New-York tribune., 1907-08-19
PAGE OUT FOR HUGHES.
sen 4TOR GITES HIS VIEW
Says There Is Little Taft Sentiment
an State.

night emphatcally for Charles f Hughes for
the Presidential nomination the Republican
ticket. He just as emphaticaly denied that
there any Taft sentiment in the state. OK
cept SO far it might have been created by the
circulation of purportng to show that
the President for him On the other hand,
he said. there a strong sentiment for Gov
ernor Hughes.
To make his stand perfectly plain Senator
Page gave Tribune reporter the following
statement:
If the people of this state want Governor
Hughes for their next President the delegation
from this state to the national convention will
be for him, and no amount of federal patronage
can prevent it, / hope the statements we have
seen in some of the papers to the attitude of
the President are incorrect. as | would esteem
it calamity if those who have been friendly to
both the Governor ana the President should be
forced to part and array themselves for one as
against the other
I speak of the President because. except
reflection of his supposed wishes. there is no
sentiment at present for Taft in the state
If there is to he an attempt by federal in
fuenCe to control the delegates from this state.
| have no hesitation in saying that | would do
what L could for Governor Hughes, as | believe
there is a strong sentiment for him. and that he
would be the strongest with the voters Of all
those who have been mentioned possible can
didates for the Presidential nomination on the
Republican ticket.
The Governor" Senator Page said. lis un-
doubtedly the strongest candidate for the Prcs-
Dental nomination OF any OF those who have
been mentioned" He said that between the
two Taft and Hughes. he believed that the lat
ter the for the place. Speaking Of
other candidates. Senator Page said that Root
Foraker, Fairbanks and Cortelyou were all sec
ond choices in comparison with Governor
Hughes.
Senator Page said he was annoyed by the
talk that has been circulating recently that
| President Roosevelt using his influence -
swing the state delegation for Taft. How
ever. he said that the rumors we're he
ing circulated with such assiduity that they
were gaining general credence. He said that
he both hoped and believed there was no truth
I'm them but if there were, he would use all mis-
power and influence to defeat federal influence
and give fhe Governor the vote OF the state dele
CATION There must be no interference for or
against any candidate by the President" he
said
1t would be nothing short Of a calamity tha
Senator continued. ~ those who have been
friendly both the President and Governor
Hughes should he forced to array themselves
against one another because of the attitude Of
the President toward the candidates for the
Presidential nomination M Page said as
suming there was attempt to control the
| delegates from the state of New York TO the
DdIluHdi convention bN iEfFidl iii+4Attl1'' ~
would feel no hesitancy in doing what he could
to swing the state delegation Tor Hughes.
WILL VOTE FOR HUGHES
If the people Of this state want Hughes for
their President viii tell you that no amount az
federal patronage can prevent the state delega-
tion giving the Governor their votes for his
nomination.
DO not misunderstood me he added 4 10
not mean either To say that the President Is Tor
| Taft or that he intends to attempt to influence
the state delegation for him even presuming tEat
inwardly Roosevelt himself believes he is the
right man: do not even say that believe the
President is for him. I am simply stating what
my position will be supposing such should be the
case"
! In thus declaring himself unreserv"dly against
the use Of federal influence in the coming state
| campaign supposine that such an attempt
| should he made. and for Governor Hughes. Sena-
tor Page said he believed that he WAS only
voicing the sentiments Of the majority Of the
| people in the state and Of the vast majority Of
| Republican voters.
! Il do not believe that there will he any fight
| between the leaders OF the Republican party in
| this state over the instruction OF delegates to
| the national convention" Senator Page said.
| ''If there should be It would be surprise 10
| me. / believe. the contrary that the party
| in this state will work together harmoniously
| and without either dssension bitterness
know that reports have been published about diff
| ferences between our leaders. know that ii has
even been said that ! attempting to take
| mower away from certain leaders and attempt
| ing TO form a combination against the leaders
| These stories do not affect me at all, and they
won't affect the party. The man that the
! people of this state want for President will be
| the man who gets the votes of our delegation
! There is no sense or reason in stories OF the
| party being torn by factional strife"
| -"Do YOU think Senator. that the people of the
| state will want the Governor for their next
| PRESIDENT was asked.
| We'll" said he. you know how strong pub
| lie sentiment was for MIR. Hughes during the
| last session of the Legislature, and so far as L
| have seen he is regarded as the best man the
| party in this state has ever had"
| DO you believe the Governor is the best man
| for the Republican party to nominate?
| II do" said the Senator, emphaticaliy. OF
all those who have been mentioned there Is no
question that Governor Hughes would be the
| strongest with the voters Of the state
! Senator Page was asked If he was quietly
! nlannIns a state campaign by which he would
| control the state convention and have the dele
| gates to the national convention instructed to
| vote for the Governor. THAT sounds interest
| ing. if true" said the Senator laughing.
| .-But is 1t true?' he asked
| well / don't to talk about that have
| nothing to say about it now
| Senator Page returned from his vacation yes
| +ardav morning. He said he was surprised to
| read in the morning papers that he was at
tempting to take the control of the County Com
| ,,ittee from Representative Parsons. Asked II
! s,cb was the case the Senator again declined to
| - He was non-conmittaI on the subject of