New-York tribune., 1908-03-29
LIKE HUGHES IN SOUTH.
Speaker of Louisiana House Says
He Is Choice sOf Both Factions.

Joseph W. Hyams Speaker of the Louisiana
| House Of Representatives. said yesterday that
| there no Taft sentiment in the South. The
Republicans Of the South said he. both black
and white in reality for man and for ono
man only. and that man is Charles E. Hughes.
Governor of the State of Now York.
| For the last twenty years Mr.. Hyanfs has been
member of the Louisiana House OF Representa-
tives. and. although a Democrat. he says he has
made close study Of Republican as well as DEM
ocratIc politics in the Southern states. Il know,
said Mr.. Hyams, that Taft men are practically
claiming all the delegates to the Chicago conven-
ton the Southern states. but big surprise Is
In store for them II they really believe what they
assert Some of the Southern states have held
conventions and at those conventions have voted
to instruct their delegates for Taft
They have done this not because they are for
| Taft but because they fear the whip OF federal
patronage. They afraid that If they do not
send delegates Instructed Taft they will be de-
prived OF their federal Offices At heart they are
for Hughes, and IT is my opinion, based on an ex-
haustive study of the situation, that many OF the
delegates who to Chicago instructed to support
Taft will bolt at the last minute and vote for
Hughes"
Mr. Hyams said that both Democrats and Re
pubicans in the South attributed the recent panic
and the consequent and continuing financial de-
preston the policies which President Roosevelt
advocates. I'VE believe. he said that the Presi-
dent perfectly honest and perfectly sincere We
believe he earnestly wishes to do the best ne can
for his country and that his motives are beyond
reproach question. but also believe that his
policies wrong, that he has made a failure and
immersed the country in financial difficulties that
are felt particularly in the South It is for this
reason that the white Republicans in my section,
believing as they do that Taft will be simply an
heir to Roosevelt policies will refuse to support
him.
The negro Republicans of the South do not want
Taft because they believe that he is In the main
responsible for the dishonorable discharge OF three
companies of troops for the dAsgraceful r1ot
at Brownsville. They attribute the discharge OF
these troops not much to President Roosevelt as
TO Mr.. Taft. and nothing can convince them TO the
contrary. The negroes simply won't vote for Iaft
and tha, is all there is to it,
Fairbanks. Cannon. Knox. Foraker and the rest
OF the possible Republican nominees. Mr.. Hyams
SAYS are taken seriously by Southern Repuo-
Ucans The man they do take seriously and the
man they are for" said he. lis Governor Hughes
There are two wings OF the Republican party
in my state said Mr.. Hyams. 'One is tho Lily
White wing. and is composed Of the white Repub-
licans The other Is the Black and Tan wing
and is composed OF negroes. The latter Is soi'dly
for Governor Hughes whereas the former may
vote for Taft being impeiled to take such action
by the lash OF federal patronage.
Il think the Black and Tans may be able to elect
their delegates. but whether they them
is a different matter AS In other Southern states,
there may be two sets of delegates sent TO the
convention. and the committee credentials will
have decide which Is entitled to be seated
''All the railroad construction work I'm my state
has been stopped with the exception Of a few miles
of road that the Southern Pacific is building. The
people attribute this condition to Roosevelt poll
cies"
Mr.. Hyans said he thought the Democrats would
nominate Mr.. Bryan. Il other avaiia-
bic candidate" he said. The Democratic party
Parker. The party wants no repetition of such a
disaster"