The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-01-24

an attitude so passive that little en-
thusiasm could be aroused In his be-
half. To the friends who have gone
to him to insist that he enter the race,
he has given no word of encourage.
ment other than to say that he would
not become an active candidate. He
has shown himself such an extremist
in paying no attention to the rising
boom that his candidacy has not swept
the country by fire.
Hughes has taken the stand that II
the country needed him for the presi-
dency, the country would make him
and he would assume the responsib-
ility with its labor. He would not
play second fiddle by taking the vice
presidency. He would not thank any
man or set Of men for being instru-
mental in making him president. II
he were made president, he would con-
slider 1t altogether by virtue Of his
own merits and not due to any other
man or men on earth.
And so, since the New York del
egation will be composed Of men,
and since the Chicago convention will
be composed OF men who, in making
a presidential candidate will want a
little sign Of appreciation, 1t would
appear that Hughes, in this attitude so
devoid Of human interest, will have a
hard row to hoe il he gets anywhere.
Twice the republican county COM
mittee in New York City has failed
to endorse Hughes. And many be-
lieve that this puts him altogether
out of the running.
1t was last week that the second fail.
ure was recorded. Perhaps one dele
gate expressed the sentiment which
kept back the endorsement when he
said: ...
~ want to know If Gov. Hughes will
accept If he is Endorsed and, second,
II he stands for the national republi-
can platform and If he intends to be a
corporate part Of the republican
party"
The real foundation of the Hughes
boom in the state of New York has
been the antagonism of republicans
there to the president. That was why
they wanted Hughes in the first place
merely to slap the president by op-
posing Taft. But now they have come
to the conclusion, some Of them, that
Hughes would merely be another
Roosevelt in disposition-a ruler more
arbitrary than car and running the
ranch by means Of the big stick For
it will be recalled that Hughes did
several things while governor last
winter in the big stick way. He
ousted men who were really in nc
way guilty of violating their trusts
merely because he DENIED them in.
competent And many claim that he
refused to sign the two-cent fare bill
for the simple reason that he did not
want to have anything interfere with
his pet measure the public utilities
bill.
Hughes has been regarded by many
as an icycle. And yet at that New
York has preferred him to Roosevelt
feeling that it is better to have a pres
ident with a cool head and hot feet
than president with cold feet and a
hot head. These people have admir-
ed Hughes for refusing to take dicta
ton from Roosevelt in regard to state
affairs, but it is now dawning that
perhaps, once in the white house, he
would exercise the same arbitrary
power that they object to in Roosevelt
And so they have twice refused tc
endorse him, and many believe him
now out of the race.
1t is even predicted that Taft will
have the New York delegation, in
whole or in part. For Taft went dowr
to New York the other day and made
some friends. He is more human. He
is big and fat and good natured. He
is not carrying around a big stick ant
he is not an icycle. He is between
both Roosevelt and Hughes. He has
diplomacy and tact that perhaps Meth
er OF those two possess and yet he ha!
a brain that is as big and broad as any
body's. Taft will be a president, 4
> nominated and elected, of a conserva
tive type rather than a radical. HI
will stand for wholesome law-inforce
i ment but he will not in any sense b.
be a menace to the prosperity of the
United States. And after all, Will,
! he is, it is true, the choice OF Roose
welt, Taft would, his friends believe
be Taft and nobody else when it comes
to conducting the affairs of the whit,
: house.
With Hughes partially eliminated
things begin looking better for tn,
war secretary. Some predict his max
i ing on the first ballot.
+ KNOX WORKING UP SENTIMENT
d Senator Philander G. Knox of Penn
y sylvaria, who has about as mucl
chance to be Nominated for presiden