Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08

be regarded as a willingness to accept
nomination and an effort to obtain sup
port outside his own state.
He declared his attitude in unmistakable
language in the same speech l have al
ready quoted from, in which he said:
ITO avoid any possibilities of misap-
prehension regarding my own course, L
may say this further word: do not seek
any public office. The majority of people
doubtless think that the distinction and
power of office are an irresistible attrac-
ton. ! you had been constantly in my
company during the past nine months you
would see that another point of view is
quite possible. To me public office means
a burden Of responsibilities burden of in
cesSant toll at times almost intolerable-
which under honorable conditions and at
the command of the people it may be a
duty and even pleasure to assume, but
It is far from being an object of ambi-
ton. l have not sought, nor shall l seek
directly or indirectly, to influence the Sc
lection of the vote of any delegate to
any convention, and with reference to the
action of any delegate to any convention
influence, protest or reprisal in the eX-
ecutive chamber. Those whom have ap-
pointed to office have been counseled to
have sole regard for the efficiency of the
work of their departments ] have asked
no man for favors On the contrary,
have constantly insisted that the work of
government shall be carried on not with
reference to the selfish advancement of
any one, but exclusively in the interest
of the people,
Not Unfriendly to Roosevelt.
1t has been represented continually in
partisan papers that Gov. Hughes is OPP
posed to the President and that he is op-
posed to the republican machine but he
has never uttered any but the kindest
words of the President He has been
strictly impartial toward Roosevelts
friends and there has never been any
misunderstanding between them. Gov
Hughes intimates say that he has never
stood and will not stand in the President s
way for an instant. although SO long as
he is in office he will not do anything to
the nomination of the administration can
dJdate for President. He will not par
ticipate in the fight for the nomination in
any manner. directly or indirectly, and
eral distinguished candidates who have
been mentioned He is not candidate
for the United States Senate. He has no
aspirations that way. and will not throw
a straw in the path of President Roosevelt
to that honor
If President Roosevelt becomes a candi-
date to succeed Senator Plat, he will re-
ceive no support and no opposition from
the state administration. The state ad-
ministration will have mo candidate
against him. and will treat every other
aspirant with equal impartiality. Gov
Hughes has made that very clear. He has
III ldNoiileS III Tic pOllllcdl race.
Machine Openly Opposed.
So far as. the republican machine is con-
cerned, his opposition is not disguised. His
first activity in politics was directed to-
ward the destruction of the Platt-Odell-
Quigg organization. He is unalterably
opposed to all attempts to control polti-
cal nominations and elections by organi-
cation. He believes in a free fight and an
open field, and he recently said: II de-
sire to see party activities conducted hon
orably with the freest expression of pop
ular choice, and to have party organiza-
tions represent the untrammeled wish of
the members of that party without any
interference. To this end / have favored
the adoption of a plan for direct nominal
lions, and have favored a permissive bill
so that the plan should have a fair trial
in the community where 1t has the sup
port of public sentiment
Gov. Hughes treatment Of the bill to
reapportion the legislative districts of
New York last winter is perhaps the most
significant expression of his views regard
ing political manipulation. To the amaze
ment of the republican leaders and men,
bers of the legislature, he insisted that the
new districts should be arranged solely
with regard to county lines and an equal
distribution of population, rather than for
political advantage. In New York, as in
other states, 1t has been customary for
the party in power to carve out the dis
trlctS, 50 as to secure control of as many
of them as possible, so as to increase its
majority in the legislature. Hence the as
constituent of the old. war horses when
the governor proposed to throw away such
an advantage. And his persistence and
determination won. 1t was a long fight
and determined fight. RE was success
full in securing an impartial apportion-
ment and, at the same time the hostility
of the republican machine to which, how
ever, he is entirely indifferent.