republican
victory can be made an a stralghtout
defence Of the Aldrich-Payne tarlR
law with the promise that whenever
the tariff is revised again it Will be
upon a scientific basis, leaving no
doubt as to the fairness or business
of the schedules.
Such action will be entirely in line
with his own views on the tarin.
He has defended the present tarln
law in his speeches in different parts
of the country, but it is said that
this would not commit him to pol
icv of standing pat upon the la"' IL
facts to be gathered by the tarin
hoard indicate that there are inequaE
tiles in the measure of protection All
forded TO different lines Of business.
Undoubtedly Ohio is to be made
the main stamping ground not ohiy
of the Congressional elections OF the
present year, but of the national cleo
ton two years hence also. Alleady
the signs point that way.