The Washington times., 1907-11-21
TAFT STILL CHOICE
OF ADMINISTRATION
Real Contest Viii Be Be-
tween Secretary and
Hughes.
New York Governor Is
Choice of Anti-RooSe-
welt Forces.

President Roosevelt has not Siven up
Hope OF nominating Secretary Taft Tor
succession in the White House. The
Administration closest friends definite
~ understand ,hat the President still
thinks that Taft has a good cnsnce TO
J,. nominated. and believe thai II nomi-
hated he would be elected
More than this. the feeling is strong,
and recently has been growing fast, that
the real contest lies between Taft and
Hughes. Hughes. according TO this
analysis, will be the candidi.-e Of the
conservative forces in the party and
the Secretary OF War viii be supported
10y the progressivss.
The people who are most interested
as matters are now lining up, In prevent
ing the nomination of Governor Hughes
are yet decidedly Of the opinion that II
nominated he would be elected. Ihey
are yet decidedly of the opinion mat II
nominated he would be elected. Iney
regard him as one Of the very limited
group Of men who could defeat Bryan
They do not regard him as bad man.
and make no criticisms Of him. indeed
The people who most intimately under
stand the attitudes of mind Of the nigh
est people in Administration politics
speak only well of Governor Hughes
Yet they are not for his nomination.
Anti-RoOsevelt Candidate.
Hughes is fast coming 20 be the can
6idate of the anti-RoosevelJ element
in the Republican party. The evidence
81 this is most apparent in New York.
Not because they like Hughes, but be-
Ia Ia
likely to prevent a continuance of
Roosevelt policies, the ani-Roosevelt
ueople in the Empire State are lining
UP behind the governor.
q Lately there has been an apparent
division of opinion among the anti
Roosevelt people in New York. Cortel-
yCU has been gaining strength ana gam
leg IL largely because he las made
strong appeal 70 the conservative, buSi-
ness interests that do Tot Ike the
President This docs not inv olive the
suspicion that Slr. COrtelyUu has been
CiislOyal 10 his chief or tee policies OF
his chief Neither does T. involve, con-
scrvatively. the suggestion that the
president is di5pleased, Or fearful OF
The loyalty Of Mr.. Corteiyou. IL means
simply that In the shifungs of affairs
Mr.. Cortelyou has hdu opportunity
IVEicn brought him close to the bis
financial interests. and q has been ~
evitable that he should lie discussed as
a possible Presidential candidate.
CortelyOu's Chances.
But the Secretary OF the Treasury has
not the positive strength of Hughes. il
is even doubtful II he could muster any
tIing like the negative strensth-that is.
shc strength due 10 opposition 10 Koose-
Welt policies. The best political opinion
ard information is that before long the
CUrtelyOu support in New YORK Will be
seen drifting over 10 Hughes, there VIII
Re- forced a lineup in which Taft as the
candidate of Roosevelt and Hughes as
lie candidate Of everything Gnu-Roosc-
Velt viii appear
The Administration is not fighting
Hughes. but il cannot fail to cote that
dhe Hughes people are fighting Roose-
kelt-that the chiefs of Hughes opinion
are also leaders Of anti-ROOsevelt ac-
tiyity in New York and elsewhere 1t
IS rather the misfortune thau the fault
Of Governor Hughes, es of Secretary
Cortelyou, that this should De true; but
tie politicians sdgTee that Ii is