The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-14
May Lead New York G..
O. P. Out of Political
Wilderness.
NO OTHER LEADER
is ABL E TO DO IT
Governor Must Either Be Candi
date or Manage Campaign,
Else Democrats Will Take
State-"Hughes Policies"
Will Be Sung to
Drown Scandals.
Especial to Tho Times.plspa.ch.l j

Especial to Tho oTimes-Dlspatch.J
New York, February 13.-President
taft. who came to New York on Satur-
day to attend the Republican Club
dinner as we'll as to discuss the local
situation with the county and State
Republican leaders, returned to Wash
,ngton this afternoon. Governor
Hughes, who came down from Albany
for the same purpose, also went back
home, and the turmoil in the political
waters which the presence OF these
two leaders stirred up subsided some
what. Before they left the city definite
policies looking toward the establish
ment Of harmony and the strengthens
ing OF the Republican party In the
state were agreed upon.
President Taft, who stayed while
In the city at the home of his brother.
Henry w. Taft. at 3s West Forty
eighth Street, denied himself to all
callers except Lloyd C. Griscom. the
chairman OF the Republican county
committee, and Otto T. Barnard The
President talked politics with them
until the last moment. which fact was
taken to mean that he was more deep
~ concerned regarding the situation
OF the party in the State than had
generally been admitted.
TOO Busy for Callers
While the President remained at the
homo OF his brother many visitors
called. but with the exception OF Mr..
Barnard and Mr. Griscom they were
turned away with the excuse that the
President was TOO busy to see them.
Although Mr.. Grlscom would not ad-
.sota H2t
Taft asked for all the particulars re-
Eardiug the conference which several
of tho party leaders had in the morn
Ing with Governor Hughes at the Hotel
-astor. Besides the Governor there
wcro several state and local politicians
OF prominence WHO took part In the
conference.
There was considerable reticence
among all concerned regarding just
what went on at the meeting. The
members called upon the Governor at
II \. NJ and remained in conference
nearly two hours. 1t is known that
Governor Hughes was told that Presi-
dent Taft regarded the situation IN
the State as serious, owing to the dis
closures OF the present Aids invcsti-
CATION now going on in Albany.
Tx Senator SAKE, as spokesman for
the committee. told the Governor that
it was the opinion OF all the leaders
that the Governor was the Moses who
would lead the party out OF it's pres
ent prcdicament and insure success Mt
the fall election. The Governor was
told that II he would not act as State
standard bearer he would have to take
charge OF The campaign aud give 1t the
full weight fhis confidence and ap-
proyal
To Offset Scandal.
The policy OF action agreed upon. to
Offset the Aids disclosures. was that
the so-called Hughes policies were to
be pushed as strenuously as possible
so that the public would be convinced
that the Republican party was in ia
Sor of reform all along tho line. The
policies. which will be harped upon
from now until election. include the
Governors pet scheme OF direct nomi-
nations, the extension OF the power OF
the Public Service Commission to In.
ciude the telephone and telegraph COM
panies, the conservation of tho State
water power, the restriction OF forest
lands and the advocacy of the state
parks project. With these reform
made into popular issues, 1t Is plan
ned that no matter what the present
Senate investigation may turn up. they
Will more than Offset the disclosures.
The Governor. 1t Is said was told
that there would be entirc harmony in
all branches of the party organization.
and that President Taft would lend the
state organization his active indorse-
mont The Governor, it is said, told
the committee that he pinned his faith
+ to the efficacy or the direct nomina-
tions bill, which will be introduced
nd S,hiC he.
poets will be passed without trouble.
Although everybody concerned de-
MED yesterday that the Aids trial had
been the main topic of conversation at
tho conference between President Taft
Mr., Bernard and Nlr. Griscom early in
the day, or at the committee confer
ence at the .Astor, it was stated by ono
who professed to know the real inside
of the situation that Governor Hughes
Mad insisted that tho party was facing
a crisis. and that something out of the
ordinary would have to be done to
clear the party's skirts. Governor
Hughes, it is said and in this he was
hacked up by President Taft insisted
that there must be no hushing up OF
tho Albany disclosures, but that the
party must take the stand that full
and complete Investigation was desir-
able. This plan, it was said. was thor
onghly agreed upon before the Hotel
-Astor conference broke up.
Report Not Fair.
Mr.. Griscom was anxious to correct
the opinion OF some that there had been
q division regarding the partys atti-
tude on the Aids matter at the con-
ference on Saturday afternoon at the
committee chairman's house, which
both President Taft and Governor
Hughes attended. It was reported then
that Timothy L. Woodruff. chairman OF
the Republican State committees; Speaks
CT Wadsworth and Senator Depew had
taken the stand that it would 6e> for
the best interests of the party If the
Allds-Conger scandal We're hushed up
az much as possible and the snrobe not