The Washington times., 1912-07-29
THE OHIO POLITICAL SITUATION.

The refusal of Judge Edmond B. Dillon to make
the race as Republican candidate for governor of
Ohio may fairly be accepted the last straw on the
back Of the Taft campaign camel. Judge Dillon
frankly says that efforts to bring about party harmony
have failed. He was not a candidate for the nom-
ination which was forced on him. and in view Of
the mpossbility of getting together the various ele-
ments, insists that he is only doing himself justice
in refusing to make hopeless race.
In the old days when Ohio had poll several
weeks in advance of the Presidential proper it was
regarded the best index of national tendencies. In
1884 the result Of the early vote in Ohio and Maine
gave the country the first full realization that No.
vember would see very close count, with chances
in favor of the Democrats This year there will be
no October vote in Ohio, but the July development,
taking the form Of Judge Dillon's withdrawal and
admission of the partys helplessness is even more
emphatic testimony to the impossibility of electng
Mr.. Taft.
If Ohio, the Presidents home State, is in such a
state of mind as now indicated, what may be ex-
pected Of other States, where no appeal to State
sentiment and loyalty may be made? .. a..
The circumstances of Judge Dillons nomination
we're such that his withdrawal takes special sig
nfcance. He was a candidate, not for governor,
but for judge Of the supreme court. The conven-
ton was confronted with three candidates, and no
Of them, owing to the intensity of the factional
fight, would yield anything to any other Judge
Dillons name was sprung for governor when this
condition had been fully developed by two ballots,
and on the Fifth he was named.
At the time, his nomination was thought possibly
to pave the way to unity. But he presented by a
thoroughgoing Taft Tory, Warren Harding; the dvi-
sion between the reactonaries and progressves very
soon became so bitter that such thing as unity was
found hopeless; the demand for a straightout pro-
gressve ticket could not be withstood and with that
much assured, Judge Dillon now takes himself out
of the fight
This Ohio situation makes completely plain, in
the full view of the whole country that there is just
one chance to defeat Democratic program in the
coming election. Mr.. Taft is out Of it. Wilson will
be the next President unless progressives of all
parties get together behind Roosevelt The former
President is the one hope in the situation.
1t is most fortunate that the Dillon withdrawal
comes thus early 1t gives opportunity for thinking
serious-minded people to determine on full consid
eration what they will do. Had it come in October
that would have been quite out of the question.
The old reactionary forces are crumbling to pieces
at an astounding rate. They realize it and have
realized it; such incidents as this in Ohio carry tha
realization to the whole people, The people canno
miss the meaning of this latest desertion from the
Taft standard Mr.. Taft is negligible quantity ir
the campaign. Colonel Roosevelt is the man who
has chance to win over a Democratic candidate
He is the one man who has such chance. People
who want progressive administration, with pro
gressive ideals; people who do not want Demo
cratic administration, with all that such an admin
istration would imply at a time when business il
making determined efforts to restore good conditions
will not fail to understand their duty now.
Colonel Roosevelt can he elected The dr;f
toward him is only less striking, thus far than tht
drift away from Taft, Started by this sensational
Ohio development, the movement toward him viii
be the dominating feature of the campaign from thi
time forth.