The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-13
Will NOT
TAKE VICE
PRESIDENCY
Governor Hughes Says He Can't
Under Any Circumstances
Accept Second Place
Action Pleases New York Lead.
erS, VINO FdVOr Representa-
tive James S. Sherman
Littauer Sounds Receptive Can.
didate, Who Sends Very
Pointed Reply
Delegation Left in Position to
Unite on Running Mate
for Taft
By Raymond
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
CHICAGO, June 1.-THE following
telegram, of which happen to have
the original, tells its own story:
ALBANY, N. Y, June 12.-Hon.
Lucius N. Littauer, Annex, Chicago
Your telegram received thank you
for your kind words. While / appre-
ciate the importance of the Office. I
cannot and will not, under any circum-
stances, accept a nomination for the
vice presidency. So far as the presi-
Dental nomination is concerned, my
attitude remains precisely what it has
been from the outset The delegates
are responsible TO their constituents.
CHARLES E. HUGHES"
This reiterated refusal to accept the
vice presidency. coming as it does in
from his friend. seems to put Governor
Hughes distinctly out of the line for
second place with Taft 1t was opened
by Littauer in my presence this even
ing. just at the time the announcement
was made that the national committee
had completed its work on the contests.
so that the Taft management under the
lead of Frank Hitchcock, gave out a
statement designating 7O4 votes for
Taft, 227 for the allies and 49 uncer-
tain
STORY BEHIND TELEGRAM
Behind the Littauer telegram. which
bids fair TO become famous, is an in
teresting story.
On Thursday Congressman Lfttauer
went to Milwaukee on business Be
fore he went he made up his mind to
communicate the exact political situa-
ton to Governor Hughes. so that the
governor might leave the New York
delegation free to act IN the matter OF
the vice presidency. Littauer. IL must
be understood. Is, in the first place. a
personal friend of President Roosevelt.
Secondly. he is in the confidence OF
Governor Hughes As a third reason
for his interference in the matter il
should be explained that he is in close
touch with New York republican organ
izations and is personally interested in
the possible selection of Representative
James S Sherman as a candidate for
vice president.
Thinking the thing over before he
went to Milwaukee and acting entirely
on his own responsibility, and because
4
the parties concerned. Littauer drew up
a dispatch to Governor Hughes. The
object of this was evident. The nomi-
nation Of Taft on the first ballot has
become absolutely certain. There was
not the slightest possibility of success
for Governor Hughes in the race for
first place any more than for any other
of the allies The governor had. how
ever won a brilliant victory over his
enemies in the Legislature He had
passed his anti-betting bin by the bare
majority of one vote. an invalid senator
recovering from an attack OF append
citis having been brought into the SEN
ate chamber TO cast the deciding vote
for the bill prohibiting pool selling at
the racetracks.
AGAIN PUT TO FRONT
This put Governor Hughes once more
in the public eye in the most favorable
way. Had he been defeated on the
racetrack measure, which Littauer and
other leaders believed was absolutely
essential TO success, he probably would
have been a candidate for governor
once more to carry out that reform.
Having accompanied the major part
of the program which he laid down
for himself when he was first elected
he was ready to retire For the last
two or three days sentiment in favor
OF forcing Governor Hughes on the
ticket with Taft has been steadily
growing. in spite of the efforts to d.
rect sentiment in other directions. There
was every reason to believe that with
the racetrack victory fresh in their
minds the delegates would be ready
to Join in stampede for Hughes for
the vice presidency
WHAT LITTAUER TOLD HUGHES
This contingency proved a great en-
barrasment to the New York leaders
So long as Governor Hughes remained
in the field for first place il was ex-
tremely difficult TO get the delegates
together on any condition for the vice
presidency To do that would mean.
more or less. a desertion of Hughes for
first place so that the leaders would
be charged with dishonorable politi-
cal act il they assumed that Hughes
could not be nominated and began to
lay pipes for second place. II the gov