The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-06-06

10 battle royal With Roosevelt, IL Il
were possible for anything OF thai
sort to occur, so great Is the power
OF the patronage at the disposal o.
the governor Of the state OF New
York that Hughes could In all prob
ability make more Roadway against
Roosevelt right here In his own state
than could Cannon in Illinois, Fair
hanks 10 Indiana, Taft in Ohio. OF
Knox in Pennsylvania. 1t Is prob
able that even with the third tern
arguments thrown in, Roosevelt
could defeat Hughes In his owr
state, but be could also defeat Other
fayorire sons with equal readiness.
For instance, the question may be
asked, "How long would Taft last In
Ohio IL the Roosevelt men should
suddenly conclude to join hands with
the Foraker men to bring about his
undoingy' Such a question may ap.
pear absurd even 10 a world OF the
most practical politicians. but II
serves to illustrate how absolutely al
the mercy OF Roosevelt is the Taft
boom in Ohio.
One thing which has perhaps bad
tendency to strengthen the posi-
ton OF Hughes during the past few
days is OF negative character, 1t is
true, but sometimes it Is advisable
to study the negative straws as well
as the positive straws to determine
just which way the wind Is blowing.
The thing referred 10 Is the fact that
the resolutions sprung on the reput
lican state committee meeting by
former Governor Odell few days ago
in spirit of bad faith do not appear
to have harmed Hughes In the least.
There are many reasons for this. In
the first place Ex-Governor Odell Is
very unpopular even with the men
who once followed him, and there Is
disposition among the practical re-
publican politician to regard him In
the light of mischief-maker and he
hence not safe man to follow
Then the eyes OF the people are Fixed
upon the contest which is going on
between Governor Hughes and the
state legislature. And Governor
Hughes is smart man enough to ar
que one thing at time, and that
done we'll Is a very good rule, as
many can tell. This is, however,
characteristic of Hughes. He does
insist upon doing the duty that lies
nearest, and Is not swerved from the
path marked out by rainbow chasers.
This was apparent in the municipal
campaign Of 1905, when he refused to
drop the life insurance Investigations
To become the republican nominee for
mayor against Mcclellan. a democrat,
and Hearst, the independent. Clever
was that refusal can now be seen In
the light Of results. He must inev-
itably have been defeated for mayor.
but he Is governor now. And yet at
the time the republican politicians
offered to nominate hiu-a new man
in politics-the offer must have
seemed tempting one.
Political writer's are everywhere as
serting that as result of the fierce
internal fight which has been going
on in Ohio, Taft has lost ground dur
ing the past week, and that an effort
is making among the Pittsburg news.
papers to swing the political pendu-
lum from Taft to Senator Knox.
Yet even tyro knows that this must
be meaningless, since the nomina-
ton Of a favorite son cannot he ar
gued as political necessity in Penn.
sylvania, with its enormous republi-
can majorities, while 1t might be ar.
gued as political necessity In New
York state for Hughes to be named.
Then his close connections with the
steel interests OF Pitlsburg are
enough to prevent Knox being nom-
mated by republican convention
which expected its candidate to win.
1t is true that Governor Hughes has
connections equally close with the
Standard Oil company, but in New
York nobody pays much attention to
what his lawyer-neighbor is doing,
and hence Hughes has escaped the
fierce white light that beats around
the throne. Hughes has always BEEN
a prime favorite with the powers at
No. 26 Broadway. He is a warm per-
sonal friend OF the elder and the
younger Rockefeller, and much Of his
present popularity may be traced TO
the fact that today the Standard oil
corporation is deftly stacking tie
cards In his favor.
Besides, the strong argument is
that he carried New York state
against Hearst and that be can do 1t
again. And inasmuch as 1t looks AS
though the Bryan men and the