The Washington herald., 1907-04-28


and the activities Of Mr.. Bryan. there is
less talk than formerly about the Presi-
Dental chances of certain State governors.
Yet their chances have by no means been
eliminated. The national conventions are
still a year in the future, and there is
plenty OF time for the development Of
some mighty promising gubernatoriaI
White House movements.
Only two State governors are now often
mentioned for first national honors, how
ever. Folk. of Missouri. the subject Of
many an imprisoned platform and fam
ing head-letter Endorsement for Presi-
Dental nomination by the Democrats in
the last few years, it IS now understood
has Senatorial aspirations only. He hopes
to represent his State as conspieuously in
the Upper House as former Gov. Tillman
has represented South Carolina and for
mer Gov. La Toilette Wisconsin. Deneen,
OF Illinois, and Cummins of Iowa. seem
TO be definitely and irrevocably out OF it
for 1908. The latter. Ike Folk, say his
friends, has Senatorial ambitions only
and is not likely to have any other.
For the present, at least. Deneen seems
to be riding on the Taft band wagon. and
there is no present sign that he viii try
TO mount a Washington band wagon seat
Of his own for some years TO come.
It Is different with the governors of New
York and Minnesota. The entire coun-
try looks upon Hughes as a possibility,
should he make good in his present fight
as COVER nor for control OF public utilities.
&c. The country at large knows less
about Johnson, ana is only beginning 10
speak Of him and Washington in the
same breath. but the people ofAInnesota.
regardless OF politics. have long been
thinking Of the time when he may be in
vited upstairs by his party
Contrasts and Parallels.
There are many contrasts and some
parallels in the character and history Of
these two men. Hughes is forty-hve,
Johnson forty-six. Hughes. Republican.
was the only candidate OF his party chosen
at last years State election. all the other
elected officers IN the Empire State be-
ing Democrats OF the Hearst following.
Hughes plurality was over $1,000.
Johnson, Democrat, was the only can
didate OF his party in his State 10 be
chosen either IN 1904 or 19O6-he is now
serving his second term-and he was
elected the first time by a plurality Of only
about s.0OO Last fan, however, his plu-
rality was more than "a. 600; this in a State
that has never given a Democratic plu-
rality in a Presidential year, and is nor
mally Republican by from $1,000 to $1,000.
Both Hughes and johnson first made
the national public sit up and take notice
by their work in the life insurance field,
Hughes coming TO the front first. since
Johnson did not suggest the Chicago con
ference OF governors. State insurance
commissioners, sc, over which he pre-,
sided, until after the Armstrong commit
tees exposure had been laid before the
world. Johnson's work in forcing re-
organization upon a big Minnesota com
pany, however, was done before the con-
clusion of the Armstrong investigation.
lie has been a prominent member Of the
international policy holders committee.
There has been quite as much apparent
harmony between Gov. Johnson and the
President. despite their opposite party
affiliations, as between Gov. Hughes and
the President. All three men profess to
be guided by the same basic principles,
and there have been several compliment
tary passages between Roosevelt and
johnson. Such passages between ROose-
welt and Hughes Of late, however. have
been somewhat rare. though Roosevelt
indorsed Hughes before the election, and
they have broken bread together several
times since. The two governors are sim
narly situated with regard to their State
legislatures. each finding II rather diff
cult 10 secure the passage Of his favor
lite measures, but with a difference; the
majority in the New York legislature is
OF the same party as the governor, while
the majority in the Minnesota legislature
and the governor are OF opposite parties.
It is generally agreed by all hands.
their bitterest opponents included, that
Hughes and Johnson are both men OF
strict integrity. Personally they are OF
widely different type.
Charles Evans Hughes is Of middle
weight, light. rudy complexion, about
feet 10 inches in height and with brown
hair and beard the latter being so bushy
as TO lead an opponent in last falls cam
paign to liken him to an animated feather
buster John albert JOhnsOn-there are
dinavian Minnesota-is 6 feet, loose joint
ed, swarthy and smooth shaver. He
weighs lS4 pounds
Hughes still carries himself with the
air OF a rather bookish lawyer, and
thought himself so poor mixer last fall
that he got one OF the best Republican
mixers in New YOrk-Job Hedges by
name you may have heard Of him-to
make the campaign rounds with him and
add warmth and spice 10 the speaking
Despite JohnsOn's rather slender length
his movements are graceful and he always
was a good mixer. He learned to be one
when a poor boy, as poor boys have TO
before they can do much climbing. adapt
ability being one Of the most important
courses In the college of hard knocks.
Evolution Of Hughes.
Both Hughes and Johnson have grown
immensely since 1895. the year in which
each of them began to come forward.
Hughes in the gas investigation. and
johnson serving his first gubernatoriaI
term. Johnson always was personally
popular with whoever knew him; Hughes
personal popularity before his election
was restricted 20 a small percentage of
his acquaintance, and even those who
made up this percentage used to say that
he never would be able to make him
self popular Yet to-day, only seven or
eight months after his nomination, he is
an unusually hail fellow, well met,
who makes friends quickly and with
nearly everybody he meets. excepting
those who oppose his most cherished
plans
Nobody has ever charged Hughes with
playing politics in the conventional way,
but his determination to overcome his /