Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-23
Politicians Concede That En-
pire State is Big Factor in
Presidential Race
HUGHES MUST BE CONSIDERED
Would Help Republicans II on Ticket
.. Candidate for Some High Office
Hearst an Uncertain Quantity-sec.
rotary Roots Suggestion. for Senator
Receives Strong Support.

Washington, May 22.--lt is coming
fast to be recognized that the state OF
New York will likely be once more
this year the pivotal state of the I'M
ion, in a presidential contest. From time
to time good deal of talk is heard that
New York is no longer necessary to
either party, if it would win the coun-
try; but the talk is little considered
by practical politicians. These call
culate that New York is today Just as
much the determining state as 1t ever
was before.
& A vast deal Of attention is being
given to Empire state affairs, especi-
ally by the republicans. Their party
has some peculiar difficulties there,
which complicate the national situa-
ton. Governor Hughes has come to
be good deal of an idol with the ele-
ment that IN 1884 won the title of
mugwumps, and tina. since that day
has been called by various names less
suggestive of opprobrium and more
indicative Of respectful attitude on
the part of the politicians. Governor.
Hughes is widely regarded as one of
the two republicans who could carry
the state, and Theodore Roosevelt is
looked upon as the other. There may
be other men who could do so, but
none of them inspires the confidence
that is felt in these two.
That the governor ought to be some
where In the running--as a candsdate
for governor. for president. for ,ice
president, or as a prospective senaipt
lis widely accepted as the dictate Of,
good politics. The trouble IS that the
politicians, even those who believe he
would help the ticket, are against him
for the reason that he is considered
an utterly impossible party man. And
the man who would have the politi-
clans support in New York must be
d good party man.
This question of carrying New York
as receiving great attention just now
among the political managers. The
are uncertain what sort
of factor William r. Hearst will be
this year. They look to him to con-
tribute greatly to their chance of car
rying the country, and especially New
York, If he shall become candidate
for president. Whether any other
man, nominated by the Independence
party, could do as much is doubted.
a Mr.. Hearsts intentions, however,
are a sealed book If Mr.. Hearst has
confided them to anybody, that per-
son is deaf and dumb. The politicians
of both parties want to know, and
cannot learn. 1t is reported that Mr..
Hearst is going to leave the country
before any of the national conven-
tions are held, and that he will remain
in Europe until after the republican,
democratic and independence parties
nave held their gatherings.
People who have way of studying
these things recall that when Mr..
Hearst was nominated for mayor of
New York he was in France, and rea-
soning by analogy, they express the
opinion that while he is in Europe on
this years tripj he will be nominated
FOR president. If SO, they expect him
to be a most important factor in the
national fight.
The suggestion of Secretary Root
for senator from New York has been
circulated with persistence and enthu-
siasm Indeed, there is reason to
think that he is the choice of the re-
publicans who want to make the
strongest possible fight for control of
the state this year. The Gotham poll
iticians have been busily warming
the ways between Washington and
New York Of late, comforting and dis
GUESSING and worrying about the situ-
alton; but the program has not been
framed, or il framed has not been
confined to anybody on the outside of
q very small group. The president is
the most astute and powerful poll |
tician in New York, and it is generally
conceded that the course which he
tlnally dictates will be adopted.
Once more is the suggestion brought |
forward, of building a new residence
for the president of the United States.
The idea has been in good many |
minds for years. This year the public !
buildings appropriation bill contains an
item Of s550000 to purchase large
tract of land in Meridian Hill subdi- |
vision of Washington, nominally for
park purposes, but. as many people be-
lieve, with the purpose OF ultimately |
making it site for private, family |
residence for the president.
The idea is to have two residences, |
an official and a personal one. It is |
not proposed by any means to deprive |
The beautiful and historic old White |
House from the place it retains in the |
traditions and the affections Of the ma
ZION. Rather, the object is to preserve
it as the heirloom of the nation; an
official palace in which the state func-
lions would be held, but more accessi-
BILE to the general public than it is
low, and to be used as the official Of
ice building Of the president. The pri-
,ate residence would be some two
miles north, on the second plateau
above the Potomac, in the midst of the
finest modern residence section Of the
,ity. and accessible, from the present
White House, by way of the splendid
Sixteenth street boulevard.
The proposed Meridian Hill site would
,e an ideal location for such an es-
ablfshment as the private residence Of
he president There is an ample area
4 ground, and 1t is peculiarly suscep-
ible of landscape gardening and archt-
ectural adornme nt.
The expectation is that there will be
10 immediate demand for placing a
law executive residence upon it, but
hat for some time to come it will he
eld as park. However, the idea OF
III SJx,,c 1