New-York tribune., 1908-07-30
ALL HANDS OFF STATE
HUGHES UP TO PEOPLE.
Woodruf Says Organization, Presi-
dent Nor Taft Viii Interfere.

Woodruff had a three-hour talk yesterday af-
ternOon at Sycamore Hill about the political
situation in this state At its end State Chair
man woodruff. in response TO numerous ques-
tions, said:
so far as the situation in this state is con-
cerned. and by that / mean the direction and
control of nominations properly within the
province of the delegates. I in position to
say that the Presidents hands are or Mr.
Taft's hands are of and the state organizations
hands are off. The selection of candidate for
Governor rests absolutely with the party as
whOle-the Republican vOters-whose wishes
will be carried out by the delegates in the state
convention.
The President said TO me that far as the
campaign in this state was concerned he should
take hand in it whatever. 1 stated to him
that 1 thought his position entirely wise
and proper, and 1 wish say that is exactly
what I. as chairman Of the state committee.
shall do also. The matter is squareIy up to the
state convention
I'm this connection I wish to call attention
to the very appropriate statement by the Gov
ernor last Friday night. He said: But IL is
my desire that the will of the party to which
I belong should be freely expressed. and that
it shall take such action shall be most
closely in accord with public sentiment I be-
lieve that the people thoroughly understand the
i
ministratoa- and if they desire shall re-
gard it privilege and duty to continue in
office for another term
LEAVES RENOMINATION To PARTY
''In that statement" continued the state chair
man. the Governor leaves his denomination
the will of the party. That will will be
pressed by the delegates TO the state conven-
ton"
Commenting the published reports about
the return of Ex-Governor OdelI to a position OF
prominence in the state organization. Mr.. Wood
ruff said:
Some of the reports with reference to Mr..
Ode1Is appointment to the executive committee
are wrong Mr.. OdeH and Colonel Dunn. both
former chairmen OF the state committee. viii go
on the new executive committee at the meeting
of the state committee on August T. but the
resolution provides that the chairman Of the
state committee shall be chairman of the
ecutive committee There will be eleven men,
bers of the new committee. including the state
chairman and the secretary of the state COM
mittee'
The state chairman went to oyster Bay yester-
day forenoon the train leaving 34th street at
1880 o'clock a government automobile took
him at about 1870 o'clock TO Sycamore Hill.
where he lunched with the President Other
guests at the Presidents home at the time were
Francis B. I4Oomis former Assistant Secretary
of state. and Mr. Needham. magazine writer
Mr. Woodruff had full opportunity TO tell the
President what the various state leaders had
told him about the sentiment for and against the
denomination of the Governor Messrs- Wood
ruff Toon1is and Needham came TO the city
the train leaving Oyster Bay at O'Clock
There is a side to the story not included in
Mr. Woodrufrs statement which has a direct
bearing <on the Governorship situation
EarIv in July State Chairman Woodruff sent
10 the chair1nen of county committees Con-
eressmen. Senators and state committeeman a
letter asking them to see him either at MS
canon in the Adirondacks or at state COMMITTEES
beadouarters in this city Last week foTty-six
,rSSninent Republicans called on Mr. Woodruff
in the Adirondack woods. Since his return
from the woods on Monday the state chairman
has received calls from other leaders. includ-
ing Ex-Governor OdelL
In the difficult situation confronting the state
chairman it appears to be a fact that ne mas
maintained an open mind. He has said over and
over again that he was not opposing the renoI1i-
marion of Governor Hughes. 1t undoubtedly Is
a fact. on the other hand that the various
state leaders who have called on the state
chairman have almost invariably brought news
Of antf-Hughes sentiment among the Republi-
can voters
LITTLE SENTIMENT AT HEADQUARTERS.
,,pstate men of the existence Of sentiment in
favor of the denomination of the Governor, il
has not cropped out at state committee head
quarters TO any extent The friends OF Gov
ernor Hughes are numerous enough. and Re-
publican newspapers telling of Hughes sentf-
mont around the state cOnspicUously nu-
merous but comparatively little pro-Hughes
sentiment or news has reached state headquar-
tiers.
So far as could be learned by Tribune re-
no~teE who spent yesterday at Oyster Bay.
state Chairman Woodruff carried large VOL
urne of anti-Hughes sentiment obtained from
,,pstate leaders. tc, Sycamore HILL and IT is
suued that he told the President what he had
learned
This is wholly an assumption, as Mr. Wood
ruff when asked about il. confined his reply 10
the quotation at the beginning of this article
The Information lodged with the state chairman
about the feeling among Republicans with ~ef-
erence 10 the strength of the Governor as vote
getter if he should be renominated is substaH-
italy as follows;
From Francis Hendricks former State super
intende,,t Of Insurance comes a letter, duph-
cate. cory of which it is understood. was sent TO
tho President saying that at present estimates
Onondaga County would go Democratic by len
thousand if Hughes should be ranoninated
From Buffalo comes the statement that
,,oIonel b H. Butler and Postmaster Gretner
have made "a canvass OF eleven Of the counties
in the western part Of the state, Erie included
and that only two of the eleven Wyoming and
Orleans. controlled by Frederick c. Stevens,
state SUPERINTENDENT OF Public Works. contain
-, ,,r,rounceI sentiment IN favor os the Gov
ernOr's reaoIliaatioh
The Fisher men in Chautauqda report that the
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