The Washington times., 1908-09-03

have weaned the people OF a State like
NJ y York away from even an adequate
conp option of the possibility of the pop
ular element in nominating candidates
So II comes ABOUT that the people who
control things in New York are opposed
instincrvely 20 such an innovation as
popular primary. while the masses OF
people have not much conception OF
what primary nominations would mean.
Consequently the suggestion that Gov
ernOr Hughes would favor a primary
election law arouses vigorous opposition
among the leaders, while the popular
support for the proposal is nor strong
enough TO force the leaders to accept
it,
This is only one element or the sftua-
tion. Another potent factor is the fear
that Governor Hughes might turn out
a good deal Of prohibitiOnist. Judging
by the experiences OF other States with
prohibition, and making allowance for
the striking difference in conditions be-
tween them and New York IL would be
hard to coUjure up an issue more preg-
nant with trouble for the practical poll
ttCians than prohibition would be Ia
become infected more or less by the
prohibition virus that seems TO be ev-
erywhere in the nationa- system nova
days.
Jam PASa VI AAOubAC~
These are simply samples OF the COM
plicauons involved in this Hughes
question in New York The danger OF
the Republicans losing the state ticket,
whether they accept or reject Hughes.
is recognized as grave. More and more
discussion turns to the means Of saving
the national ticket in New York. even
in the face Of a Democratic victory
on State nominees. The Republican
leaders Nh0 do nos want Hughes, but
who fear he viii have TO be accepted
lest his rejection should have a bad
effect in the country at large, insist
that New Yorks local fight would not
cost the party the electoral vote Of the
Empire Sta e, but that Taft might easily
win by 2 comfortable majority. despite
such detection from the state ticket
as would spell Democratic victory local
ly. But altogether it makes a difficult.
complicated. and exceedingly dangerous
situation 10 face
Between the two horns Of the dilemma
tt looks more and more as II the pOllti-
cal judgement OF Theodore Roosevelt
would dictate and the minor state lead
eTs would aCquiesCe in the nomination
OF Hughes.
Ward Tries to Be Pleasant.
It was with a WY face and a rather
painful effort at humor that William
l. Ward national committeeman. ad-
m-tted that he guessed It was true that
the President had authorized a caller
to announce that the President told
him he considered IL absolutely neces-
sary'' to renominate the governor
Mr. Ward appended to this very
confident expression of the opinion that
the President did not intend 20 dictate;
d,d not desire 10 issue orders. was not
attempting to command the minor party
leaders; simply was expressing his per-
sunal opinion as citizen or New York
But isn't such advice, coming from
the throne, equivalent to a commando
Mr. Ward was asked.
We'll, that is getting personal again,
replied Mr.. Ward lugubriously. If any
body sees 1T 10 differ from the Presi-
dent in this matter, I don't think the
President viii 90 20 extremes 10 punish
anybody. There are no orders going out
TO the organization
Mr. Ward said he had no doubt other
names than that OF the governor would
be presented at the Saratoga couven-
ton, but declined 70 indicate an opinion
whether anybody beside the governor
would have a chance to be nominated.