Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-10
HUGHES KEEPS ALOOF
Apparently Indifferent to His
Presidential Boom.
REFUSES TO GIVE 1T AID
State Officials Forbidden to Show
Activity for Him.
DEEMED ROOSEvELT'S RIVAL
Friends of the President Charge the
Governor With Ingratitude-Cor-
telyou's Strength in State.
DEEMED ROosEvELT's RIVAL

By WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
| Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
| Chicago Record Herald.
ALBANY, December Z, 1907.
Very soon perhaps before this letter
appears in type. a formal movement
to secure the nomination OF Gov.
Charles Evans Hughes of New York as
republican candidate for the presidency
will be inaugurated. An address to the
public has been prepared. and has been
passed around for the approval of va
rious prominent people who indorse the
movement. and it will be issued by
| 1.-The Hughes League" an organization
| recently formed in New York city, with
headquarters. literary bureau, cam
| paign fund and the other usual access
| series. Within the last few days
representative of that league, Il gen.
| tleman who has been very active in
republican politics for several years.
has had an interview with Gov. Hughes
and attempted to explain to him the
plans and purposes of the organization:
He was unsuccessful He admits that
the interview was not at all to his sat
isfaction and that he was Unable to
obtain a word of approval or enceur-
agement In fact. Gov. Hughes de-
clined to discuss the object of MS mis-
sion. and would not even read the copy
of the address to the public which MS
visitor submitted to him. This limos.
pitable reception, however. has not
dampened the ardor Of Gov. Hughes
under full steam. notwithstanding his
refusal to furnish them fuel So far
as I can find out, this important VS.
itor was treated like everybody else
who mentions the presidency In the
presence of Gov. Hughes.
Work Of the Hughes League.
1.-THE Hughes League" is the organiza-
ton that was pronounced unauthorized
by the man whose political fortune 1t de-
sires to promote. I cannot remember
that such an anomalous situation ever
occurred before in American politics.
do not think that any man big enough
for the presidential chair ever before de-
clined to discuss his prospects with the
agent of an organization that had been
formed to advance them. l do not be-
lieve that such a singular incident ever
occurred before, and, strange to say, TINS
extraordinary indifference, this STUBBORN
refusal to even discuss the subject, seems
to fascinate the very men who are re-
PEELED. You will remember the old song
which runs:
at is all very well to dissemble your love,
But why do you kick me downstairs|'
Gov. Hughes hasn't exactly kicked any
one downstairs, but he has done the
equivalent to many ardent admirers VINO
| have proposed him for President ana
| this inhospitable treatment doesn't seem
| to make any difference with their en-
thusiaSm.
The Hughes League has already sent
agents into New England. New Jersey
and other states to arouse an interest IN
late claims have p
ceived much encouragement. 1t had rep
| resentatives at the meeting of the ma
| tional committee at Washington, VINO re-
| port that there are favorable symptoms
| in all the northern states, and partlcu-
| larly on the Pacific coast. The managers
of the movement propose to continue the
| propaganda and secure as many dele
gates as possible to the national conven-
| ton. They do not expect solid delega-
| ton from the state Of New York, but are
| confident that they can get a majority
| They will have to fight the republican
organization which Gov. Hughes has re-
| fused to recognize from the beginning OF
| his administration. He has rejected It's
| recommendations as of no value or sig
| nif1cance.
A Startling Notification.
| Only the other day he threw down
Mr.. Herbert Parsons. chairman of the
republican state committee. very hard.
There was a vacancy in prominent and
desirable Office. and on behalf of the or
ganiZation Mr.. Parsons presented the
name of an excellent gentleman who has
| long been active and influential as
| campaign worker. The governor not only
refused to appoint him, but. to the aston
ishment of Mr. Parsons and an others
whom it concerns, declared that the
| previous activity of the candidate made
| him Ineligible for the Office. In other
words. the governor again declared
principle that is entirely new In New
York politics and in the politics of the
| world generally. that the men who fight
| the battles and win the victories Of a
party are not to be rewarded, because
| they should be satisfied with the tri-
umphs of the principle they represent
| He has declared this doctrine repeatedly
| in public and in private. and actually APP
| plies it to the appointments Of state
| officers.
Therefore it was not only an affront to
Representative Parsons personally, and
to the republican organization of the
state, but 1t was a notice to all who
| work for the presidential nomination of
Gov. Hughes that they will be ineligible
for Office in case they succeed In seating
him in the White House.
Hughes and Roosevelt.
The Hughes movement will be opposed
by the Roosevelt men in the state. They
accuse the governor of gross ingratitude
to the President. who was responsible for
his nomination for his present office. 1t
was Roosevelt who proposed him and
even insisted upon the choice. and whose
friends declare that the governor has
never made the slightest acknowledgment
of the obligation. that he has never
shown the slightest appreciation of the
Presidents frienship and favor, and that
he has turned down the President every
time he has had chance. He has never
consulted the President regarding the
policy of his administration or his ap-
pointments to Office, and on two occa-
sions, at least. has made important re-
quests Of the President which were
| promptly granted, but never acknowledged.
| 1t is said that while Gov. Hughes on one
| occasion sent messenger to Washington
| to ask the President to compel certain
federal officeholders in the state to with
draw their opposition to certain bills
| which the governor was trying to get
through the legislature, the President
acted promptly. the opposition ceased and
| the bills were passed, but the governor
| has never shown any appreciation for
the Presidents Intervention and has ig-
nored the incident entirely ever since
There has been no complaint or criticism
| @f