Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-01
OHIO WORRIES Them
Both Parties Have Troubles in
the Buckeye State.
OPPOSE TAFT AND HARMON
Insurgents Are Not Agreed on Al.
tentative Candidates.
LA TOILETTE HAS FOLLOWING
But One Republican Faction Wants
Roosevelt for Noninee-Bryan
Movement Starts.
LA TOILETTE HAS FOLLOWING

What's the matter with Ohio" the
politicians here are asking the query
suggested by rumors of insurgency and
unrest both in the democratic and re-
publican parties.
It's a 1nidwinter political diversion,
answers Warren G. Harding, sometime
republican candidate for governor. who
came to Washington a few days ago
with the latest news.
Some kind Of an upheaval in politics
is going in the Buckeye state. How
serious it may be no one can tell at this
time President Taft's friends are not
worried, but watchful. There is a meet
ing at Columbus today of insurgent re-
publicans and one tomorrow of insurgent
democrats
With the republicans it's anything to
beat Taft: with the democrats anything
10 head off Harmon. The trouble with
the republican insurgent outfit is that II
is divided over alternatives BY the way
the republicans are not insurgents. they
are prosressives. Who is progress
ive?' is asked. Well, can You answer
What is whisky" The two questions
are equally perplexing
One View-and Another.
For example. there's Walter F.
Brown. state chairman. who says
progressive is one who supports
Roosevelt for 1912. ''G'wan." says
John D. Fracker of Cleveland. "a pro-
gressive is one who supports La Fol-
lette.' And there you are.
The progressives who are meeting in
Columbus today are the Fracker-La
Toilette people They have some OUT
side assistance-if the efforts Of out
elders can be termed assistance,
which is sometimes dubious Senator
tn~ orlYC
Of California are scheduled to appear
and tell the Ohio republicans what's
what
Then there is another set of repub-
licans in Ohio VINO claim to be real
progressives. men who follow Law
renee X. Langdon. the republican floor
leader in the lower branch of the leg
islature. They are practical progress
ives. and they count President Taft
as their leader.
The Columbus meeting today is eX-
pected to declare for La Toilette for
President and start the movement to
capture La Toilette delegates to the
national convention. Senator La Fol-
lette has been speaking for himself
for week throughout Ohio. winding
up Saturday night at Cincinnati, the
Presidents home town. That meeting
attracted a fair-sized crowd. according
to reports. and was addressed for
three hours by Senator La Toilette.
Would Exempt Labor Unions.
The speaker advocated a principle
which puts him squarely at issue with
President Taft He wants labor unions
exempt from the Sherman act. Presi-
dent Taft has never advocated one set
of laws for capital and another for
labor.
The republicans will choose their dele
gates to the national convention some
in No. no AiSfr vi
their delegates by primaries. The six
delegates at large will be chosen by
state convention. and it is said by
friends of President Taft that the state
convention will instruct for Taft.
Such instruction will, of course. not
lie binding on the delegates from the
districts, but the moral effect or IN
structions will be helpful, except in the
case of such delegates as may have been
chosen for La Toilette or Roosevelt
Lentz Leads Insurgents.
The democra tic fnsurgent meeting is de-
clared by Ohioans here to be a Bryan
movement with accessories, aimed at
Gov. Harmons presidential boom. John
j. Ientz Of Columbus is the big man In
the play. but he ff-s some encouragement.
il is claimed from political quarters dg
grieved at Gov. Harmon's course in the
contest which landed Atlee Pomerene in
the United States Senate. 1t has been
charged that Gov. Harmon interfered in
that fight when 1t was the understanding
tHat he would keep hands off.
Anyhow. Bryans fight is in evidence,
and the purpose of the meeting is to start
movement to the end of sending the
ohio delegation to the democratic con-
Nention without instructions.
II is noted a significant fact by dem
tcratic politicians here that the two can
diGateS for the presidential nomination
who are regarded as being in the lead.
Harmon and Wilson. are both having
trouble at home and menaced by dire
threats of split delegations from their
states.
In this situation the dark horses are
looking up and taking notice.
AHllEll lnH Allllln