The Detroit times., 1908-08-05
HUGHES HAS PARTY
LEADERS IN A
PICKLE
HARDEST NUT FOR REPUBLICANS
TO CRACK IN THIS CAMPAIGN
FEAR HIS NOMINATION AND
DON'T DARE OPPOSE 1T.

CHICAGO, Aug 4.-Walter Well.
man sends the following 20 the Rec
ord-Herald from New York:
1T is a pretty pickle the Republi-
can leaders OF this state find them
selves in. II they nominate Mr..
Hughes for another term they fear
the loss OF the state SO far as the
governorship is concerned and II they
don't renominate him they will pref
ty certainly suffer a crushing defeat.
This is standing between the devil
and the deep, blue sea for fair. What
effect this peculiar situation Is likely
to have upon the presidential vote OF
New York remains To be seen. But II
Is easy To see that the men who are
interested In the Republican national
ticket do not much relish their task
OF trying 10 steer through the narrow
and difficult strait whose defile Is men
aced by the Hughes Scylla on one side
and the Hughes Charybdis on the
other.
AT this time the probabilities are
the Republican machine will be forced
against its will TO nominate the gov
state and OF having the national tick
ct jeopardized. IL II does this II will
do Ii against the wishes OF President
Roosevelt and most OF the organiza
ton men in the state, and will do II
with wry face and simply as q
choice OF evils.
"A few words will suffice to explain
why the Republicans are afraid they
xxvt,,
without him. There are many thou
sands OF voters ready and eager to
put the knife into Hughes II he runs
again and many thousands ready and
eager to put the knife into any other
man named TO run in his stead. This
would not be SO bad IL there was o
fair offset-if those who are against
Hughes would contribute enough votes
to elect some one else, or II those
who are for Hughes would promise
the support necessary to pull him
through. But there is no such Offset
at least none OF adequate or reas.
surfing proportions.
1T is clear that Gov. Hughes has
won the admiration and approval Of
a majority OF the best men and wom-
en- OF the state, without regard TO
their party Affiliations. His snubbing
OF the machine politicians, his race
track and other reforms, his going
ahead with what he believes 10 be
right without asking the permission
OF this or that leader have put him In
class all by himself To most OF the
people he appears as a moral hero.
as one man Of ten millions.
Mr. Roosevelt Is reformer. too.
but he has always managed to work
with and through his party, coaxing
II or driving II and taking from 1t
what he could get. even IL he could not
get all he wanted: often threatening
to quarrel with the party leaders, but
never actually doing so, save with
a minority. Hughes Is OF another
stamp. He defies the whole tribe OF
politicians, OF those OF his own party
as well as OF the other party. He
appeals TO the people. He wins. the
people, and in this way he forces the
hands of the politicians.
ut does not appear TO be generally
known throughout the country that
Gov. Hughes is avery ambitious man.
Here IL Is well understood he was bit
terly disappointed over the failure OF
his presidential movement. His unex'
pected change Of base as to the COVER
norship Is ascribed to desire TO kee.
himself before the public with view
to presidential possibilities In the fu'
ture"