The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-22
Governor IntimaIsS TbaI People
 Must Select Leader
ACT2E} < PARTY INTERESTS
$ "er To Letter From Republican / Expressing Choice of Hughes
 For President the Governor Arranses For Meeting.

Albany, N. Y, January 21.-Gov Hughes tonight publicly declared his attitude toward the move in favor of HIS nomination for the presidency in letter ito James S. Lehmaier. New
 fork' acknowledging notification of the resolution of endprsement recently passed by the republican club and a,-
 pointing Intervening of Friday of next
 week for meeting with the club at
 which he intimates he will still more
 definitely declare himself.
 T am deeply sensible of the honor
 conferred upon me- says the governor.
 oy my Fellow members of the Repub-
 lican club, in the passage of the reso-
 luton to which you refer, and it will
 give me pleasure to accept the invi-
 tation. In accepting it, it is proper for
 me to- restate my position.
 extremely desire that the senti-
 ment of the party shall have the freest
 expression and that such action shall
 be taken as will be for it's best in
 terests.
 "I do not seek office nor shall I
 attempt to influence the selection or
 vote for any delegate. The state ad-
 ministration must continue to be im-
 partial and must not be coAtributory
 to any candidacy
 Il have no interest in any factional controversy and desire above all things
 that there shall be deliberation, honest
 expression of the party will, and har-
 mony of effort.
 "I cannot fail to recognize the great
 honor which the nomination would confer or the obligation Of service which it would impose Nor should care to be tn ought lacking in appre- citation and confidence and esteem which prompt the efforts of tn ose who sincerely desire to bring it about. The matter is one for the party to decide and whatever its decision 1 shall be content
 II shall be glad to meet with the memb CTS of the club as you suggest and to make such further statement as may be appropriate. In view of thu engagements already made 1 do not see how 1t will be possible to have such a meeting before the evening of January 31. And if that date suits your convenience arrangements for the meeting may be made accordingly Lehamier's Letter. The letter of Mr Lehamier to which the governor replies as above, is as fol- lows:
 ''At recent meeting of the Republican club of the city of New York, very large ly attended, a resolution was adopted with practical unanimty, strongly urging the next republican national convention to nominate you for the office of Pres ident of the United States and to that end inviting the cooperation of republi- cans generally
 "The president of the club has appointed a committee of 20 to carry out the pur- pose of the resolution.
 "The committee has entered upon the duties assigned to it and it's efforts have
 met with most gratifying public re- sponse. Under the circumstances 1t has seemed to us that some expression from you would be timely.
 "As chairman of this committee and in the hope that this suggestion may meet with your approval, 1 write to inquire whether you will meet your fellow mem bers of the Republican club at its club house at such time as may suit your con- yenience.