The Washington herald., 1914-01-31
POLITICAL PROCESSION.
BY F. b. G.

The small Ohio Republican contingent
now doing business in Washington was
| stirred up some last night by reports
from Columbus indicating that Arthur l..
Garford and James r. Garfield, chief
Progressive leaders, were about to an
nounce themselves as returned TO the
| fold. This was foreshadowed In the po-
| litical column of The Herald two weeks
or more ago. but the Ohio politician in
Washington in or out OF Office prefers
his information under a Columbus date
line. The yearninc of Garford for get
ting back to the true faith was indicated
in his recent talks to Ohio friends in
New York, the chief concern of Garford
being to find a way for the return with
honor and dignity.
He went over the political situation two
hours with eloquence and wisdom. also
without using the name of Roosevelt
once. and without using the word Pro
pressive" unless the word Republican fol-
lowed. That was hopeful sign to Gar
ford's admirers who have long counted
him about the only Progressive In the
State worth reclaiming. II this latent
information is confirmed and Garford
gets squarely back in the G. o. p. with
no Progressive tags, it will be easy In
MAKE up Sldte kepuniCdn uCk't III
Ohio with Garford the single candidate
for governor. He has been credited with
the ambition to he the Progressive can
didate for Senator. but men much older
and wiser in politics than Garford have
urged upon him the governorship with
reunited party. and the honor OF being
the first elected Republican governor
since 1903.
Once Garford is in line and slated FOR
L.
getting together on Senator with a hope
| OF cutting down the number of candidates
and even agreeing to concentrate on one
eminent son of the State.
Senator Burton comes from the north
ern end OF Ohio, only a few miles from
Garford's home, and there may be a de-
mand for a Senator from Southern Ohio,
with Foraker giving promise each day OF
regaining his old grip on things all
through the State.
There are thousands OF Republicans
who feel that Foraker was not given
square deal in the 1905 campaign. and
there is a marked reaction in his favor
among Republicans who recall that the
Republican party of Ohio has not been
doing very much since the Foraker with
drawal from active politics.
a primary ticket, headed by Foraker
for Senator and Garford for governor
the next few months. and the nineteen
Democrats in Congress from the State
are especially agitated over the Garford
for-governor proposition. as ii would
mean trouble for GOV. Jimmie Cox
that was not anticipated month ago.
Besides, a general cominG-back OF Re-
publcans in the districts that inclined to
Roosevelt in 1912 would mean disaster to
several Democrats in the present deIeSa-
nation if the Republican reorganization
becomes assured.
The old custom of graduating states
men from Congress into the Executive
Mansion has not been followed in recent
years and there has long been a super
stition that the Senate was a sepulcher
for Presidential aspirations.
OF the twenty-seven Presidents all but
seven have had Congressional service
Zachary Taylor, L. s. Grant. Chester
Arthur. Grover Cleveland. Theodore
Roosevelt. William II. Taft, and Wood
row Wilson came to the White House
without legislative experience. Washing
ton was delegate in Congress before
chosen President and several of the
earlier Presidents had Senatorial honors
before chosen to the Executive post.
Oddly enough John Adams the second
President. never reached Congressional
missions. Cabinet and Vice Presidential
honors before his one term as President
His son. John Quincy Adams, was a Sem
ator before reaching the White House.
and served eighteen years in the House
after being President
James Monroe served four years in the
Senate from Virginia long before his
Executive service. but resigned before
the end of his term. James Madison
l., hr,t
the Senate. Jackson had two years as
Senator, but resigned long before his
Presidential promotion. Van Buren, was
Senator nine years, resigning to be gov
ernor of New York, coming back to
Washington as Vice President and then
one term as President. William Henry
Harrison and Benjamin Harrison were
both Senators prior to their Presidential
elections. while Tyler had two Senatorial
terms before succeeding Harrison in the
White House.
Polk was a long time Speaker, but
never reached the Senate, while Fillmore
had four House terms before chosen Vice
Presidnt with Taylor Pierce was Sem
ator part of term sixteen years before
he reached Presidential honors. Buch-
anan was three times chosen Senator
and had served ten years in the House
before chosen President.
Andrew johnson had figured in Con-
gress before elected Vice President and
was Senator after leaving the White
House. but died at the beginning of the
term. Hayes had two terms in the House
and Garfield. after long House service,
was Senator-elect when made President
Mckinley was a veteran House member
but never indicated any Senatorial am |
bition. seeming to fear that he would
miss the Presidency IL he accepted SEN
atorial honors.