New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-02
done in fighting the pork barrel. and
his knowledge Of the finances Of the
country Is wide and detailed.

done in fighting the pork barrel. and
his knowledge Of the finances OF the
country Is wide and detailed
Hughes Letter Arrests Boom.
The most important of the open de-
velopmentS in the situation here to-day
Was in connection with the Hughes
boom and the turning Of the guns OF
the "allies" against Roosevelt. instead
Of Hughes. as their most dangerous
rival. Hughes's stock scared this morn
ing and fell with a crash late this sf-
ternoon, owing to the publication Of a
letter to Governor Stokes of New Jer-
sey, in which the justice declared that
he had mo right TO be & candidate
either openly or passiyely.'
This letter set the politicians again
TO doubling whether the justice would
accept the nomination. The develop
ments of the last few days have piled
doubt on doubt in their mir ds. and this,
coming on top Of assurances from
Washington that he would make no
statement OF any kind, took most OF
the starch out of his support. The let-
ter, dated May 20, 1915, read;
"My dear Governor: Your letter OF
May II has been received. | think
my statement covers the ground. 1t
seems TO me very clear that, as a
member of the Supreme Court, l have
no right 10 be a candidate, either open
ly or passively. | cannot remain work
k.,nI iva o. M m
before the country. / must ask, there
fore, that no steps be taken TO bring
my name before the convention.
with cordial regards, am, very sim
CHARLES E. HUGHES"
Cannot Make Pledges.
Another weakness Of the Hughes
boom which is developing here-not
in the public discussions but in the
bedroom conferences where the Hughes
men are beginning TO try TO make
srrangements-is that no one is able
10 give a pledge in his behalf that can
be accepted. IL has never yet hap
pened that a President has been
nominated absolutely without obliga-
tons Of one kind or another TO those
who supported him. Since it has been
proved that no one has Hughes power
of attorney in these matters, and
since no politician is in the habit Of
giving something for nothing, 1t is
~ becoming clear that there is Just one
thing that will nominate the justice,
IL he is nominated-the desire 10 beat
Roosevelt. No politician here can be
sure that If he supports Hughes he
will not be cutting his own throat.
One little incident to-day shows the
equivocal position of the Hughes men.
Mrs. Antoinette Funk, secretary of the
National Woman's Suffrage Association,
caught Hitchcock, the recognized
Hughes leader here, in the lobby Of the
Congress Hotel and demanded 10 know
the justices position on votes for
women.
"Why, l don't know" Hitchcock had
TO answer. and Mrs. Funk Immediately
demanded that he find out at once II
the justice was to have any support
from the suffrage states.
Mr.. Hitchcock, OF course, cannot find
out 1t is generally understood here
that Hughes opposes equal suffrage,
and the question may have consider
tble weight when consideration IS gwen
py the leaders both to the possible &C
ton OF the delegations from the SUI
frage states, and to the possible cut
ting of the ticket by women there. IN
November, if Hughes is nominated.
Not Hughes, Says Barnes.
Another little blow TO the Hughes
side came this afternoon from Boss
Barnes, who slipped into town last
night and went straight from his room
10 the National Committee meeting to-
day.
at will not be Hughes" Mr.. Barnes
said, 81 may have a statement later.
Senator Reed Smoot gave the
Hughes boom a real boost when he
came this morning and declared: III
will be Hughes or Roosevelt. II ! were
a betting man ] would make it 2 to l
on Hughes"
This statement was widely circulated
and brought much cheer to the Hughes
men. They had apparently forgotten
that a month ago the Senator had de-
clared that it would be Hughes beyond
any question.
Meanwhile the "allies" are playing
along with their own game OF con
trolling the convention" and pooHr &
votes 10 nominate some one OF their
number-to be determined by shaking
dice. so far as any one can see to-day,
since numerous conferences have failed
10 bring them near an agreement. They
paid Roosevelt the compliment Of
shifting their attack from Hughes to
the Colonel. and, as usual, issued state
ments claiming all TIE delegates there
are. -.,.
The Roosevelt forces were strength
ened to-day by the arrival Of John W.
McGrath, the Colonels private secres-
tary. He refused TO make any extend
ed statement, but declared that he was
here to cooperate with the friends OF
Colonel Roosevelt in both conventions.
When asked whether the Colonel was
n candidate Mr.. McGratE said: 1T IS
useless TO answer that question. re
has been a candidate-in the terms, out
lined at Trinidad for some time"