Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-27
NOR WILL HE OPPOSE THE sE-
LncroN or THE NEW YORK
DELEGArIoN.
WAY WIDE OPEN FOR
SECRETARY C0RTELYOU
He Could Now Become Presidcn-
tial Candidate without Risk OF In
curring Roosevclfs Dlsplcasurc--,
Would Aid Taft.

| Washington, Dec. 27.--President
Roosevelt Will make no further effort
to prevent the selection OF national
convention delegates I'm New York
state favorable to the nomination for
president OF Governor Charles u.
Hughes. He made Il emphaticaliy
plain to several New York callers
Wednesday that, while he will do
nothing to aid the Hughes move
ment. he will no longer oppose it.
The presidents opposition to
Hughes was largely personal, and
he cannot consistently say the New
York governor Is UNIT TO be presi-
dent. Mr.. Roosevelt was largely In
strumental in bringing about Hughes
nomination for the governorship. He
thought Hughes ought to be CRATE
ful and make some Acknowledgement,
Hughes did not feel gratitude and,
not feeling II, would not avow II.
The governorship came to him with
out seeking. ana he accepted II as n
duty He felt obligated to duty, but
to no man. He even resented efforts
made In his behalf during the cam
Daign by the national administration
were needed to accomplish his elec-.
ton. he didn't want to be elected.
IL lis true that Hughes mad vlg-
orous personal campaign after ho
had been nominated, He held that
the voters had right to see and
hear him before deciding how they
would vote; but probably there new
er was more Independent candidate
for high office. so far as even his
most intimate friends and political
associates could determine, Hughes
was supremeiy Indifferent as to the
outcome. II is said that since his
election he has come 20 believe that
he was divinely called to the govern
orship, and that his attitude toward
the presidency Is much the same. If
the call comes to him to preside over
the destlnies OF The nation, he is
ready and willing to respond, but he
doesn't propose to so much as turn
over his hand IN an effort to get the
nomination.
The White House claims that art
er Hughes election TO the governor
ship. Frederick G. Stevens, appoint
ed by Hughes as commissioner of
public works, called on the president
as Hughes agent and asked the adj
ministration's aid in carrying out
the governor s-policies; that the par
ticular aid requested consisted In the
use OF federal patronage. Promise
of help was cHUorTaily given. and
public announcements was made of
the removal from office OF n federal
official who had been obstrue,ing
the governors program. But. ac-
cording to the White House. before
the officials removal had been fully
contaminated necessity for IL bad
passed, and the governor theraupon
promptly denied all responsibility for
the contemplated action That was
the beginning Of the enmity which
the president feels for Hughes.
Up 10 the present time Mr.. Roosc-
| welt has not hesitated TO let Il be
known that he was opposed to
Hughes as n presidential candidate.
but now that the Republican club
has formally launched Hughes
boom he feels that he cannot prc2er-
| y interpose any further objection.
II any other New Yorker. however,
wants to 90 in and compete with
Hughes for delegates. the admins
tratlon will place no obstacles I'm HIS
way The way is wide open now
for Secretary OF the Treasury Cortcl-
you 10 become a presidential candi-
date without risk Of incurrlne ihe
| Roosevelt displeasure. In fact Mr..
Roosevelt would make little att .nyt
to conceal his satisfaction should
Cortelyou succeed In splitting up the
Now York delegation. Not only
would It weaken Hughes, but lt
might strengthen Tan.
The Taft managers probably
would invade New York in the quest
Of delegates we're they not 80 busy
in Ohio just now It is recognized
that upon the outcome or the Gzbt
now waging in Ohio depends tn. fn-
ture Of The Tam campaign. and lit
tie effort win be made to do onfside
work until the Ohio situation IS dis
posed or