The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
EXECUTIVE DICTATION.
Leading Republican Paper Talks of
Presidential situation.

Leading Republican Paper Talks of
Presidential Situation.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
It Is time for the leading Republican pa
pers Of the country to speak right out and
say that the matter Of the selection Of
the Presidential candidate is still to be
decided, and that there will be c-een
and a free race for all the aspirants. A
leading member Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee is reported as saying
that ''the growth OF Hughes sentiment in
New York and New England is astOnish-
ing everybody, and unless something IS
done by President Roosevelt to head it of,
the New York delegation will be for
Hughes for first place without a thought
of urging him 10 accept a place on the
ticket with Taft or any other man" This
particular member Of the committee is
understood to personally favor Taft for
the nomination. and thus he may be pre-
sumed TO have referred to the growth OF
Hughes sentiment regretfully- Also he
evidently supposes that the President may
be induced to intervene in New York and
head off the Hughes boom and work for
the candidacy Of Taft, which he supposes
is the especial care OF the head Of the
administration.
This sort of talk by men in high places
in the Republican councils ought tC be
condemned. The President viii not in
terfere in the contest in New York or
any other State. Gov Hughes has just
as much right as any other Republican
70 aspire to the Presidency. II would be
a natural thing for his State to send a
delegation favorable TO him 20 the ma
tional convention. Many States have fav-
orite sons. II Is safe 10 say that Ohio
VIII declare for Taft Indiana for Fair
banks Pennsylvania for Knox, and ILL
nois for Cannon. Possibly Iowa Will put
Gov. Cummings forward. There Is a
strong sentiment there for him. It is IN
derstOOd that Senator La Toilette has
hopes that he will get the Wisconsin dele
cation. All Of these persons are being
placed in the list OF aspiTants. All OF
them are capable and prominent men.
The newest Of all OF them. as a national
figure. is Hughes, but he is no newer than
Cleveland was when he was nominated
ny the Democrats in 1884. His name has
Travelled farther than the name Of Gov
Hayes, of Ohio. had travelled at the time
that the convention Of 1876 put him VI
for the Presidency. He is known better
20 the country than Seymour was known
IN lS6S. al the time that the Democrats
chose him 90 make the race against
Grant. Fifty persons in the United
States as q whole know Hughes to-day tC
every one who had heard Of Bryan wher
/ the Democratic convention of 1896 as
/ sembled at Chicago. He is known bette
70 the country in general even than Til
I den was known when the Democrats Sc
lected him for the candidacy IN 1876, not
[ withstanding Tilden's participation il
lS7l-72 in the fight which overthrev
I Tweed. a night which gave him the repu
tatiOn by which he reached the governor
ship.
Hughes is mentioned in this connection
+ to show that many aspirants will b
/ likely % be in the field IN 1905, and tina
/ the success Of no one Of these can b,
predicted with any confidence at the pres
I ent moment. Ii is easy 70 see, moreover
| that there VIII be no interference from
/ Washington in any Of the States IN favO
I OF or against any aspirant. Regardless o
/ the politics or the personal popularity o
I any President. the people Of every stat
/ resent any dictauOn by him in any lOca
affair, wherever it is attempted Tn
/ choice Of each State as regards the maj
/ which II viii vote for in tie convention
is a matter which belongs 10 the pe0pI
( Of the State solely. Moreover. no dele
gates TO the convention have yet beel
! selected Such expressions as have beel
made by State committees or by mem
bers of the legislatures In favor OF an,
particular candidate are without Ofhcia
. value. The men who expressed thOs
i preferences acted in their individual ca
paclty only. They had no mandate from
the voters on this question, and thei
preferences VIII not have the slightes
effect on the States attitude in the con
vention. The national gathering IS stL
more than half year away Three 0
four months viii elapse before any Of IN
delegates Will be chosen 10 the conven
ton. Until the primaries in the variou
States have met and have expressed thei
choice. the country viii be in the dar
as regards the probable selection by III
convention. II is anybody's race as III
matter stands now. The Republica
party was never more strongly eQuippe
with leaders Of Presidential size tnan
is at this moment. Half a dozen G
them have already been mentioned.
is possible that, on the opening ballot, a
many names may be presented 10 tn
convention Of 1905 as We're before IN
convention Of 1855. The people have
habit Of selecting candidates for then
selves. through their specially chose
j representatives. and not delegating n
work six or eight months beforehand I
politicians or public officers. In the wOr
of choosing a candidate 1905 viii acceT