The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-17
FRIpAY. JANuARY u. 1aos.
A Real Boom started for Hnches.

The movement for the nomination OF
Gov Hughes. which has hitherto lacked
push and leadership, VIII henceforth want
for neither. A significant development of
the New York situation during the past
few days is the organization OF a Hughes
league, for the avowed purpose Of Sc
curing the New York delegation to the
Republican national convention for Gov.
Hughes, This organization is in the hands
Of a cOterie of practical politicians, at
the head of whom is Edgar T. Bracket,
"A former State Senator, and a man of
aggressive energy and OF capacity for
political leadership. Some OF the poll
tlcians associated with him are not of
the stripe favored by Gov. Hughes with
his respect and confidence, and there is
marked tendency among the members
OF the old Odell machine to connect
themselves with the new movement; but
the governor has made no sign indicating
that the support Of any of these men viii
be unwelcome, Their purpose is frankly
the getting OF delegates. and their energies
VIII be bent 10 that end with the skill
of veterans Injured 10 familiar tasks,
simultaneously with the seizure Of the
Hughes boom by Bracket and his crowd
comes the interesting intimation that
Senator Crane. of Massachusetts. may be
Induced 10 head a national Hughes move
ment According to the Albany political
gossips. the Massachusetts, Senator has
expressed a desire to meet Gov. Hughes.
and an attempt has been made to bring
them together. The New York Tribune's
Albany correspondent says that the
general tenor of the talk OF the Hughes
men. who believe the nomination lies be-
tween Taft and Hughes, is that Senator
Crane logically should take up the work
for Hughes, If he is deeply in earnest in
his anti-Taft eight"
II there is any foundation for this gcs-
sip, it points to the possibility that the
Senatorial cabal which is seeking to
encompass the defeat of Secretary Tafts
Presidential aspirations may concentrate
on Hughes as the man best fitted to
capture the New York and New England
delegations. Il is in the extreme East
that the bulk OF the Hughes sentiment
resides. and a number OF the New Eng
land Senators are known to be antl-Taft
men. Such a movement would fit in very
we'll with the favorite son programme Of
this cabal. by which it is hoped to bring
10 naUght the Presidents attempt TO die
tate the Republican nominee. Should ex-
Senator Bracket and his friends succeed
in enlisting the cooperation Of Senator
Crane, the Hughes movement would at
once assume formidable proportions
But Taft is strong ia the Middle and
far West, where Hughes is known only
by reputation, and is 20 some extent sus-
pectcd as 10 the quality of his radicalism.
An impression has become current that
his candidacy would be pleasing TO the
reactionaries, an impression that it will
be difficult 10 overcome If Gov. Hughes
maintains silence II is noteworthy that
the Hughes boomers place no emphasis
on the governors opinions on any subject
They simply point TO his availability as a
vote getter in the State Of New York
lie is the man. in their belief, most Ger
tain TO carry that State. It remains to
be seen with what force this argument
will appeal To the country We are in
clined TO think that Gov Hughes will
have to come out on national Issues If
he wants to impress Western voters.
They all want 10 be shown just where
he stands by comparison with Roosevelt,
Taft, and Bryan. We doubt whether they
viii accept him merely on the ground Of
availability or of temperament. But II
Is obvious that with the aid of shrewd
political manipulators the Hughes move
ment may shortly become an important
factor in the Presidential situation. There
IS excellent promise that the progress Of
the Taft boom may be as holly contested
IN New York as in Ohio.