The Washington herald., 1908-01-23

| from the columbia OattcFy1 Washington, u, q.
/ New York Republicans should work for
/ the nomination of Gov. Hughes.
| Oscar S. Straus, Secretary Of Commerce
and Labor, would say this only:
II regard Hughes as an excellent can
/ didate, but I regard Taft as "a better one.
| Representative Alexander, of Buffalo,
| expressed the sentiment Of upstate Re
/ publican Congressman, when he said. In
/ the light of Mr.. Hughes letter. / think
! 1t would be a very proper thing for New
| York TO present him as a candidate"
He is growing faster than any candi-
date in the race" declared Representa-
tive Littlefeld. of Maine. He will have
great strength I'm New England, i'm my
opinion"
New York Solid for Him.
Representative Calder, Of Brooklyn,
said that the letter Of Gov. Hughes meant
that the governor would have the solid
support Of New York State I'm the Chi
cago convention. Mr. Calder said he
strongly favored Hughes for President.
He thinks he is the strongest man the
Republicans can nominate He will have
the support of more independent voters
than any man who is mentioned for the
Presidency" said the Brooklyn Repre-
sentative.
Until Tuesday night the active opposi-
ton TO Mr.. Taft's nomination had been
made up of a loosely knit combination
of the friends and partisans OF Fairbanks.
Cannon, Knox. Cortelyou, and. to a less
extent. la Toilette The opposition also
included politicians OF national conse-
quence not attached 10 any candidate. but
who, for one reason or another, are op-
posing a continuance of the Roosevelt
domination in the Republican party. Be
cause of the coalition between the friends
Of Fairbanks. Cannon and Knox. this
opposition has become known az the
"allies," or allied forces" The White
House term for the group is "conspira-
tors or ''reactiouaries"
Cranes Influence Growing.
This opposition had not made great
hesdway, for lack Of "a leader. until re-
Gently. when circumstances have COM
bined TO put Senator Crane. of Maysachu-
sets. i'm the seat Of authority. Senator
Crane has not committed himself 10 any
Of the Republican candidates. but il ,g
pretty generally understood that he is on
posed TO the nomination of Mr. Taft. and
has definitely. though not publicly. broken
off his One-time close political relations
with President Roosevelt In the last ten
days the various elements composing the
opposition to Mr.. Taft have been seeking
Senator Cranes advice more often and
more fully than before.
IL has been the generally understood
plan Of the allied forces" not TO combine
on a candidate until the time of the con
vention but % devote all their present
efforts 10 securing uninstructed delega-
tons from the various States not definite
ly committed TO a "favorite son"
The situation that had arisen between
these two. contending forces was fraught
with dissensious and disaster to the Re
publican party. The Federal crowds"
fight in New York State against Hughes
the charges that Federal patronage was
being employed to whip reluctant State
delegations into line. the rejection of
Presidential nominations in the Senate
had all combined 10 bring about a condi-
ton OF affairs that gave the utmost con-
Germ to that large number of Republicans
who make a fetch OF party harmony.
and who set success at the polls ahead Of
everything else.
"Hanna" i'm White House.
Before Mr.. Hughes announcement of
his candidacy the national Republican sit
uaticn in a broad way Of speaking. was
this:
On the one side was Secretary Taft,
backed by the fun political strength of
President Roosevelt and the national adj
ninistratiou. Since his auti-third term
pronouncemeEt President Roosevelt has
been openly. actively, and aggressively
managing the Taft campaign, and the un-
usual spectacle has been presented Of
Mark Hanna in the White House striving
openly to make his Secretary Of War his
successor.
The spectacle Of the President Of the
United States as an active political man
ager and some Of the methods attributed
60 him have shocked the friends of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, the civil-service reformer.
and those Of Secretary Taft idealist in
politics. Al the same time, the methods
and activities Of the President have al
frighted the leaders of the opposition
That was the situation which. from
a purely Republican viewpoint, Gov.
Hughes declaration has done much 10 re-
lieve and clarity.
RES0TUTInN AGAIN FATS