New-York tribune., 1908-08-22
LEADERS GO SLOWLY.


For obvious reasons the individual leaders
are backward about coming out too suddenly
with change of their views. The problem
to Just how the official announcement of the
Change in sentiment" shall be made will be
left to Timothy L. Woodruff. chairman of the
state committee, who is deep in the Adj
rondack woods. There a rumor yesterday
that he had departed Immediately for New
York on learning the result of the Oyster Bay
conference Tt stated at state headquar-
ters in the afternoon that he was not expected
in the city until Monday morning.
When the state chairman returns he will
find a large of letters bearing on the
Hughes situation. They come from all parts
of the state. In addition to these, there are
some five thousand postal cards, returns from
more than twice that number sent out last
week asking the recipients to state their posi-
ton on the denomination Of the Governor
It is expected that there will be an influx Of
upstate leaders at state headquarters next
week to talk the situation. When they
departed after the meeting of the Republican
State Committee recently the consensus OF
opinion among them seemed TO be that the hos
tflity OF some of the more outspoken leaders
might result in the defeat of the Governor for
denomination
WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY STAND.
Now the leaders want TO know just where
thev stand, and it will be the duty Of Mr.. Wood
riff 10 tell them II is understood that he will
try before reaching the city to get into touch
with one of the persons who was present at the
Oyster Bay conference or the second conference
on the yacht trip from Rye.
Michael j. Dady one of Mr.. Woodruffs lieu
tenants in Brooklyn who is thoroughly con-
versant with the situation there, was at Saga
more Hill on Thursday and talked over the
Hughes problem with the others. He said yes
terday he could disclose what said
done AS for his personal opinion. he sure
Governor Hughes would be renominated
ct have been of the opinion that the Governor
should be renominated ever since he made the
declaration that he would accept such an honor"
added Mr. Dadg There is other candidate
who could be named who measures up to Gov
ernor Hughes in any way. Although 1t is pos
sibIe that he might have been more diplomatic
in many things that is only his way. The peo-
ple demand the denomination of the Governor.
and unquestionably that is the best thing that
can be done both for the state and national
tickets The sentiment for the denomination of
the Governor has made itself felt in in
creasng strength recently.
1t was learned yesterday that at the sugges-
ton of the President. who had been much per-
picked oy the WlueLy varying IepoltS ne Ie-
ceived regarding the Hughes sentiment In GER
tain districts, Chairman Hitchcock made a poll
of such districts Those selected We're ones
which il was believed would fairly indicate the
sentiment In various parts OF the state
Mr. Hitchcock had the result of the poll when
ne went to Oyster Bay on Thursday. This poll
showed that no other man mentioned as a Gov
ernorship possibility came anywhere near hav
ing as much strength that shown by Gov
ernor Hughes. The expressions OF sentiment
thus developed showed clearly. 1t is said. that
q failure to renominate the Governor would
have bad effect not only on the state ticket
but also on the national ticket.
Mr.. Hitchcock does not intend to make the
result of these polls public, but it is known
that 1t was surprising to some Of the lead
ers who had been deorying the Hughes senti-
ment.