Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28
GOV. HUGHES and 1908.
Looming Vaguely in Washington
Political Talk.
The Governor Viewed with Kindly
Eye by the Conservativrs-A
Possible Outcome of the
Agitation.

New York Post writes as follows:
Governor Hughes begins to loom vague
| ly in the gossip and speculation Of polit-
clans as presidential possibility. En-
| thusiastic friends of the New York cxecu-
| tive hasten to conspire to make every
dinner which the governor attends an
other Seast upon the Lupcrcal.' out Of
| Albany stories come to Washington that
Governor Hughes is showing signs of
Iquickening ambition. Political Washing
ton is watching Mr. Hughes with close
and alert attention. lie may have been
given cause for an awakening ambition,
but he would do well to test its value.
| The reports which come down to Wash
ington from Albany through various
| mouths have It that republican leaders
| have come TO the conclusion that in the
candidacy of Mr.. Hughes for the repub-
| lican presidential nomination is to be
| found the best means OF keeping Mr..
Roosevelt from becoming quietly active
on behalf of some man of his own per-
sonal selection.
This is an entertaining suggestion worth,
at least. a casual examination. Wash
ington is full Of men who make their liv-
ing out of politics, and who devote all
of their intellect and energies to dcvising
circumstances of Mr. lIughes's nomlna-
ton, and his defeat OF Hearst have made
him shining mark for these political
OWNERS and soothsayers. Il is no news
that the old-liuc republican leaders have
never become recopciled to Mr.. Roosevelt
and his policies. Some Of these old time
party cnct.ains have been reported as
declaring that while the governor Of New
York has shown some liberal and almost
radical tendencies. he is in no wise the
extremist that the man now In the White
House IS.
Shrewd old political foxes OF another
school have argued that if New York;
governor could he brought into the field Of
active candidacy. II would be Impossible
on either personal or political grounds for
the President to disapprove publicly Of
Mr. lIuEhcs's ambitions. If il Is true. as
reported, that republicans have been
sending presidential suggestion letters 20
the governor. it Is because they feel that
in him \ candidate is possible who a.
least may be posed as n representatives,
of "the Roosevelt idea" and who at the
same timo VIII be fairly acceptable to tho
great interests which have seen nothing
but destruction personifed IN the present
hcadlong executive.
THE GOVERNOR ENTERING Ma
TIONAL FIELD.
Albany tells Washington that twice dur
ing the last week Governor hughes has
been hailed "as the next president" and
that he appears to like the designation
1t is also reported Eravely that things
entirely aside from any failure of Mr..
Hughes TO hide his pleasure when he
heard flattcrng references "a his possible
political future make 1t manifest that tho
governor is "oypaudinC." 1t IS pointed
out triumphantly that he has been going
into the field Of national politics and ma
tional policies recently and in his
speeches has had somo things to say
about matters tho interest in which is
l. not local to New York: that he has made
il appear that he is willing to let men
Judge by his utterauces whether or not
he is big enough t. I'LL a higher Office thar
the one he now holds.
There are no Indications that NJ,
Hughes ever Will got away entirely from
his native heath Of conservatism. He has
not done anything as governor that those
who know him and his policy Jennings
from q distance thought Il was improb-
,, able that lie would do Whether he will
ever qualify for degree In the Roosc-
Welt thought-school n great many persons
doubt Mi. Roosevolt's supporters admit.
boy.o,.a,. tbot Il Mr. rTurhns bocones an
active candidate. no matter who is re-
= sponsible for his candidacy. it will be a
J difficult thing for the President to cs-
pouse the cause Of any other man. save.
perhaps. one of the mon close to him
officially. but who have been practically
5 given over as unaVa liable.
II may We that the republicans report
cd as having been suggesting IN their
private corresrondencc to the governor
that there is no reason why he should n0t
enter the arena win other presidential
e possihilitio- arc not entirely unselfsh in
\ their motives II is not improbable that
l there are among the willy those who
would like to- use Mr.. Hughes as stalk
: ing hore, to cover their real intentions
; Mr.. Hughes might not improbably he use
: 10 distract attention and divide tho
lalleeiance of those voters who desire II
! see President Roosevelt succeeded IN
l Office by one OF his political disciples. AL
l most any tale Will find crcdencc i'm Wash.
, inston that purnorts TO relate the details
OF the SCREENINGS OF the anti Roosevelt
I republican leaders to prevent the Presl-
dents friends from controlling the 1905
X convcntion.
...., ..,
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