The Washington herald., 1907-11-09
STORM CENTER HERE
Hughes Shadow Worries
Administrations Friends.
MANEUvERING BEING DONE
White House Gossip Pictures New
YOrk's Governor as Friend of ''the
Interestsr-Many See In President
RoOseveIfs Silence Pretty Game
of Politics.

On every hand in Washington there is
evidence that hard. practical politics will
be played from now on by the big men
of the dominant party, with the object
OF controlling the Republican National
Convention Of 1905
The center OF the agitation is the White
House. In and around it are to be heard
much gossip and maneuvering, for in the
minds OF politicians Mr.. Roosevelt is the
primary figure in the whole situation.
Upon his attitude before the convention
much VIII depend.
It seems to be taken for granted that
II he should fail to reiterate his election
night announcement that he would not
again be a candidate for the Office which
he now holds. his nomination will be
certain.
The most common remark heard in the
Capital with reference TO the political
situation is that the President will go to
almost any extreme of political expedi-
ency 20 prevent the national convention
from nominating Gov. Hughes. Already
the character Of the tactics 20 be en-
ployed against Mr.. Hughes is being
shown.
Hints Spread Rapidly.
There are hints spreading rapidly that
the governor is the candidate OF that in
defnable but supposedly influential body
known as 1.-THE interests" 1t is declared
that with Mr. Roosevelt out OF the way.
the interests" VII concentrate On Mr..
Hughes. He is being represented as the
favorite of the great corporations.
Financial developments have brought to
the minds OF the administration support
ers the fearful thought that the Amer
lean people will want less strenuosity in
the next Presidential term. and that even
those who demand a continuance of the
policies for which Mr.. Roosevelt stands
Will prefer 10 have their development in
trusted to slow-moving, deliberate per-
sonality, rather than 10 some one who
will attempt to put them in force at one
fell swoOp. without regard TO their effect
upon the national prosperity
One absorbing topic of discussion in
Washington is: VIII the President permit
his dislike for Mr. Hughes TO influence
him to abandon his election-night pledge
with the object Of preventing the ma
uonal convention from nominating Mr..
Hughes?
Some friends of the President who hold
he will adhere to his announced purpose
TO refuse another nomination offer in ex-
PLANTATION of his present reticence that
as long as he keeps his opponents guess
ing, just that long will they be unable
20 concentrate their strength on Gov
Hughes or some other man, who would
not be acceptable to the Roosevelt wing
OF the party.
In other words, according to these in
terpreters of the Presidents silence. Mr..
Roosevelt is playing a game Of politics.
which seeks TO eliminate Gov Hughes
and others from the contest for the
Presidential nomination and bring victory
10 Mr. Taft or some one Of the Presi-
dents own choosing
Third Term Propaganda.
John A. Stewart president OF the New
York League of Republican Clubs. saw
the President yesterday. He is one OF
the chief movers in the third term propa-
ganda, and is said 70 be sounding mem
bers of his organization on the question
OF sending a Roosevelt delegation from
New York to the next Republican ma.
tional convention. There is nothing &c
indicate that Mr. Stewart was told tC
cease his work in behalf of the renomina.
ton of Mr.. Roosevelt.
According to the gossip here, the Presi
dent offers no objection TO the efforts e
have the New York delegation pledged tC
him. They. like the friends of Mr.. Tai
and other candidates, can get no salts
faction from the White House in regard
TO Mr.. Roosevelt's purposes.