The Washington herald., 1912-05-13
TAFT AND I. R.
TO FIGHT HARD
BATTLE in OHIO
Continued from rass one.

tdent IN the last thlrty-fve years has
come from Ohio-Hayes. Garfield. Nc
kinley, Taft This has literally spoiled
the State The politicians have lived In
clover. Mark Hanna was especially
careful that Ohio got everything in sight
and then some more. 1t u strange
factor In the situation here that there
is complaint against President Taft that
he has not done enough for Ohio. He
has been so careful TO avoid the appear
snee OF partiaiity for his own State that
he has not done as much as he might
have done. This is to his credit. from
national point Of view, but II has not
helped him in Ohio.
Because Ohio has not gotten every
thing there is dissatisfaction In fact,
this is the most serious complaint
against the President that has been
heare In political circles,
Loss of state Patronage.
But there Is another element working
against the administration which is also
purely local In 1908 the State govern
ment was transferred to the Democrats.
and some 20o0 OF. 400 State Republican
oficials lost tbeir positions II was some
thing so new and unkind that II dis
turbed the Republican equilibrium in the
state. The men who lost their Jobs were
disposed to thfoN the blame for their mis-
fortune upon somebody. and the broad
shoulders OF the President received the
burden. It made no difference that he
was not responsible. He was the scape-
goat all the same.
In addition 20 these disgruntIed Repub-
lleans-disgruntled not on account Of Mr..
Taft's shortcomings. but because they
were taken on the State pay roll-there
must be included the farmers who are
opposed TO reciprocity and the politicians
who did not like the appointments of
Democrats TO the Cabinet or OF another
Democrat to be Chief Justice Of the
United States. The average Ohio Repub-
licsn is partisan TO the core. and the
spectacle Of Democratic recognition, does
not appeal to him
Making a Gallant Fight.
1t must not be supposed. however. that
oil Of the Ohio Republicans are for Roose-
Welt. On the contrary, within the terri
tory which President Taft will traverse
next week, there are published nfty-eight
newspapers. and all Of these support the
President except nine. Ip addition to this.
as already intimated. he has the support
of the solid and substantial business men
IN Cincinnati, Columbus, and other cities
These men are beginning TO realize that
a Democratic victory may play havoc with
their business by a violent readjustment
OF the tariff. They do not object to tariff
revision, but they do not want a change
IN the schedules which will close their
factory doors
And this calls to mind the fact that
q very large proportion of the young
men who vote in Ohio this year are
not old enough to remember 1898 and
1895 as an experience. To them the
panic of the Cleveland administration
is tradition and they know nothing
OF the McKinley-Bryan campaign ex-
cept by hearsay. II is said that this
is one reason why II is dificult to
impress upon the minds Of the younger
men the seriousness OF the situation
as regarded from the Republican point
of view.
Notwithstanding the fact that there
To- disaffection In the Republican ranks.
the administration managers are max
ing a gallant night under the leader
ship Of Lewis G. Laylin, a lawyer by
profession, but formerly Secretary of
State in Ohio and widely known
throughout the Commonwealth.
The Roosevelt Campaign.
Roosevelts campaign is being man
aged by Walter Brown, former State
who deserted Taft when the
latter did not appoint one OF his
friends to a Judgeship. Both the Taft
and the Roosevelt headquarters main
tain a complete organization. with pub
licity bureaus and speakers bureaus
and everybody connected with them IS
working day and night.
The Roosevelt contingent is de-
fnFninRn IN heat Nj Taff 90
and. for instance, they have emissaries
spreading Roosevelt sentiment among
the miners and among the operatives
in the factories. Mr.. Tafts managers,
on the other hand, fully realize that It
is absolutely important to carry this
State for the President. They are re-
lying greatly upon the presence OF
the President in Ohio to help his cause
and they have some foundation for
their reliance inasmuch as his last
visit was undoubtedly productive Of
good.
Gov. Harmon's Chances.
Here in Columbus it is but natural that
there should be considerable Harmon
sentiment but II is also true that he
has a very large following throughout
the State. Bryan's tour through Ohio,
during which he denounced the Cover
nor as being a reactionary and a tool
OF Wall Street, has not seriously injured
Harmon. At the same time. the state
ments which Bryan made are not to go
Gov. Harmon Will this
week make a series OF speeches, jour
neying to a different city every day, and
holding night meetings. He viii not
travel in q special train. but will use
ordinary means OF travel
The political sensation last week-the
publication of a letter being made the
basis for a charge that Harmon en-
deayored to buy delegates In 190s-Illus- |
trates the bitterness with which the |
campaign is also being fought upon the |
Democratic side. Mr.. Bryan was in |
strumental in having the letter publish |
ed, and its proposition to pay the way
Of two Ohio delegates to Denver was
emphasized by him. Gov. Harmon at
once denied that he had any knowledge |
OF the letter, in which his name was not |
while the other politicians |
1T