The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-04-18
GOV.HUGHESIS
!. LOOMINGSUP.

LOOMlNGsUP
PRESIDENT SAID TO BE VIEWING
5,sS HIM AS sALTERNATivE2To
SECRETARY TAFT. &
WASHINGTON, April 1s.-Tha'
President Roosevelt Is grooming Gov
Hughes, Of New York as a preslden
tial candidate in the event that Sec
Rotary Of War Taft, of Ohio. falls to
gain the Endorsement Of his own State
IS the latest political gossip here. The
fact that President Roosevelt is aid,
Ing Gov. Hughes in securing the re
forms that he is striving for in New
York is pointed to as evidence that
Hughes is The sccoed choice Of the IA.
tional administration for the nomIna,
iion.
There no longer can be any doubt
that the President from this time for.
ward intends to take an active part In
the selection of the candidate. The
criticisms that he Is emulatlRg the
example OF Andrew Jackson. who Sc,
cured Martin Van Bruen as his sue.
ccssor With unsatisfactory results. does
not affect him. The President remains
convinced that the conspiracy against
his policies Is q reality. Denials, pro.
testatlors, and even rldicule have not
changed his mind IN this point. And
being convinced that this is a fact, he
considers that he Is warranted IN go.
Ing far to checkmate any such project
and TO secure the nomination Of some
man who believes In the policies that
have been inauguratei under his ad.
ministration, and VINO will carry them
forward in the interest Of the people.
Ground Of the Hughes Boom.
It Is on this basis that the President
Is now backing the candidacy OF Sec.
rotary Taft. But OF all tne things that
Mr.. Roosevelt does well and effective.
ly, there Is nothing that he is moro
adept at than the game Of practical
politics. And therefore he realizes
that Taft has n hard fight ahead OF
him in Ohio. In fact. It Is stated on
wat seems very good authority that
the President is extremely dissatisfied
with the way Charles P. Taft and 9TH
cr supporters Of the secretary OF war,
have been conducting their campaign.
They nave made several tactical err.
rors, and have issued statements that
have been embarrassing 10 the presi.
dent. And besides, Foraker's fighting
ability and Dicks art as manager
of campaigns, all tend TO reduce the
chances OF Taft gaining the Ohio in.
dorsemcnt. It is stated that President
Roosevelt feels at liberty to take an
active part In bringing out Hughes or
some other New York man as favor.
lite son, without al! apologies 10 any
one. As n resident Of The State he
grants himself the same right as ev.
cry other voter, 10 take part in the
politics Of the State. regardless Of the
high Office he holds.
There have been reports that the
President had Cortelyou in view as 4
possibility, but that seems improbable.
Few people here take Cortelyou seri.
ously in this connection. When his
name Is mentioned as presidential
possibility It is very often met with
the significant lamark that Cortel.
you as n mighty fine stenographer."
Just a Possibility.
Hughes has made a record during
his administration as governor, but in
doing so he has offended the leaders
OF his party and arrayed the pollti.
clans Of all parties against him. For
thts reason he is not likely 10 get en-.
thusiastic support from the men who
usually make up national delegations
There are others who would scarcely
consider him presidential timber,
though he has shown himself fnde.
pendent and able. II the President
has any intention Of putting Hughes
forward for the domination, he has
not yet made any public announcement
Of the fact. Consequently, Hughes can.
not be taken as anything more than a
possibility.
President Roosevelt today held con.
ferences with w, T. Vernon, the col.
Ored register Of the treasury, aud Bish.
ops Grant and Gaines. Of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. The
bishops are very influential politically
and otherwise among the cOlored vo..
crs and Mr.. Vernon Is understood to
be able 10 deliver a good sized banch
OF delegates from the southland. While