The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
HUGHESABIG FACTOR
UnharnesSed Leader of Party
in Empire State.
LOOMS UP STRONG FOR 1908
Organization for Him, Not from
Choice, but Because IL Cannot BE
Helped - His Administration In
dOrsed by Republican State Com
Initfee at a Notable Meeting.

New York, May u.-Charles Evans
Hughes viii be put forward as a candi-
date for the Republican nomination for
the Presidency.
President Roosevelt viii have fight on
his hands If he attempts TO swing the
New York delegation for Taft at the next
national convention.
Hughes. singie-handed by appeals to
the people and refusal TO be drawn into
political intrigues, has overthrown the
power Of the New York Republican or
ganlzaticQ in the four months since the
legislature met, and to-day is the unhar-
messed leader of his party in the State.
These three facts were developed to-day
at a sensational meeting Of the Repubii-
can state committee, at which former
Gov. Beniamin b. Oden jr offered a
resolution piedging the support Of the or
ganization to Hughes for the Presidency
developed in spite Of the fact that the
resolution was tabled by a vote af 81 10 4.
The argument against the resolution
was that It was ill-timed.
Reform Measures IndOrsed.
The resolution followed the action Of
the committee in indorsing the administrs-
ton Of Gov. Hughes and specifically go
ing on record as being In favor OF all the
important reform measures advocated by
the governor. This alone was a great
triumph for Hughes, and was the result
Of tremendous pressure brought 10 bear
upon the politicians by the general pub
lie.
The suggestion of Hughes for the Fresi-
dency vas not a new idea. Recently It
has been the subject Of much speculation
on the part Of the politicians who are
usually found Oh the front seat of the
most popular band wagon.
Persists in Going IL Alone.
Hughes has declined to enter into any
alliance. He has fought his fght alone.
He has shown indifference to the White
House. He has conducted his administra-
tion on lines hitherto unheard OF in the
legislative chamber at Albany. because
he has had absolutely nothing to do with
politics. It is a patent fact that by ap-
plication of the simplest political
methods" he could have brought about
the removal OF Otto Kelsey from the
office of superintendent OF insurance. But
instead he stood aloof. and in effect said
to the senate
''YSu know what I think about IT, Now
do as you like. II is d matter of indif-
ference to me. I have done my duty.
As one machine politician said to-day:
What can you DO against a proposition
like that?"
Forced to support Him.
II was the realization of this attitude
on the part of Hughes. and the knowledge
that he would win as much in defeat as
by a victory that drove the organization
to support him.
To-day the State committee, which ap-
proved his nomination for governor only
When forced 10 do so. which supported
him in the campaign because it had TO. !
and which deserted him as soon as he
declared his principles In the Office of
the chief executive Of the State. adopted
a sweeping resolution declaring allegi- |
ance to him and pledging support to his !
reform measures.
It has been said that every New York /
governor Is d Presidential possibility. For /
the past week there has been a great deal 1
of general talk of a Hughes BOOM" All /
this. however. has been Of slight conse- /
quence compared to the action of the /
State committee to-day in kissing-even !
though grudgingIy-the mailed f1st that
has dealt it some Of the hardest knocks |
ever handed that august body.