The Washington times., 1907-11-02
Next Weeks Election
Threatens to Disrupt
Republican Party.
Hughes Roosevelt Trou-
bic Recalls Blaine-COnk-
ling Episode.
Responsibility for Empire
State Fusion Burning
Question of Hour.

There Is a vigorous and growing i'm
fprcssion that some Of the political af-
termath OF the elections next Tues
day viii be OF even more interest than
the election results themselves.
For one thing, g big crop Of ex-
plantations is expected TO be harvested
IN the Empire State political field, touch
ing on and appertaining to the marvel
Gus fusion of Republicans and Inde-
peRdence League in New York county.
This unprecedented coalition has been
the subject OF nationwide wOndermenL.
and 70 date there has been no salts
factory locating of the responsibility
FOR it.
Somewhere between the executive
chamber at Albany and the White
House in Washington the credit or dis
credit for the strange deal is supposed
10 lie. Apparently, neither OF the gus-
pected parties is willing 20 say any
thinS calculated to muss up the situa-
ton until after election. Both sides
have shown symptoms Of unrest under
the various allegations. which have been
anOat concerning the genesis OF the
oeal, and It is considered hardly Dos
Fible that manye days viii pass, arscr
election, before statements and explana-
Gions viii begin to be issued.
VIII Election Be Vindication7
Reports from New York concerning
the progress Of the contest have led to
the genera impression that the fusion
IS not going to result in brilliant sue
cess The Tammany ticket in New York
county Is picked by most of the poll
ucians 70 win. But there are elements
OF uncertainty which make wary people
chary OF too confident predictions.
If the election should result in a vindi-
cation OF the fusion. the explanations
might be unnecessary. But if, as seems
more likely, the voters reject the ar
rangement, then IL win hardly be In
human nature for the responsible people
TO keep silent under the charges which
will be made.
TIE possibility that relations between
President Roosevelt and Governor
Hughes long supposed TO be strained
may reach rupture open and frank IS
among the aspects of greatest political
significance, on which politicians are
commenting with eageTness and inter-
est Such q rupture would have the
greatest national political moment
ShreWd politicians have been pointing
cut OF late that a situation is developing
In New York, at the eve Of a national
campaign, -wntch is not altogether un-
like the COnklIng- Blaine feud which
cost the election of Blaine in 1884 There
has been a growing feeling that each
eac.l regards the power and prominence
or the other with concern.
Presidents Influence for Hughes.
on the Presidents side. It Is pointed
out by politicians. is the fact that Mr.
Roosevelts personal influence was ex-
0rted to the utmost both TO nominate
and TO elect Mr.. Hughes, and that with
out that weight in the scale the gov
ernor could not possibly have been to-
day the States chief executive.
on the side OF the New York organiza-
tion friendly to Hughes it is constantly
suggested that the President wishes 10
dominate the states politics. and that
anxious TO control the delegation to the
Republican national convention. he has
found his opponents rallying around the
governor. That Governor Hughes has
become a most important factor in the
Presidential situation is now everywhere
conceded. That the President has want
ed TO secure from his home State 4
delegation that could be delivered to
Taft at the right time likewise has
been unquestioned. The two purposes
are regarded by the politicians as an
tagOnistic, and there Is feeling that
they are not likely to be recOnciled.
Who Made the Fusion?
Who made the fusion2 Did Herbert Par
eons, the Presidents representative as
chairman of the New York county COM
Inittee, do lit without conference or intma-
ton Of the wish OF the President? That is
what the Presidents friends think. Did
RTr. Parsons have the acquiescence or
t Endorsement Of Governor Hughes? There
has been strong intimariOG. in quarters
unfriendly to the governor, mat ne hadi
that the plan was laid before the gov
ernor and he, by silence and failure To
interpOse objection, taCiuy assented to
g. If he did SO consent or did indorse
the move, and It proves failure, the
governor can hardly escape hurt HIS
friends insist that his skirts VIII be
found clean and that he VIII not be
tangled up in the affair.
In short, IL is quite apparent from the
tendencies Of political gossip that
whether the President and Governor
Hughes get directly involved in the an
4icipated explanations. the very close
friends Of each win blame the extreme
" intimate political friends Of the
other and the two chiefs viii ind the
situation most uncOmfOrt2ble-
This developing situation contains
the greatest concern for the national
ReDuhllcan party, because New York,
AZ less important politically than in
fornef. elections, Is yet certain TO be of
the utmost significance in the contest
OF 1908 The stalwart detection in 1881
defeated Blaine There is now in pros
peet t.e serious possibility of a situa-
ton in which the Democrats might
easily repeat their good fortune OF that
year and win q President because of
a New York feud. II is this possibility
which gives the largest significance 10
the New York result, and the subse-
nnent explanations and developments.