New-York tribune., 1908-08-20
HUGHES In ONEIDA
DRIFT TO GOTERNOR.
Despite Strong Opposition. Dele
gates Viii Probably Vote for Him.

told the correspondent of The Tribune to-day
that the Oneida County delegates in the state
convention probably would favor the renornina-
ton of Governor Hughes. When asked for
statement concerning the situation Mr.. Wheeler
at first hesitated. Then he said
The primaries have not been held as vet. and
il is too early to say exactly what the dele
gates Will do, but speaking with perhaps, as
full knowledge any one, I free to say
that this is a Hughes town. I mean by that"
said Mr. Wheeler, with grim smile, that there
is a very large Welsh population in this city.
Governor Hughes is the son of Welsh father,
and has Welsh name. would be the politi-
cal death Of a set of delegates. especially from
the city of Utica to go to the state convention
this year and turn down Governor Hughes for
denomination. 1 do not wish 10 be understood
as saying that the racial consideration is the
thing that absolutely controls, but it certainly
has a great deal 70 do with the Hughes PROPOSE
ton this year
is Governor Hughes strong weak with the
voters here?''
The situation is very much mixed" replied
the Mayor. There is a great deal of oppos-
ton to him I don't know whether it is the
kind of opposition that will die out after he is
nominated if he should be nominated, or
whether il will be made manifest at the polls,
But | know that il exists. 1 don't think that II
exists to the same extent in Utica that it does
in Syracuse I think that the opposition to Gov
ernor Hughes in Syracuse is very serious. l
knew Francis Hendricks we'll He is a very fine
man. and has the confidence of the Republicans
of his county. When ne tells the President Of
the United States and the Republican state
chairman that there is deep seated hostility
10 Governor Hughes. you depend ii
that he is telling the truth How II will all
work out is more than I wish to hazard guess
upon just a this time I trust that whoever
We nominate will he elected. The national ticket
is very strong here. The people of Oneida
County take d great pride fl Mr.. Sherman. MI.
Roots speech at the notification was deserved
tribute 10 a high minded Christian gentleman
and statesman think the vote for Mr. Sher-
man viii be gratifying to him personally, and an
eyeopener to the state and nation
SECRETARY ROOT NON-COMMITTAL.
Secretary Root was asked by the Tribune cor
respondent if he ready 70 state his views
with reference TO the denomination of Governor
Hughes After seeming to hesitate, Mr.. Root
said:
I do not wish TO say anything at this time,
for the reason that am not fully in touch with
the situation in this state. I have not had time
10 consult with the state leaders and do not
consider il an opportune time to comment on the
situa ton
The Tribune correspondent has made diligent
inquiry among the personal friends OF secretary
Root and finds that they have in some manner
obtained the impression from him that he IS in
favor OF the denomination of Governor Hughes,
and are acting accordingly Capitalization OF
sentiment in favor of the Governor has not de-
veIoped 10 a degree that warrants any aggres-
sive action on the part of his friends. The
Hughes men do not plan, at the primaries on
Tuesday next TO instruct the delegates for the
Governor One of Mr. Shermans lieutenants, IN
discussing the situation said to-day:
IF you are betting man, and want TO make
some money, put down something on the Hughes
end of the proposition that the delegates of
| Oneida County will vote for the denomination Of
| the Governor The drift is that way at the
nresent time and there does not seem to be
| ANYTHING to stop the drift If the organization
| leaders could get behind some great big man 1t
would be easy enough TO beat the Governor, as
+bere Is great deal of opposition to him in this
county We have large percentage of Repub-
| Iicans of Welsh extraction who quite naturally
take pride in the fact that one of their race is
| our Governor. The leaders Of the organization
| here are not doing anything to antagonize the
voters The instructions TO election district
/ captains as far as they have been issued have
! been TO name Hughes in the districts
where the voters want Hughes. and TO name
anti-Hughes men in the localities where there
/ is ,Indoubted opposition 10 the Governor. What
ne e1rAcr to get by the time the convention
meets is word from the top. We expect that
/ thar word will be that the President, Mr.. Taft
and Nr sherman have come to the conclusion
| that the best thing 10 do is to renominate Gov
ernor Hughes In which ne will all fall
! into line and do our best TO roll up big vote
CONTEST FOR CONGRESSMAN.
There is prospect of lively fight over the
/ re., CONGRESSMAN in this district AS already
s+ated in The Tribune. the chances favor
/ Charles & Millington Herkimer banker Colo
/ reI William Cary Sanger is out for the nomina-
+ion and has many supporters. The Sherman
/ Wheeler combination probably viii back Mill
! tnpton The Senatorship committee also is a
/ burning question Mr. Sherman is backing the
Rev Fred NJ Davenport, professor in Harnil-
| 20, College Oneida County constitutes one
! Senate district Ackroyd, Democrat, is the
| Senator now William Z. Lewis, of the Utica
| Gas and Electric Company. is also a candidate
| Assem- blynan Merwin X Hart is making an
| active canvass for the nomination, as Is also
| Van r Weaver, OF Deerheld, who is regarded
/ t,,- some as the winning dark horse
The Democrats will probably nominate city
4 Judge Him O'Connor for Congress He was
beaten nv MIR Sherman two years ago O'Con-
1 nor boIted from Murphy and Conners at Denver
| md voted for Johnson but his vote was not
| .o,r.ed 0'Connor at present is about the only
/ ramocratic. city Official The Democrats pre-
dict that to carry Utica the Sherman-W Wheeler
| raonIa will nominate Mayor Wheeler TO succeed
Mr. Sherman.
AL DELEGATES SURE.