New-York tribune., 1908-09-16
FAILURE OF HILL BOOM.
Root Thre1C Cold Water on II, and
1t Soon Perished.
GBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

| saratoga, sept. Io.-Ine 'lnslue story
OF the governorship boom of David Jayne HILL
| Ambassador to Germany, engineered at a late
| hour when historic shifts are so often made in
nominating conventions furnishes a dramatic
| chapter of the convention story 1t probably
| is not putting 1t too strongly to say that, If
| Secretary Root had not been in the conference
late last night in Chairman Woodruff's room.
alert to prevent surprises and forceful enough
| TO stand fast for the right thing, Ambassador
| Hill might to-day be the nominee of the Re-
| publicans.
George W. Aldridge. the Rochester leader a
| past master in convention politics, was the
| author of the Hill boom. Mr.. Aldridge had
| Dr. Hill in mind for forty-eight hours before
| he took any one into his confidence. His plan
| was to wait until the convention was in session
before passing the name of DR. Hill around. be-
| lieving that 1t could then be jumped through
before the President would have time to commu-
nicate with the Ambassador Mr.. Aldrdge rea-
soned that If the convention nominated DR..
Hill and adjourned before the Ambassador could
he consulted the President could not interfere.
DR.. Hill formerly president of the Univer-
sty of Rochester and Mr.. Aldridge knew his
qualifications. The Rochester leader also knew
that Secretary Root would do his best to sup
press any movement for sidetracking the Gov
ernor. That is why ne planned to wait until
when Secretary Root would be on the platform
without knowledge of what was going on among
the delegates.
The hitch occurred when Chairman Woodruff
called a conference of the advisory committee
in his cottage at the United States Hotel. Mr.
Adridge sat in the conference. but did no talk
ing until after Il became apparent that the lead
ers would not unite either Speaker Wads-
worth. Senator White. William Berri. exRep-
resentative Stewart. OF Amsterdam. Justice
Woodward. He did not want to uncover his
plan while Secretary Root was in the room. but
it became apparent that the conference would
soon break up without doing anything, and he
was forced to broach his plan then not at all
1t was about IL o'clock when he sprung the
name of DR.. Hill on his colleagues.
I'VE need a man OF the caIibre OF Hughes, and
with the same unobjectionabe qualifications
that Hughes had before he became Governor
said Mr.. Aldridge. The man I have in mind
has been Assistant Secretary OF State, the presi
dent of a university. and at present is Ambas-
sador to Berlin"
There were exclamatons OF surprise and satis
faction all around the room. Mr.. Hendricks was
satisfied, and Ex-Governor OdeIl. Mr..
Ward thought it a good suggestion, and
so did Mr.. Fassett and Chairman Woodruff.
Herbert Parsons said nothing.
MR. ROOT WARNS NTI-HUGHES MEN.
1t was up to Secretary Root to say some
thing and he did not wait. He told the con-
ferrees that Ambassador Hill indeed
high class and all that Mr.. Aldridge had
said but he reminded the leaders that President
Roosevelt and Mr. Taft had expressed prefer
enCe for Governor Hughes. and he told the
leaders that the national committee expected
the convention to carry out the wishes OF Mr..
said that If the Presidents statement of Mon
day was not sufficient he in a position to
assure the leaders that something more would
be said both by the President and by Mr.. Taft.
Mr.. Roots words had chilling effect on the
Hill boom. Mr. Root excused himself and
went to his room. leaving the leaders to talk
over the Hill boom. They did talk IL over and
the more they talked the better they seemed
to like it. hasty canvass made. and il
said that there were at least six hundred
anti Hughes votes without counting Erie.
When the practical suggestion was made that
the other candidates get OF the race as
to give DR.. Hill fair chance against the Gov
ernor there objections. The friends of
Speaker Wadsworth said that it would be very
nice to have a new man against whom nothing
could be said candidate. but they did not
want TO retire Mr.. Wadsworth. Mr.. Parsons
said he for Hughes. and that the Hill
proposition did not appeal to him.
With every one thinking that DIR. Hill would
make good candidate. the leaders could not
get together
When o'clock this morning every one
was getting weary and William l.. Ward started
away. He followed minute two later
by Lucius n. Littauer and Ex-Governor Odell.
George J. Smith and Colonel George w. Dunn
were the next to go, followed by Herbert Par
sons and Colonel John r. Mott.
This the juncture where the Hill boom
went to pieces and where Hughes broke down
all opposition but the anti-Hughes conferrees
would not admit it. They said that the question
was still unsettled and would be taken up again
In the morning, knowing all the time that 1t
would be harder to get together on DIR. Hill In
the morning. 1t expected that another con-
ference would take place this forenoon, and
there would be another attempt to unite on DIR.
Hill. but called because Chairman
Woodruff did not believe that it of any
to carry the opposition to the Governor any fur
ther. MIR. Woodruff, while not taking the lead
against the denomination OF the Governor. was
standing shoulder to shoulder with Barnes. Hen
bricks, Fassett and Aldridge in casting about
for who would command the full or
ganization support. Furthermore, the Presl-