Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-21
POLITICAL
Head Of the Hughes League.

or the candidacy OF Governor hughes
for president have now formed the
Hughes League of the United States,
much on the plan of the Independence
league, with branches in every state.
General Stewart i. Woodford, u prom
inent Republican orator In Conkling's
time, has been chosen head Of the ma
tional Hughes league.
TAFT Wins Ohio Delegation,
Every county In Ohio went for Taft
In the Republican primaries last week
called for the express purpose of de-
termining the party's choice for pres.
ident, the election boards certifying
the Taft delegates elected without OPP
position in counties where primaries
were not held. In only two counties
did Foraker men put up candidates,
and these were defeated. This would
seem to mean that Taft will enter the
Chicago convention with the forty-slx
Ohio delegates in his pocket unques-
toned. But story is afoat at Wash
ington to the effect that Foraker and
Dick WILL head contesting delegation,
was of such a character that their
friends refused to take part. To this
end boiling conventions would have to
be held.
Taft In Michigan.
Secretary Of War Taft was the guest
Of honor at the Lincoln club banquet
at Grand Rapids, Mich, and spoke on
''What Would Lincoln Do Today2" He
believed that Lincoln would have APP
proved Of the Spanish war and Of its
consequent policy Of expansion and
would have fought corporation abuses
In the same way that President Roose-
welt has.
Hitchcock to Manage Taft.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Frank Fl. Hitchcock has retired from
Office in order to devote his whole time
to the Taft campaign in the capacity
Of adviser.
Republican Split In Flerids.
The later advices which told how the
Republican convention Of Florida had
been broken up by row started by
| the anti-Taft faction also disclosed the
beginning of concerted effort Of tho
! antiadministration forces to divide oil
the southern delegations to the nation
| al convention by similar tactics and
| then trust to influence with the COM
mittee on credentials to get contesting
| delegations seated.
| Enrakarsa Hot Ranlv.
Promptly the challenge of the presi-
dent was taken up by Senator Foraker
rising to a question Of personal privi-
lege in the senate, but much laughter
| greeted his attempt to cite documentary
evidence against the president in one
case when 1t became known that. the
man finally appointed, Bryson of Ath-
/ ems, was an out and out Foraker man.
| 1t appears that Representative Doug
lass, a Taft man, had recommended
Bryspn, whose appointment at first had
been held up.
Taft on Special Message.
Secretary Taft made 1t plain in his
speech before the Young Republicans
at Kansas. City, Mo-, that he approved
| most heartily OF the recent special mes
sage of the president. He said that the
sharpness and emphasis with which it
| had met the attack on the administra-
/! ton "had heartened great body Of the
people in renewed support Of the adj
ministratton's policy" Taft went on to
say that vigorous action and measures
are necessary ITO yindicate society as
| ut present constituted" Then after
! speaking of the great work OF Lincoln
he referred to the abuses Of corporate
| power in recent years and said that
1--WE were passing into regime of IT.
| responsible plutocracy" when the Re-
publican party under the leadership of
Roosevelt had come to the rescue. In
the last four years there had been a
great moral awakening to this danger.
Roosevelt Denies Charges.
The expected statement from the
president in reply to widely circulated
charges that he had used federal pat
ronage to aid the candidacy of Secre-
tary Taft came out in the form Of a
; letter to William Dudley Foulke Of In
diana, who had written to the presi-
dent rs friendly inquirer. The presi-
dent says that all such charges are
false and malicious and proceeds to
report in full concerning his appoint
ments, of which 1852 had been made
since March last. OF these 1.l64 were
postmasters, the pest, in the army
navy, scientific bureaus and diplomatic
service, being made without regard to
political affiliations. For the great