The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-12
May Have to Decide for or
Against Governor
Hughes.
LEADERS OPPOSED
TO DENOMINATION
National Politicians Fear fractional
Strife May Weaken Taft-Wads-
worth Is Favored.

NEW YORK, Aug. l2-That President
Roosevelt has been practically drafted
in the national campaign, and that his
active participation as chief counselor
and adviser from this time will be one
OF the striking facts IN the situation, is
frankly recognized here.
Democratic confidence and Republican
troubles in many regions and of varied
sorts are responsible for the change or
plans. The President did not want 10
take much part IN the campaign. He
was sincerely anxious 10 keep out OF it,
and in the beginning II was earnestly
hoped and fully believed that he would
be able to follow his inclinations.
But the faCuOnal quarrel in New York
has developed conditions in which ap-
parently nothing short OF the Presi-
dents personal authority can bring
settlement. He is evidently to be the
final arbiter of the whole question OIL
whether Hughes shall be renOminated.
and it will take all his skill to get out
Of the muss without injuring the party,
no matter how he decides.
Opposed to Hughes.
Half OF them advising outright
against Governor Hughes denomination,
the other half hesitating because OF un-
certainty OF the political effect Of such
action. all united in personal hostility
TO the governor but with no candidate
OF their own-that is the predicament
of the Republican leaders as disclosed
at tho conferences at State headquar-
tiers, preliminary TO today's meeting of
the State committee.
Almost every leader Of Importance in
the State came TO the city for a final
roundup on the Hughes question.
Chairman Woodruff spent fifteen busy,
troubled hours talking with them AT
the end of the conference the situation
was just where it was when the talk
ing began-al in the air.
The leaders who would talk confessed
that no one knew whether the governor
would get a denomination.
Il do not believe even Roosevelt
knows" said one of the most prominent
Republicans in the State; the leaders
are all against Hughes-you can see that
Roosevelt is against him, too. We have
got the votes to turn him down If we
want to. The question we've got to de
eide IS Would IL hurt Taft TO turn
Hughes down? You can't get the an
swer until things develop more fully.
WadswOrth Doomed.
announcement by John a. Merritt, OF
Lockport. that OF August Is Living
ston county would hold a convention
and instruct its delegates to the state
convention to vote for James W. Wads-
worth. IT., for governor. Mr.. Merritt
started the boom fO- young JIM" as
the youthful speaker is called By his
friends, and Merritt says WadswOTth is
extremely popular in his section of the
State.
This announcement gave the leaders
what Ex-Governor Odeu has told them
all along they must have before they
can beat Governor Hughes-a definite
candidate. You cant beat somebody
with nobody has been Odells slogan.
Odeu vas there with the other leaders,
as anxious as any Of them to find way
10 turn down Hughes.
Several of the upstate men talked Of
Senator Horace White. Of Syracuse. as
a strong candidate. It was said he
would undoubtedly be put forward by
his home county Francis Hendricks,
the Syracuse boss. spent the entire day
at state headquarters. but he declined
20 senator e0lltt5Ii' Benjamin Benjamin NJ. Wilcox, who
cast one Of the votes against the race
track bills, said his county, Cayuga,
was extremely friendly 10 Senator
the Syracuse Senator TO Chairman
Woodruff The latter appeared 10 be
pleased with the White talk, for White
has been his personal counsel
Woodruff Sees Leaders.
Woodruff was closeted with the lead
ers singly, in pairs, and by the half
dozen. He refused to tell what reports
they made 10 him about the Hughes
sentiment upstate
II don't know about the sentiment on
the gOvernorship," said Senator John
Raines. What Go the farmers think?
They're too busy gathering their crops
to bother with politics"
William Barnes, Jr., Of Albany, who
is one of the most outspoken Of the
opponents of Governor Hughes, had d
long talk with Woodruff. Governor
Hughes has truly said y at it is up to
the people" said Barnes with a mys-
teriOus smile; 1T is up to the people"
THE sentiment is both ways up the
State" said Senator wilcox Senator
White is strong IN my county, and
Wadsworth would run very well. though
there has been little talk OF him yet"
rs Hughes nomination q possibility? ?"
Unless they unite on somebody else
pretty soon"
Some Republicans are opposed to
Gov eTnCr Hughes, and they are pug
nacious about IL" said Charles II. Belts
OF Lyons, a committeeman Il under
stand the brewers and salooRkeepers
are united against him. think it should
be left TO the delegates. They viii
know how their constituents feel In
twenty-five years the Republican party
has renominated but one governor
Odeu. Precedent seems to be against
Governor Hughes"
Others who saw Woodruff were J.
SloaU Fassetts w. /. Ward, d. r. Stro-|
bel, Duncan Lawrence, George "
AldTidge, Herbert Parsons, Senators
Cobb and HILL and John 7. Mott.
The State committee will meet at noon
today. Chairman Woodruff said he did
not expect a Hughes resolution would
be introduced.