The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-31
TAfT.nUGnES
FIGHT IS ON
POLITICAL FoREcAsTERs SAY It
ls ONE OR THE OTHER.
TAFT HAS THE WEST
new Works Governor, However,
seems to Be Stronger in the En-.
pire state and In New England.
Hughes Speech is Awaited.

pire State and In New England.
Hughes speech is Awaited.
Washington, Jan. 30.-Washington
politicians and observers Of the trend
Of political events look upon the
speech to be delivered by Governor
Hughes at a reception to be given at
the Republican club, In New York
City, tomorrow night as likely to he
the most important utterance yet
made in the battle royal now beng
waged for the Republican presidential
nomination. With the New York
chief executive openly in the field, the
Taft boomers have redoubled their ef
forts, Taft sentiment in the west IS
apparently daily gaining in strength,
but in the east and the New England
states Hughes looms as a Formidable
figure in the eyes Of those who q shor.
time ago were jubilantly declaring
that Taft already had the nomination
in his pocket.
The announcement of Governor
Hughes proposed entrance into the
lists tomorrow night came suddenly
upon the Taft adherents and found
them %unprepared to protect the In
terests of their candidate in New
York, New Jersey and New England,
where the tide has apparently already
turned Hughesward. 1t had been gen
orally supposed, and taken for granted
by the Taft men, that the governors
frst announcement Of his position on
the tariff, railroad matters and other
national issues would be made on
sWashington's birthday, February ",
in a speech he had promised to deliver
in Chicago. A d~eliverance on these
questions nearly a month in advance
az that date means that the Huges
boom will be on in full blast weeks
before its announcement was ex-
pected.
Looks Like Taft.
That Taft still has the best chance
OF landing the presidential plum Is
the general opinion Of expert political
forecasters, but the entrance Of Hugh
es into the race has rendered the task
of the Taft managers doubly difficult
1t is feared by the ~secretary's sup
porters that IL he should fail Of suf1c1
emit votes to nominate on the first few
ballots, many state delegations nov
placed in the Taft column might be
swung to the New Yorker. The othel
presidential observation-disclosures
Cannon, Knox, Cortelyou, Shaw ant
La Follette-are also jubilant at thu
active entrance Of Huges into thu
race, believing that, with Hughes anf
Taft lined up in almost equal battle
any one Of the possibilities might bt
agreed upon as a compromise candi
date.
Few Of the leaders In the house o.
senate will openly discuss the presi
Dental situation, but a few have Offer
ed opinions as to the effect that thu
entrance Of Huges into the lists vii
have upon the other candidates
Among those was Senator Plat, tn
aged scion Of the Empire state. VIII
referred to Hughes as the pig In tn
poke and declared that he would b
wholly unable to land the New Yorl
delegation.
Calls Hughes Evasive.
"Governor Hughes position on tn
presidential nomination, like his pos
ton on everything else, is eyasive an
vague" declared Plat. New Yor
state. Is not going to offer a crosse,
aminer for president Of the Unite
States as her 'favorite son. Befor
Governor Hughes can hope to get tn
New York delegation to the Republ
8& Can uALlOudl COuNCAI1OAS ny WIZ AhA
to submit to a thorough cross-exami1
alton himself as to where he stand
on the national issues of the can
paign."
Senators Dick and Foraker Of Obi
are jubilant at-the announcement
Hughes as a presidential candidate
In regard to Hughes, Senator Die
said: S
THE Hughes candidacy will add e
citement and interest to the race fl
the Republican nomination. 1t NEAR
that New York will send an anita
delegation to the convention. Fro,
reports / have received from the Yves
Hughes is rapidly becoming popul'
In that section Of the country and wi
give Taft a close race for some of IL
western state delegations"
TUG siNKs-cREW SAVED.
Vancouver, Jan. 30.-J. s. Emerson
tug Erin sank last Sunday at So
Gate island, Seymour inlet. and h
AsSM1 HE4tEN1M E~ -sN.- Ia