The Washington herald., 1907-09-29
Sincerity of First Named as
to the Presidency.
WOULD LIKE TO BE SENATOR
Julius Chambers Writes of COEdi-
tions in the Empire state as Az
fecting Both Democrats and Re-
publicans-A New View of GOV.
Hughes I'm Explaining His Strength.
JnIlus Chambers in BrookILn &c.

face Beyond a doubt. he is perfectly
sincere when he declares that he never
again will be a candidate for the Presi-
dency As IS well known to every per-
sonal friend OF the young editor. he was
driven into an apparent candidacy three
years ago by persistent. overZealous as
sociates. Some of them were mere nov
ices in political management: the chief
| est of hts ill-advisers had derived his
political experience as the advance agent
Of a theatrical company.
I have the strongest personal reasons
for knowing that Mr.. Hearst's sublime
ambition (after achieving commercial
success IN his newspaper enterprises)
was TO some day attain a seat in the
| United States Senate He has less re-
spect for mere money than any man
born TO millions l ever have known. He
is not wasteful. never has been boastful
of his wealth. and he will spend a mil
lion any year 10 promote what he thinks
is a popular reform. But. candidly.
do not believe he would spend a dollar
TO buy votes in any legislature to make
| himself "a United States Senator. There
isn't the slightest intention herein 10
6
indicate the nice distinction he would
draw between spending $4,000 upon a
campaign for the governorship where the
money is distributed or wasted in the
open. and the surrender OF the smallest
/ fraction Of that sum for secret purposes
at the State capital
Expected 20 Favor ChaRler.
Unless the plainest Of surface indica-
tons are misleading, Mr.. Hearst and all
his followers will favor the candidacy
OF Mr.. Chanler, who was successful In a
contest in which he HearsU was de-
feated.
We may remark right here that sew
eral thousand Democrats who gave their
votes TO Charles +. Hughes last Novem-
Der would support ". r. Hearst II the
election were 70 occur tomorrow. Moth
Ing that the latter had proposed 10 in
augurate offered the same inquisitOrial
repuSnant characteristics as docs GOV
Hughes public utilities double-headed
! board. The act creating this new and
original political machine Is said 10 have
been the personal handiwork OF Gov
Hughes. Since It's passage through the
/ legislature, the powers of this commits
sion-WhiCh blankets both ends OF the
enormity vastly beyond what was orig
inally suspected. George B. Cortelyou
has been criticised for alleged use of in
formation acquired by him as Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor. but his powers
were as nothing compared 70 those ex-
ercised at this hour by each and every
one OF the officials Of the public utilities
commission. As long as men Of ire
proachable character constitute this board
their espionage may not be abused
( Heaven knows. the supplanting OF a do
nothing railroad commission was a step
tn the right direction. That was the one
feature about the act creating the new
and highly experimental board that
caused many others 20 be overlooked.
Let us suppose. for the sake OF dis
CuSsiOn, that "a business politician SINH
lar 20 several that the Republican party
has seated In the governors room at Al
bany be chosen as Mr.. Hughes successor.
Docs any one OF us doubt that the COM
pleNiOn Of the public utilities board
would rapidly suffer change? 1t is not
necessary even 10 intimate that its pres
ent members would become political
chameleOns. and adopt the practical
methods that would be expected OF them
oh. no. There are many ways OF driving
men ont Of public office. even where a
governor has not the power Of arbitrary
removal Death is another factor. and
plays its part.
Therefore I say with vivid recollection
OF HearSrs printed opinions upon the
bill creating the public utilities com
mission. that he never would have orig
mated or signed such a measure.
Whether he would have suggested or
have been able 10 secure from a Repub-
lican legislature anything better OF worse
is not nearly so well assured.
Is Hughes HimseIfP
This suggests a recurrence to the sub
lime query; Is Gov. Hughes himself, or
is he somebody else7
II he is himself, so 20 speak, where
did he acquire the astuteness that made
possible the conception and enactment
into law, against stubborn opposition
among his party representatives in the
legislature, of a bill that has created
a machine with powers never possessed
by trained and practical politicians.
such as Cows. Hill, Odell, or Higgins? In
confidence, there are many people asking
this same question.
An answer IS not found IN the whisper
ing wind.
Gov. Hughes never learned his politics
in Sunday school
On the other hand. II Gov Hughes is
not himself. who is he? Where Is "tbe
man behind?" Some people say that
Stevens is the counselor But, how can
that be? Excellent man as Is Mr.. Ste
vens, there are several things outside of
civil engineering that he doesn't vet
know One need not assert that he can
not learn them. but who is to be his
teacher. or what fairy finger has touched
him with the divine fire Of inspirationaI
genius? No; we must look elsewhere.
Surely, the man cannot be Harry w
Mack. leader of the Fifteenth assembly
district? Probably that gentleman would
wish To have people think so. A friend
who lives in that district, which is on
Manhattan Island last night showed to
me a painfully pathetic appeal TO him to
support Mack instead OF Odeu and
Quigg s candidate. Mazet. at the prima-
ries. The supplication was a reminder of
the old woOdmans prayer to the AL
mighty to help him. # possible. but other
wise TO stand of and not 10 help the
bar" OF course that's one of the tales
popular IN the golden age of the nature
takers" but it carries its full worth 10
illustrate the point I wish to make. May
II never be diseredited, even by the high
est authority,
There are several experienced minds in
this city who are pUZZling over the prob
lem that l have SO briefly hinted at: Who
is Gov. Hughes?
OF one thing we may be assured. the
mystery win not forever continue to be
as deep as at this moment. It will not
take a place on the shelf with, Who was
Casper Hauser? or. Who was the Man OF
the Iron Mask?
If I have the first guess, put me down
as naming Benjamin B. Odell, once Of
Albany, later of Wall street, and now of
Newburgh. Where the line of communi-
cation is to be found, know not. The