The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-03-12

employe. bat should also be borne by
the employer. More far reaching
la~s In this direction have been
adopted In England aud Germany
AMI more progressive counties where
they are giving entire satisfaction.
A similar bill viii be introduced
within a few days by the same rep.
resentative providing for benefits TO
employees In the public service OF the
United States, excepting the army
and navy, who sustain the injuries
In their duties. Whether either bill
will get out OF the committee in this
congress may be doubted. But both
deserve passage.
A Washington newspaper has gone
somewhat into detail In estimating
the chances Of Hughes election. Its
figures are interesting, though it is
difficult to believe that they are ae-
curate. They were compiled by men
whose names are not given, but two
OF whom / know. The ones l do
know are certainly not enthusiastic
for Hughes.
Summarized the prophecy is that
Hughes will be nominated ON the
fourth ballot. The claim Is made
that Taft on the first ballot will get
about three hundred and thirty three
votes or about one hundred and fifty
short of the nomination. On the
second ballot they show a slight gain
for Taft. and heavy gain fol
Hughes, with loss Of thirty votes
to speaker Cannon. To my mind this
is the weakest point TO the argu'
ment. That on the third ballot
Hughes will gain forty votes and
Taft twenty-five. The gain Il
Hughes coming from Cannon, from
Foraker. and from Knox. On the
fourth ballot they figure Taft 364,
Hughes 5O6, Cannon eliminated.
Four hundred and ninety-one votes
being necessary to a choice, this
would nominate Hughes.
The theory is that the Cannon vote
and the Pennsylvania vote for Knox
will 60 to Hughes. l have expressed
sometimes doubt as to the value OF
polls and Of prophecies. Conceding
to this effort to forecast the action OF
the convention every possible pur-
pose OF honesty, must still question
its probability. 1t is my impression
that the forces behind Speaker Can
non, while not at present numerical
ly strong, have got the sticking
quality. He has his own state be.
hind him, not merely as matter OF
state pride, but as a matter OF per-
sonal and political devotion. II the
machine should run remorselessly
over all candidates except Roosevelt
or Taft, the Cannon men will get up
and keep on lighting. II it is to be
accumulation upon some man not
selected by the administration, my
guess IS Cannon rather than Hughes.
The attitude OF Governor Hughes
towards national questions Is the
half way position between Roosevelt
and the reactionaries. This Is evil
dent when one compares the recent
message OF the president, with the
great speech of the governor. Roose
welt strikes out into democratic
fields anew-purloining more OF Mr..
Bryan's clothes. His message sounds
more like Senator JET Davis address
ing a friendly democratic rally Ia
Kansas than like republican presi'
dent addressing hostile republican
congress.
1t is evident that Governor
Hughes is playing politics, and play
ing 1t we'll. lie has placed himself
on record as praising the president
In very general terms. That ought
to please the presidents friends. or
certain specific issues, however, he
nas most pointedly assailed the
Roosevelt politics. That ought to
please tie presidents enemies. He
is playing both erds against the mid
die. No one can say that Hughes
has not gone as far as Taft In the
acceptance OF Roosevelt doctrine
But 1T cannot be said OF Hughes, al
Is said OF Taft. that he wears th,
Roosevelt collar. He has placet
himself In the attitude OF lcgica
compromise between those wht
neither want Rooseyelt's man o
Roosevelt's policies, and those ~h'
want both Roosevelt's man ant
Roosevelt's policies. He has en-
dorsed Roosevelt In general terms
He has assailed him with veile'
thrusts more specifically. Hughe
holds the pole 10 the republican pres
idential race. He is great politi
clan.
Against him In this contest Is pit
ted the most consummate POLITICAL
In American history-Tbeodor
Roosevelt. Any one who imagine
that the presidents message was nc
INTENDED to kill several birds wit
one stone sadly underestimate tn
political skill Of the man in th
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