Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-17
Reason Back of Defeat of
James R. Garfield. -
COUNTY TURNS HIM DOWN
Participation in La Toilette Confer
ence Alleged as Cause.
RESENTED BY REPUBLICANS
Former Cabinet Officer Was Candi-
date for Membership in State
Constitutional Convention. I

Mach Significance is being given hero
10 the defeat Of ex-Secretary James X
Garfield, personal friend and companion
of Col. Roosevelt. for delegate 10 the
constitutional convention IF Ohio Nh
man in the country stands closer To the
ex President than Garfield. whose friends
expected that he would become president
of the constitutional convention when II
assemblies
In Mr. GardeIds home county. Lake,
where "A republican nominee was never
before defeated for any office. the cN-
Ca binet minister was defeated by close 10
400 votes for delegate In the convention.
a democrat getting the majority OF votes.
The defeat is attributed by fair minded
Ohio politicians 10 the presence of Mr..
Garfield at the Chicago conference that
placed Senator La Toilette i'm the field
for the republican nomination for Presi-
dent. The Taft republicans I'm LAX.
county believed that the election Of Gar
field would be considered as an indorse-
ment of his position AT Chicago and of
his opposition to Mr.. Taft.
Warning to Taft Opponents.
Friends of the President here say that
the defeat means that any attempt to
carry Ohio against the President for del
egates to the next national convention
will be Overwhelmingly defeated. and that
the disaster TO Mr.. Garfield points clearly
to what will happen to him and those who
are of his way OF thinking.
An influential Taft leader in Washing
ton has received letter from a profess
sional man of Lake county telling the
facts Ii is as follows:
no law nd h4aa-n mot
rectly int; preted the reasons for Mr..
Garfield's defeat in this his home county.
where he ran as the republican nominee
for delegate to the constitutional conven-
ton, with the practical assurance that IL
elected he would be chosen president of
that body. Events before the election
made this contest the only one in Ohio
In which the personality and administra-
tion OF President Tart could be consid-
cred in any strict sense a direct issue.
Never before in its history has Lake
county failed TO elect a republican NOM
NEE. The defeat of Mr.. Garfield, there
fore, by a majority of almost 700 for his
democratic opponent is a fact of real po-
litical significance.
Cause of His Defeat.
LAS one of the men who signed Mr..
Garheld's nominating petition, but who
felt compelled, in loyalty to President
Taft. to vote for the democratic pominee.
believe I speak truly I'm saying that MIR.
Garfield's defeat may be ascribed chiefly
to his participation in the Chicago con-
ference and his open fight against the
Presidents denomination next year. The
Presidents friends felt that the election
OF Mr.. Garfield just after that confer
ence would be heralded from coast TO
coast as an Endorsement, enough or
us passed over the other issues involved
and voted for q democrat to make the
result the most sensational incident i'm
the political history, of the county and
throughout the state.
Prom this time the President
friends will be alert well as loyal. The
reputation Of Mr.. Tatt's administration
by the republican national convention
next year would be followed by defeat
in November SO crushing to annihilate
the republican party"