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


tention to the fact that the door pulls
out instead of in, but that is salts
faction to the politicians of New York,
who regard him as an eXaSperatng enlg-
ma. They have never seen anything OF
his kind before. They don't know how to
take him. They admire and distrust him
at the same time. He has genial dis
position and hearty greeting for every
body, but he can lower the temperature
of the state house to freezing point in an
instant, when certain subjects are men
fioned. He has enforced the civil service
law with such impartia!ity that the poll
ticians are in doubt whether this As re-
publican or a democratic administration.
He has demoralized the lobby and the
political machines so that nobody knows
what to expect from him. Senator Platt
says he is not politician, but the olc
republican wheel horses are not so sure
about that. There has never been
governor of New York who did not want
to be reelected or promoted. or was not
willing to become candidate for the
presidency. There was never governor
of New York before who neglected all his
chances for preferment and turned
down" everybody who tried to promote
his political prospects.
An Avowed Republican.
An old politician told me that Gov.
Hughes had never declared his political
principles: that nobody knew whether he
that his conduct in office threw>no light
upon that mystery. That is Il great mis-.
take. While the governor endeavors to
be absolutely impartial in the admins
tration' of his Office, as he promised in
his inaugural address that he would be-
he has made at least one speech in which
he declared his political principles and
proclaimed himself republican. In that
same speech, and in that connection, he
Endorsed the administration of Theodore
Roosevelt in unqualified terms On Octo-
Der IS, at dinner of the Republican
Club of New York city, he reviewed his
own political career and said:
Nearly twenty years ago L Joined this
club. 1t was the first political organiza
ton with which l became identified.
Many of you have been my personal
friends. 1t was in this building that |
accepted the nomination for governor and
stated the issues which were regarded as
paramount in the last campaign. 1t was
under your auspices that, after the cleo
tion an occasion which, for the
warmth of its greeting and the cordially
of its good wishes, viii never be forgotten.
l attempted to set forth the principles
which should govern my administration.
Related as l am to this club, by such init
mate and sentimental associations, it is
especially gratifying to have this oppor-
tunity of meeting with you"
Those do not sound like the words Of a
democrat. And, in closing his speech, he
said:
yellow Republicans: The future is
bright with hope. By his vigorous admin
istration, his virility, his broad humanity,
his determined opposition to notorious
abuses, our fellow-citizen. the distinguish
ed President of the United States has
won the hearts of the people. We have
not only his example, but we know that
he is, and has been. in cordial sympathy
with every effort for efficient administra-
ton, for the correction of evil and for the
improvement of our laws. The republican
party has been party of ideals, of mas
terful leaders and of constructive power.
We are proud that we are members
of it."
In the same speech, however. and in the
next paragraph. the governor declares
that the potency of the republican party
depends upon it's capable administration
and DISTINGUISHED service for the welfare
of all the people, and if this duty is dis
charged in resolute, efficient and single
minded manner he declares that the
republican party cannot ran 10 eniarse
the area of its support and the successes
of the future will far, transcend the dis
tinction' of it's past accomplishments.
Taciturn About Candidacy.
A great many people, high and low,
would be relieved If the governor would
be a little more definite and would say
whether he is a candidate for the presi-
dency or not. That is a topic he will not
discuss. Those who are with him most
frequently tell me that he will not permit
any alluson to it. AS he goes about the
state. visiting county fairs. commercial
conventions and social gatherings, he is
frequently introduced as the next Presi-
dent" His ability to perform the duties
of that office is frequently discussed in
his presence. The certainty of his nomi-
nation and election has several times been
predicted from platforms upon which he
sat. but he has never said word, he has
never changed the expression of ms face.
he has never intimated by look or act
any desire for the presidential nomination
or any expectation of it. In public he
simply ignores all such references. In
private he shows by his manner that the
topic is very disagreeable to him.
If he has d presidential ambition he
has done, more to defeat than to pro-
mote it, for he frowns upon every effort
to secure delegates for his nomination.
A Hughes state league, which was organ
lied a few weeks ago in New York city.
whose members are pledged to support
him for President, has been unable to
secure the slightest recognition or sign
of approval from him. The only reference
he has ever maze to 1t was to say that it
was unauthorized.
His intimate personal friends claim to
be as much in the dark as any one. They
assert that he has never shown any symp-
toms of "a presidential ambition; that he
never permits the subject to be alluded
to in his presence when he can prevent it;
that it is the only topic upon which he
will not converse freely. And they go so
far as to declare belief that he has
never in his life expressed a desire for
the presidential office. On the other hand
he frequently talks about the happy time
when he can throw off the responsibilities
of governor and return to his law practice
in New York. He often expresses his dis
taste for politics and public life and his
preference for the quiet practice Of his
profession. He declined a nomination for
mayor of New York city. He accepted
nomination for governor after long refiec-
ton and very reluctantly. under pres
sure from the republican leaders and his
personal friends.
Prefers Private Life.
Those who are best qualified to speak
for him say that he would accept a presi-
Dental nomination if it came to him I'M
sought and as a unanimous call from the
republican party. They say, however. that
he would decline a nomination for Vice
President; that no combination of inter
ests no complications, no possibilities
would induce him to accept it. He has
given his friends to understand that he
does not desire a denomination as gov
ernor, and that at the close of his present
term he will return to his Office in New
York and resume practice. He has re-
peatedly refused invitations to speak in
n