The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-14
BG RlPETU
10 Boom ;
HIS NEW YORK SPEECH AIDED
HIM AND GAVE SETBACK TO
HUGHES.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-While Wild
enthusiasm upon the part of crowds
has not marked the visit OF Secretary
Taft to this city upon what is recog'
nized as his first effort in New York
TO win votes for himself in the next
national convention, the cordial greet
ing which was extended to him in that
particular quarter where opposition
was supposed to be most evident has
had its discouraging effect upon the
Presidential boom of Gov. Hughes.
1t had been the contention of the
Hughes men In this State that even
with the implied support of the Pres,
ident of the United States Secretary
Taft would not be able to win the
nomination because of his attitude to-
ward labor organizations, and 1t had
been predicted that when he appeared
before the Peoples Institute in Coo.
per Union and faced the questions that
would be put to him upon labor mat
tiers the secretary would find out that
the opposition Of the labor unions was
real tangible quality.
What really happened is that Secre-
tary Taft not only made a most favor
able impression upon those who were
expected to crltIcise his position upon
labor matters, but revealed clearly
that all the talk about the hostility OF
the labor unions toward him will
amount to very little. indeed, even in
the midst of presidential campaign,
when such matters are usually exag.
gerated. Mr.. William R. Hearst, who
has believed for months that Secretary
Taft would be the candidate of the
Republicans. had prepared a large
amount of ammunition, based upon
Secretary Tafts decisions in labor dis.
putes. to be used against the Secre.
tary in the forthcoming national cam.
paign. The guns with which this am.
munition was to be fired have been
pretty effectualIy spiked by Secretary
Taft himself, and It has been plain
that the Democrats cannot rely upon
the hope of making campaign against
Mr.. Taft based upon his supposed at.
titude toward organized labor.
Setback to Hughes Boom.
Nor can the boomers of Governor
Hughes find ground for encouragement
either in the announcement of the
Presidents opinion as to the certain,
ty OF Taft's nomination, nor in the
cordially with which the Secretary
was greeted In Governor Hughes own
State. Great enthusiasm characterize
ed the public appearances of Govern
or Hughes, but his close friends now
admit that the movement in support
OF his nomination for the presidency
has begun to recede, having sustain
ed two serious blows in the past few
days. Since the Presidents announce
ment of his own opinion and secre
tary Taft's successful handling of the
knotty questions propounded by the
representatives of the labor unions
those who are DESTROYS of occupying
the best seats upon the band wagon
are evidently in doubt now as to
whether the Hughes band wagon offers
SO nearly an attractive opportunity as
the Taft band wagon.
1t is no secret that the recent dol.
lar dinner given in this city for boom.
ing Governor Hughes was not the suc.
cess which its promoters expected #
to be. and the possibility. in view of
recent events OF the governors re.
celving the endorsement of the Re.
publican State committee is now more
remote than It has been for some
months.
Wall Streets Attitude.
WINE perhaps the attitude of Wall
street toward Secretary Taft is of no
great significance, it may be stand
that because Of the secretary's recent
Endorsement Of all of the so.caIIed
roosevelt policies the anonciers :,
me street, who are strongly opposod
10 President Roosevelt, do not look
upon the probability Of Secretary
rats nomination with any degree ~
citation. The Wall street view Of soc
retary Taft Is that, while ut heart ho
IS much more conservative than Pros,
iaent Roosevelt and less likely to dis,
turD public confidence, he is commit,
Tea to a policy to which Wall street ~
tributes with more persrstencv than
logic the recent financial panic, pn,
between Bryan, the agftator. and Taft
the former Judge and man of AFFAIRS
there would be no question as to how
the financial interests would choose
wall street doesn't want BRYAN. n
doesn't want Taft nor does it want
Hughes, but Of the htrce men 1t fears
Taft the least, and would regard his