The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
BOSSES FEAR HUGHES
Party Men Oppose Him as
the 1908 Candidate.
DISLIKE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
PIntt. Oden, Depew, wooaruH, the
WadswOrths, and the ''iSitehen
Cabinet" Said to he In Line Against
Him-GOvernor Is Now Facing the
Critical Period in His Career.

Albany, n. Y, March 2s.-charles E.
Hughes, governor of New York. and
widely considered as a logical candidate
for the Republican Presidential nomina-
ton next year. is to-day in exceedingly
grave danger of being discredited In the
eyes of the people Of the State and ma
ton. not through any error or oversight
on his part, but rather because he has
seen it to defy the gang in control OF
the affairs of the party to which he owes
allegiance.
The men back of the movement to "side-
track" the governor are distinctly old
timers and included In their ranks are
nearly every "has-been' in the party in
the State. such as Senator Thomas Col
lier Platt and his colleague, Chauncey NJ.
Depew; Tim Woodruff, chairman OF the
Republican State committee; former Gov
ernor and Congressman Ben" odell; for
mer Congressman James W. Wadsworth.
ST., and his son, Speaker of the Assembly
James w. Wadsworth. ir.: all of the
Kitchen cabinet" Of the late Gov.
Higgins. including George W Aldridse,
State railroad commissioner. and former
Commissioner of Public Works Fanehott;
Willie" Barnes, jr.. of Albany, and the
entire clique of men that have in the past
made and unmade aspirants for political
preferment in the Republican party.
Ignores Party Men.
I All that they have against Hughes is
/ his disposition 10 he independent. He has
steadfastly refused to recognize party
men as party men. and has declared that
he Intends 10 give the people a business
administration. This may all be SO, and
/ then. again he may want to build up a
/ political machine of his own; and certain
well-informed political experts lean to-
ward the latter belief; but in either ease
| he is dangerous to the political element
/ and his political death has been decreed.
/ The result is that to-day he has hos
tile legislature on his hands, which Is
making every possible move TO embarrass
him. He tried to have the State superin-
/ tendent of insurance removed, but up tc
/ the present has failed, although he Is ex-
pected to prevail ultimately. lie de
manded the creation of a real public
utilities commission to take over The
business of compelling railroad and light
/ ing companies 10 give the people faiI
/ service, and it is now admitted that the
! bill carrying this matter out is likely fC
/ be defeated by the State senate.
other measures that he has advocated
are being strangled in the state legisla-
/ ture by orders Of the machine and Il
/ Hughes is 20 eventually get any credit
out OF his administration he must act
/ firmly and at once.
That he realizes this fact is shown by
/ his public uttersnees that if the legisla-
/ ture does not carry out the wishes Of the
/ people he will put the responsibility right
/ where it belongs, and will inform the
/ people Of what is going on. He has held
a number Of conferences with his ad-
visors. and there Is likely 10 be an extra
/ session of the legislature called should
/ the body now in session fail 90 carry out
Z bis suggestions.
But he faces a critical period IN his
! career, and the next four weeks VIII de
teFmine whether his name is 10 be thrown
into the political discards or acclaimed
| as a statesman.