Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-14
OHIO REPUBLICANS LINE UP
State League Of Republican Clubs and
Taft Clubs Are Merged.
ELLIS Is ELECTED CHAIRMAN
New Organization known M Repub-
lican Legislative Club-Ham-
mOnd Speaks at Ban
quet.

DAYTON, o.. Feb. 1a-Eleven hundred
republicans Of Ohio gathered here last
night In a banquet to celebrate the ami
versary OF Abraham Llncoln's birth, the
election Of Wade Ellis as chairman of the
republican state executive committed and
the unification Of the Taft and Old League
Republican clubs, which was accomplished
this afternoon. H'
The list of speakers include Wade Ellis
John Hayes Hammond, Carmi Thompson
secretary Of state; General Charles Gros.
venor, Charles Dick, Nicholas Longwortt
and former Governor Myron T. Herrick
The speeches were devoted to the achieve
ments and prospects of the republican party
In Ohio and the nation.
Address Of MIR. Hammond
John Hayes Hammond, president Of the
National League OF Republican Clubs, de-
clared that he had found from investiga-
uon that grievances existing in the ranks
OF the republican party are petty and not
fundamental and more imaginary than real
ana that 1t Is I'm times of political inactivity
that factional differences and chickering's
arise. He continued, in part:
In political crises Of this kind Ohio has
always been conspicuous for its loyalty to
country and party.
There is a rapidly growing demand on
the part of the electorate of the country
that tho national platforms of the great
political parties shall represent the respec-
tive Issues for which these parties con-
tend; that these platforms shall say what
they mean and mean what they say and
that ambiguous or d~islngenous planks shall
be no longer tolerated as devices to obtain
votes; and. further, that the president
elected by either party, having subscribed
to the principles enunciated In the plat
form of that party is pledged to the. people
OF the country to exercise his utmost en-
deavors to secure the enactment of prom
ised legislation and he becomes therefore
not only the %titular, but the responsible
head of the party by which he is elected.
I'm view of these facts the National
League Of Republican Clubs recognizes
President Taft 'as the responsible head Of
the republican party.
The name of William Howard Taft Of
Ohio supplied the enthusiasm for the cam
paign work Of our clubs in the recent ma
tionai election. The name of President Taft
and the policies for which he stands will
supply the National League of Republican
clubs the requisite enthusiasm for effective
service whenever republican party suprem-
acy is threatened"
Organization Perfected.
Wade II. Ellis was elected this afternoon
as chairman of the Republican Legislative
club. The Taft clubs were a~malgamated
with these, forming the Old Ohio League
Of Republican clubs.
Neither project was opposed. With this
accomplishment Of the two principal pur-
poses which called republicans together
here today, the leaders declared that the
party has perfected the desired consolida-
ton in preparation for the campaign in
Ohio next fall, which was described by
Senator Dick as being the 'skirmish of the
presidential battle Of 1872" ,r
In a speech Of acceptance, Mr.. Ellis said:
Il want to say here and now that do
not intend to use the Influence which will
come to me in this office for nor against
any candidate for any office within the
gift of the people of this state. l do not
desire nor do 1 intend to be a candidate for
any office myself. l will call upon you to
help in that u%nification of party which
means success at the polls"