The Washington herald., 1907-09-24
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.
Hughes Holds Key to Republican Situation.

A propouderance Of Republican senti-
mcnt MS expressed throughout the coun-
try to-day fvors the nomination of VIII
lam Howard Tart Cor the Presidency.
Roosevelt. if he were "a candidate, would
De far and away IN the lead, howeve..
The Chicago TribUue's poll. which is
interesting. rather than important. makes
the facts here stated uuuistakibly cle5r.
Badicalsm, if not running rampant as
strong as a. few months ago, at amy rate
is still IN the asccndcucy. There is no
call fer q conservative candidate. a con
tiuuatiOn OF the progressive policies ~
Neutrality-suspicious. quietly conducted, per
hapz-is obviously the couutry's demand.
The political pendulum is not swinging
backward
Fairbanks. Knox. Cannon. and C0rtel-
you, held ia high esteem by party meH
everywhere. apparently are not in the
running Hughes rs yet little known 20
tile political world. overtops them al. Ia
random apprdiscment, and la Toilette
radical Of radicals, promises 10 loom
stronger than they
Admittedly the popular choice-ueNt 70
Rooseve.t-nine months before the con
vcutior William Howard Taft uevyrthe-
less IS not yet even within mailing dis
lance Of the nomination. With the Pres
iteut standing sponsor Tor his candidacy
he is necessarily most prominent ia Ia,
public eye The administration forces
avowedly. are for him. but hc has Oh.
politicians who make Up delegate States
yet 10 reckon Witu-polticIans OF great
States like New York. PcnEsylvauil.
Indiana. Illinois. and Wisconsin, not q
mention his own State of Ohio, wher.
harmony Is not the watcuword. With
or, the support of these States hs can
not hope 90 achieve bis ambition. and
there is 10 present sign that any "ns
of them other than ONO c4n be swung
readily into the Taft columns.
Taft. as Taft. is q formidable natioua
figure. Taft. as the heir apparent OF
Roosevelt, already is disclosing weak
points luuumeralle. lie is not growing
His Columbus speech did not give III.
candidacy deeper root. Roosayeltism is
/ Hls weakness os Wen as his strength
Issues which she President has never
l been called upon to take up are be.u=
fairly forced upon Taft-ao;ably. IT.,
[ tariff; and IN the personal equation
things that make for the popularity %.
she one tend toward the mJofug OF H.,
other
Tam would be greater standing alone
This IS the consensus OF opinion OF hi.
followers and bis antagonists alike.
New York. in all probability w.u hol.
tae key TO the Presidential situation
/ both before and after the convention.
/ Can Roosevelt give the delegate vot.
+ of his state 20 his caudidate-Tafrg Pos
sibIy. but not probably. All depends upon
one man. who, e not greater thar
Roosevelt at this crisis. is none tho less
potential in his 0wE domain. He IS D..
/ boss, not even politician. Slate-mabiu.
/ IS Co him unknown. He carries no bi.
stick. Bur his State IS behind him H
spite of all this That man. as every
/ body knows is GOV. Charles j. Hughes.
/ A Roosevelt Republican. who is a powe
in tie State and who is now Tor Tar
F because the President is FOR Tart. said
privately. only q few days ago, that q
Hughes merely mtmdtcd he wished sup
port ia the national convention of lgs
+ New York would Doe behind him s.udIy