The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-23
HUGHES ADVENT
SERIOUSLY MARS
TAFT PROSPECTS
Effects Complete Change
in Republican Situa-
ton.
Will Aid Unwilling Poll
ticianS to Avoid Taft
Instructions.

The announcement in formal fashion
OF the candidacy Of Governor Hughes
for the Republican Presidential nomina-
tiOn has in large measure reorganized
the whole Republican situation.
In view of the governors announce
ment, the situation, as viewed By poll
ucians, becomes in brief this:
II viii be vastly easier for a great
humber OF political leaders who have
wished to avoid Taft instructions in
their respective States, 10 accomplish
that end
It Will be impossible for Taft 20 get
anything like a united support in
New York.
The States which naturally and ira
ditionally so with New York, such as
New Jersey and much Of New England.
where the governor has support, are
given a tangible issue around which TO
organize their fight for the control of
their delegations as against the Ohio
man
The nomination of Taft on first ballot
can no longer he claimed with anything
like the confidence that has been as
sumed in some recent announcements
from his managers
IL viii now be the policy OF the Taft
1nanag,rs TO urge that the governor is
really q candidate, not because he
wished to be, but because he has been
dragOOned into a contest for delegates
by political leaders OF the anu-ROOseVeit
regime. It viii be insisted that his
candidacy does not really represent his
own progressive views Of public ques-
Sions, but rather stands for the desire of
his supporters in New York to rehabiH-
tate themselves in power.
The question uppermOst IN all minds
now relates to the declaration OF views
that the governor viii make in his
coming speech. His friends believe, and
his opponents fear. that he viii take
such ground, and declare himself so
specifically for progressive policies. that
II Will be impossible for his enemies
TO make much Roadway by charging
that his candidacy is the Trojan horse
by which TeaCtOnaTies propose to get
themselves into the citadel of political
control.
The opposition TO Taft firmly believes
that the Hughes announcement has
come at the psychological crisis. In the
last fortnight there has been a good
deal of evidence in all parts Of the
country that the opposition 10 Taft was
pulling itself together for q determined
effort to prevent the War Secretary s
nomination. In the West great en-
peated developments of the unexpected
strength of La Toilette. Fights of the
most persuasive sort are going on for
the Wisconsin man IN a half score of
States that have been for Taft Lead
ers have been working on plans by
which they hoped TO prevent Taft in
StrUctions. The Hughes candidacy
brings into the equation another factor
70 the disadvantage of Taft
The charge that Taft, II nominated,
must owe the nomination TO the South
ern delegations. from States which viii
have no electoral votes for the RepuD-
ncan party. has been causing concern
In view of the new situation produced
by the advent of Hughes this charge
IS more than ever likely 20 be effective
and to initiate against the man who rs
sull unquest!onably the leading candi-
date in the race.
a There is little doubt IN the minds Of
people who have been closely following
developments OF the political situation.
that the announcement OF Hughes has
been to some extent Influenced by the
determined effort of anti-Taft forces
The fight against Administration CON
troll Of the national convention has de-
Eeloped q degree Of bitterness indicated,
Tor example, by the break between
President and Senate on patronage
matters. Fractional fights have been
growing up In many States, which have
caused unbiased observers to fear that
The accumulation OF antagOnisns might
make TAFT unavailable because of I'M
certainty whether he could be elected
Taft instructions win be vastly hard
-er TO secure in a long list of States dat
pT1Or to the Hughes announcement
seemed most likely to give such instruc-
tons. This is especially true through
out the trans Mississippi country The
bandWagCn politicians are not going 10
be so ready to climb on the Taft car
riage. Certainly there viii be no undue
haste about it until tho new situation
can be more accurately sized up than
IS yet possible.