The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-20
WASHINGTON. D. G.. May ao.-

d
II believe that Justice Hughes will
be nominated for the presidency. &
believe that, realizing that the nont.
nation 10 not for him. Colonel Roose.
welt Is even now in favor OF Hughes.
! cannot tell you why make these
statements Of opinion-i am not at
liberty to discuss that. There ara
things going on"
Thus spoke National Committeeman
Virgil l.. Highland to the correspond.
ent at the Raleigh. where he was a
guest en- route TO his home at Clarhs.
burg II ON the east. In the light OF his
previously given Interviews, here and
elsewhere tho above statements
should be regarded as decidedly sig.
7 nifcant. Heretofore, West V;rginia's
national committeeman could hot have
been accused Of leaning even slightly
In the direction II either Hughes or
Roosevelt. Only tea days ago, white
here, ne gave out al Interview through
the hleoium OF this correspondent.
which didn't read anything like tbs
foregoing.
1t i1a9 interest West ry,.Inca,
who woa.L like to kGtw tho sentiment
In Washington at this writing In ref.
ence to the action Of the Chicago con.
yention, that the sentiment here is
as accurately described By Mr.. High.
lands suceinct statement as 1t could
be. Opinion Is nov preponderating
on the part OF tho politicians Of both
parties that Justice Hughes will be
tho nominee. The only reservation,
OF course, is caused by lack OF au.
thentic knowledge as to what Roose.
welt will do. National Committeeman
Highland appears to have rid himself
Of that doubt.
The belief that Hughes will be tho
nominee Is based upon the opinion
that party sentiment--not the social.
ed "bosses' sentimert--is too strong.
ly in favor Of Hughes to be fraustrat.
cd. AS a matter OF strict truth, the
wave OF sentiment for Hughes comes
from below, not above, and. in the
opinion of the party leaders-JMr.
Highland among them-is too over
whelming to combat. Rather. 1t Is the
part OF disdom TO accede to II and try
sto make the best OF It.
The opposition to Justice Hughes
OF the, bosses" or leaders Is due to
the fear, based on his record as gov.
ernor Of New York, that he might
not prove an Organization" man, they
seeming TO forget that at the time OF
\ his gubernatorial dominancy, not be.
ing an Organization man was popu.
lar card to play at that particular time,
and Charles Evan Hughes. who is not
as innocent OF politics and the PSYCHE
ology connected with It as many folk
believe, played the game as It should
go played at that time and played It
to the limit. He sure did shoot holes
IN the armor OF the Barneses. ut was
the life."-then.
Times have changed we are told,
and they have. Sclf.proclaimed re.
formers have suddenly become eth.
er the comedians of the political stage,
or are looked upon with suspicion
which does not get them anywhere.
Some OF the tribe, too. have known
when to quit. understanding the psych.
ology Of the mob" without the help
OF tutors. In his day and generation"
Woodrow Wilson, as governor OF New
Jersey, was the best little poser as a
party organization smasher that ever
came down the pike. 1T was the life
IN them days. II anybody can point
sout where he has failed TO play "or.
ganization" to the top card since he
has been President, he. she or 1t wins
the medal. As an example that every
West Virginian can grasp, has he fail.
ed TO be play. 1t with the Chilton.Wat.
son partnership, which opposed him
desperately for Clark at the Balti.
more convention, at any time? Also,
they are asking, what better little par.
~ organization man did you ever see
an the White House than one r. Roose.
Welt! And the answer is mover bet.
ter" Taft. Of the three( It is now
being argued-Taft, the "standpatter,"
the "re.actionary." played more hob
with party organization than Reform.
ers Theodore and Woodrow
80 From which the argument proceeds
that. assuming that Charles Evan
Hughes was. not born In politics yes.
sterday, like all the rest OF them has
bis ear and his wh!skers 10 the ground,
and having played the game as gov.
sernor OF New York as It should have
been played at that time. and having
noted the switch in public sentiment
since then. is prepared to play the
game now as the times suggest. As
q matter Of fact, without handing
out: lot OF bunk about tho judicial In.
stitutton to which he now belongs, and
which he conspicuously adorns.
Charles Evan Hughes is playing the
game right now as he has never been
played by Supreme Court Justice
before: He is playing 1t by Just sit.
ting tight and saving nothing. And
u appears to be working, ali right
There isn't a doubt expressed anv
more about his not accepting the nom.
tnation II 1t comes to him with the
tag OF spontaneity and more Or less
unantmity attached 10 II. Nor Is there
quite so much doubt as formerly that,
should be become President, he would
not be wise enough to play party or.
ganizat!on. He will have before him
several fine examples Of Presidents
who didn't play party organization
and who didn't stay In tho White
House more than term. The very
life OF our system Is party organiza.
ton, and the official who fails TO I'm.
derstand that and abide by it. mere.
y enjoys temporary tenure. II IL
history. So. from that argument. thew
are figuring now that Charles Evan
Hughes Will play the part In harmony
with the sentiment attendant upon
hfc mn ort upit,, SfSA