East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-01-30

politicians and observers Of the trend
of political events look upon the
speech to be delivered by Governor
Hughes at a reception to be given
at the republican club, in New York
city. tomorrow night as likely to be
the most important utterance yet
made in the battle royal now being
waged for the republican preslden-
tial nomination. With the New York
chief executive openly in the field, the
Taft boomers have redoubled their
efforts. Taft sentiment in the west
is apparently daily gaining strength,
but in the east and the New England
states Hughes is a formidable fig
ure in the eyes of those who a short
time ago were jubllantly declaring
that Taft already had the nomina-
tion in his pocket.
The announcement Of Governor
Hughes proposed entrance into the
lists tomorrow night came suddenly
upon the Taft adherents and found
them unprepared to protect the in
terests of their candidate in New
York, New Jersey and New England,
where the tide has apparently al
ready turned Hughesward. 1t had
been generally supposed. and taken
for granted by the Taft men, that
the governors first announcement
of his position on the tariff, railroad
matters and other national issues
would be made on Washington's
birthday, February 22. in a speech
he had promised to deliver in Chi
cago. A deliverance on these ques-
tions nearly a month in advance of
that date means that the Hughes
boom will be on in full blast weeks
before its announcement was ex-
pected.
That Taft still has the best chance
OF landing the presidential plum is
the general opinion of expert poliH-
cal forecasters but the entrance OF
Hughes into the race has rendered
the task of the Taft managers dou-
bly, difficult 1t is feared by the Sec
re'ary's supporters that II he should
fail Of sufficient votes to nominate
on the first few ballots. many state
delegations now placed in the Taft
column might be swung to the New
Yorker The other presidential pos
sibllities Fairbanks, Cannon. Knox,
Cortelyou. and La Follette-are also
jubilant at the active entrance of
Hughes into the race, believing that,
with Hughes and Taft lined up in al
most equal battle, any one of the
possibilities might be agreed upon as
n compromise candidate.
Few of the leaders in the house or
senate will openly discuss the pres
idential situation, but few have Of
fered opinions as to the effect that
the entrance of Hughes into the lists
will have upon the other candidates.
Among those was Senator Ptatt, the
aged solon of the Empire state. who
referred to Hughes as the "pig In the
poke" and declared that he would
be wholly unable to land the New
York delegation.
Governor Hughes position on the
presidential nomination, like his po-
sition on everything else. is evasive
and vague" declared Platt. New
York state is not going to offer a
cross-examiner for president of the
United States as her 'favorite SON. |
Before Governor Hughes can hope to
get the New York delegation to the |
republican national convention, he
will have to submit to thorough !
cross ss-examination himself as to
where he stands on the national is
sues of the campaign"
Senators Dick and Foraker OF !,
Ohio are jubllant at the announce |
ment of Hughes as presidential !
candidate. In regard to Hughes |
Senator Dick said:
"The Hughes candidacy will add |
excitement and interest to the race
for the republican nomination. II |
means that New York will send an !
anti-Taft delegation to the conven-
ton From reports l have received !
from the west, Hughes is rapidly be-
coming popular in that section of the
country and will give Taft close
race for some of the western state |
delegations"