New-York tribune., 1908-02-14
WON'TNAME DELEGATES
Unless TO END DEADLOCK
Then Hughes Might Indicate Pref
erence If Both Sides asked.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune

TBv Telegraph The Tribune
Albany. Feb l5.-If the state convention to
select deegates-at-large to the Republican Ma
-ie-al Convention should get into factional
deadlock Governor Hughes might consent to in
d.cate his preference the personnel Of the
delegation, say men who have talked with him
On this subject. He would not do this in any
case Enless both sides appealed TO him to do So
snd no conditions less serious than that would
cause him to say anything about the naming OF
delegates by the convention.
Before State Chairman Woodruff announced
his intention 10 call on the Governor to name his
delegates the Governor refused to discuss this
contingency for publication in any way. Some
of his close friends seeing that chances fer fac
riena politics in the state convention looked ex-
ceIlenf have talked the situation with him.
Their view is that this attempt get the Gov
enor to name delegates is rather thin effort
on the part Of some OF the factionalist leaders
% get nd Of irksone responsibility. If men
named by the Governor should betray his in
-erests at Chicago. he would have only himself
10 blame. while ardent Hughes men feel that
for the Governor 10 remove this responsibility
from the shoulders of the New York State lead
ers would operate practically TO let those poll
-,cisns do about as they liked in the national
convention.
<or Taft at Chicago, and there would be no good
comeback from their people at home if the
Governor relieved them OF their proper respon-
sfailify" said enc Hughes man tonight.
As the Governors friends here represent his
views the argument that il is according to
precedenr fer faverite son thus TO name his
delegates carries no weight with the Governor.
Such choice, unless dictated by absolute neces-
sity ef avoiding irreconeiiable split in the
marty, would Inevitably SAVIOR of politics. Gov
error Hughes has said that he would not play
raitics Ct directly indirectly take part in
the choosing Of any delegate to the national
convention. on that, his friends say. he stands
tm-
william Barnes. jr-. leader Of Albany County
and 2 pronounced Taft man, has taken himself
s1t Of consideration delegate-at-laree, and
has declared that State Chairman Woodruff and
others Of the Taft syInpathizers, well as all
the odeu-HEghes leaders. should not be sent to
Chicago. In the leading editorial in his news
usper ergan tonight he praises the Woodruff
Man Of letting the Governor select his dele
eates-af-large. With state campaign approach
ing in which the Democrats and Independence
reaguers may combine. he says it is Of the
highest Importance 10 have the men managing
the Governors campaign free from accusations
of 1reachery or ukeHarmness-''that. although
nominally in favor Of the nomination Of Gov
eraer Hughes for President. they really faver,
or the one hand, Secretary Taft. and, on the
c-her Speaker Cannon"
1t would be ridiculous he goes and
izeuld make the party a laughing stock in the
STATE and in the nation 70 send four delegates
at-lgrse instructed for Governor Hughes who
are really for Speaker Cannon would be the
case II the Hughes league element should con-
r-ol the state eonventien-an utterly unlikely
event however II would be equally unfortunate
If four delegates at-large should be sent to the
national convention instructed for Governor
Hughes who were really for the nomination of
NJ Taft"
No politician could afford TO go to the con-
ventien as Hughes delegate unless his heart
IVES in hts work MIR. Barnes says, adding that
destruction is bound 10 overtake any man who
Is NOT faithful his constituents Then he says;
The newspapers have mentioned several men
who naturally. because OF their political expert
enoe OF personal ability would be selected as
delessfes-at-large Among them are Elihu Root
George B Cortelyou. Timothy l. Woodruff,
Thomas c Plat. Chauncey NJ Depew. Edgar
T Bracket William Barnes. jr., Herbert Par
sons. William L Ward Frank 5. Black George
u Aldridge and J. s. Fassett If the state con-
vention takes the position which we have indi-
Gated above. none of these men is eligible for
delegate -at-large"
There seems 20 have been general waking up
by politicians here the fact that there is need
for extremely hard work 10 keep this state in the
Republican column this election Republicans
like Senator Raines, Legislators OF much lesser
oalibre and politicians Of every grade are now
talking about the grave danger Of the states
turning Democratic if a conservative candidate
be chosen Dy the Democrats Hughes men de-
care that only the Governor as a Presidential
candidate could avert the danger. and say that
e Realization OF that fact viii play large part
II the deliberations both Of the state ana ne
nenal conventions