Evening star., 1908-01-22
GOVERNOR HUGHES
ANNOUNCEMENT
Interest in 1t Felt at the
Capitol.
COMMENT OF THE DAY
Criticism of Administration Use of
Power in Taft's Behalf.
Is NO PERSONAL OBJECTION
Dissatisfaction by Congress as to
the Methods by Which Cam
paign Is Promoted.
COMMENT OF THE DAY
Criticism of Administration Use of
Power in Taft's Behalf.
Is NO PERSONAL OBJECTION

Profound interest was manifested at the
Capitol today. among politicians, over the
announcement of Gov Hughes that he is
willing to consider favorably the efforts
TO secure his nomina ton for the presi-
siency on the republican ticket. 1t was
the consensus of opinion that the decla-
ratior came at an interesting crisis n the
contest over the nomination.
One feature of the comment OF the day
was caustjc comparison of the official atti-
tude of Gov. Hughes toward the pro-
spective campaign for the nomination
with President Roosevelts use of his
official position to forward Secretary
Tafts political fortunes. Senator'S and
representatives, in private conversation,
called attention to that part of Gov.
Hughes statement wherein he said: The
state admins: ra ton must continue to be
impartial and must not be tributary to
any candidacy. : =" and desire, above all
things. that there shall be deliberation,
honest expression of the party VIII ana
harmony OF effort.
Criticism by Party Leaders.
There has been bitter criticism by re-
.publicans in Congress who are promine Mt
in the councils OF their party over the
administration use of its power in behalf
of Secretary Tar's nomination. Within
the past week some of these republicans
had begun to fear that the nomination
might go to Mr.. Taft by default, and that
the precedent would be set of the Presi-
dent In Office selecting his own successor
and using all the power Of his high office
10 make his choice effective.
Objection to Alr. Taft personally. there
tSero ty(,yr thn 1af h
odS by which his campaign was being
promoted there was in plenty. with keen
resentment OF ,ne administrators par
Iicipatipn.
RI was the tl,eatened precedent which
the republican leaders feared. Once
tablished. the vast possibilities for future
application of it alarmed them Tney
saw how ii would De possible in case
Mr. Taft should be nominated and elected
for him TO return the favor in 1912 or
1916 and use the influence of his ad-
ministrauon, for instance, TO secure the
nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt, thereby max
ink the presidential office Of sue
oession AT the will of the occupant.
But those who felt and expressed this
dissatisfaction and resentment have not
: been doing anything about it. They would
meet in committee rooms and lobbies and
exchange protests with each other, de-
pior1ng the conditions. but would get no
further. There vas concert of oppo-
sition 10 the Presidents aggression in be-
a campaign. Lightning rods were up here
and there but meanwhile the Taft light
ming was striking everywhere, and RoOse-
Welt was the rainmaker who was bring
Ing IL. The country at large outside of
the "favorite son. states was not aware
that any one else was in the running but
Secretary Taft. and in those states the
impression was abroad that the favortte
sons were but stalking horses for some
one else. Whom that some one else
sEgu'I prove 10 be no one knew
Situation in New York Chaotic.
The situation in New York was realized
10 be chaotic. Gov. Hughes would no;
ralk. and while strong efforts were being
made TO forward his candidacy he kept
silent. The Taft men, backed by the di-
rect and recognized representatives OF
President Roosevelt throughou, the state.
were busy building up sentiment for Mr.
Taft. That the! were making headway.
due largely TO the administration ef-
forts. was shown in the two meetings OF
the republican county committee when
President Parsons the Presidents resi-
dent agent in New York city blocked ef-
forts to secure an Endorsement hr- that or
Ranization of Gov. Hughes for the nresi-
Genry.
The politicians in Congress who Oh
1ected 10 the plan OF campaign pursued
by the administration forcsaw that ;f
New York state should seem to be swing
Ing to Taft his campaign would b.. i'm
measuraoly benefited Throughout tbe
country. II is known here that strong
Isplesen,atons TO this effect have been
repeatedly made to Gov. Hughes within
tne past fortnight. He was urged NOT 10
allow New York TO go by default
was said at the Capitol TODAY that
'roE. Hughes announcement Of last night
means that from this time on there is to
he tight IN New York on the ,drpi,;s.
tration 3 efforts to swing the state TO the
administrators choice. Politicians were
% no. Ieaos ,oday 10 prophesy the outcome
out even the hackers Of Mr. Taft ad-
nitted that the administration will not
nave walllorer N New York
me erect Of the announcement. It IS
ss!o: VII also be felt in the "favorite
Tor the faTorfte son. Pennsylvania will
stand firm for Senator Knox. Illinois
Tor Speaker Cannon. Indiana for Vice
'dehI sfes Ia riIatt na.roanks Wisconsin for SEN
Minis. II New York should lean 70 Gov
Hughes the spectacle would be presented
of some Of the biggest republican states
with the most influential delegations 90
ing into the convention opposed to SEC
re:ary Taft II they could rally sum
oient support from other states espe-
cially from the south. to prevent Secre-
tary Tafts nomination the first or
second ballot politicians believe that an
interesting situation would result
Efforts in the South.
1t Is very evident that earnest efforts
will be made to counteract the admins
trations attempt to swing the southern
states into line with the aid Of the fed
eral officehoiders. who, In some of the
southern states. dominate republican
politics. The statement issued by ex-Goy
Kellogg and ex-senator Chandler. an
pealing for uninstructed delegations. is
only the forerunner Of other efforts to be
made along the same line.
Gov. Hughes announcement was con-
srrued by politicians at the Capitol ia
day to mean that there will be ginger in
he campaign from now on and that the
administration has a tgnt on its hands
In earnest. They pointed out that il will
not be consistent for the President ia
claim that this opposition TO his favorit J
is opposition OF the reactionaries Gov
Hughes. they said. cannot be put in that
class. since his nomination for governor
was urged by President Roosevelt and
he has stood for reforms in state admin
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