Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-03
.LAUNCHHUCHESBOOM.
State Leaders Place Governor In
 Race For Presidency.
MEETING IS HELD IN ALBANY
Provisional Committee Started With View of Obtaining instructions For Executive From State Convention and to Insure Election of Hughes Men.

Albany, N. l., Jan. 3.--A conference of friends of Governor Hughes in the interest of his presidential boom was held at the Hotel Kenmore in this city. There were present among others Charles H. Young, president of tho Re publican club of New York city; A. B. Humphrey, who introduced the Hughes Endorsement resolution adopted recent ily by the Republican club: John A. Sleicher, a member of the state water commission; A. R. Smith, formerly connected with the commercial bodies in New York city; Deputy Senate Clerk Horace H. Tennant of Schoharie Representative George E. Waldo and Senators Page, Travis, Cobb, Cassidy and Fancher.
 All those present at the confer ence,' said Senator Page. declared that there was strong public senti- ment in favor of the nomination of Governor Hughes. and it was agreed that provisional organization should be instituted by the selection of a man in each assembly district. Further meet ing was left subject to the call of myself as chairman.
 |. Speaker Wadsworth was not invited to the conference mainly because those who got it up are not yet certain of his attitude on New York presidential politics. No explanation was vouch- safed for the absence of Senator Mar < tin Saxe, one of the original Hughes boomers.
 The conference was in secret session nearly three hours. From Senator Page it was learned that he had been elected chairman of the provisional committee to form a Hughes presiden- tial organization that will soon cover the state. The basis of the proposed organization is the assembly district. A Hughes worker will be selected in every one of the assembly districts who will report directly to Senator Page of the condition in his territory.
 "Our object" said Senator Page. "is to obtain instructions for Governor Hughes from the state convention in April as well as to assure the election of district delegates who will be Hughes men first last and all the
 if k au open secret that one ef,ths first acts of the provisional committee will be to ascertain as accurately as possible the strength of the Taft senti- ment. They expect to encounter the opposition of federal appointees in va rious parts of the state. Reports indi- cate that certsin congressional district machines already have decided upon anti-Hughes delegates.
 This is said to be the case in the Twenty-fifth district. composed of the counties of Saratoga. Montgomery, Warren. Fulton and Hamilton, where 1t is said Lucius N. Littauer. once a representative in congress, and Edgar T. Bracket once state senator, have been slated as delegates. Both are warm friends of President Roosevelt, although It is not charged by the Hughes managers that the president has thus far had any part in making mp the New York slate for delegates to Chicago.
 Edwin A. Merritt. IT,, of St. Law. renee. who was designated by Speaker wadsworth as the new leader of the assembly. was asked to attend the con. ference, but declined on the plea of Ill health He is quoted as having told the promoters of the conference that be was thoroughly in sympathy with their movements. John Raines. the leader of the senate, was urged by Senator Page to attend. but excused himself on the plea that he was too busy with other affairs. Earlier In the day Senator Raines said that 1t was too early for him to take any interest in presidential politics.