New-York tribune., 1919-06-23
Hugo's Hat Is
First i'm Ring
For Governor
Secretary of State Definitely
Launches 1920 Campaign
for Republican Nomina-
ton; Others to Follow
Barnes Combine Hinted
Dark Horses From Army
Ranks May Spoil Plsv1s;
Fight Over Wadswo,v 9TH

The first of the dozen or more candiA
dates for the Republican nomination
for Governor in 1920 to make an
nouncement of his ambitions is Francis
NJ. Hugo, now serving his third term
as Secretary Of State. The announce
ment was made at the outing on Satur-
day night of the Francis NJ. Hugo AS
sociation, of Queens County, at Pat
chogue, L. I.
"My hat" declared Secretary Hugo
after announcing that he was a candi-
date Tor the Republican nomination,
us in, the ring, and it is going to
stay there. And if any one picks it
up he has got to be a better man
than IT,
There are already a small army of
candidates who think themselves Diet
ter men" than the gentleman from
Watcrtown, and it would not be sur
prislHg if within the next month or
so some of them gather up sufficient
courage to say so.
Chief among his rivals is Eugene N.
Travis, State Controller, who of all the
candidates, with the exception of
Hugo, has the only really formidable
personal machine.
Have Been Nursing Ambitions
Both these men have been quietly
nursing their. gubcrnatoral ambitions
since their election in 1914 on the
Whitman ticket, and on numerous oc
caslons they had personal quarrels
activities in their own behalf. activi-
ties which were regarded by Whitman
as proof of dsloyalty to him.
Hugo, according to we'll informed
Republicans, has reached an under
standing with the followers of William
Barnes, and it is said that the Albany
County leader is pledged to the cam
didacy of Hugo, and that Hugo in re-
turn t,a has agreed to support United
States Senator James w. Wadsworth,
jr., for denomination.
And these Republicans, avowedly
anti-Barnes men, see in the Barnes
Hugo Wadsworth combination an at
tempt on the part of Mr.. Barnes to re-
turn to power.
Another candidate is Thaddeus C.
Sweet Speaker Of the Assembly, who is
also flirting with the Barnes Wads-
worth group and who made a big play
for the favor of the Albany County
leader during the last two sessions of
the Legislature by his opposition to
the legislation sponsored by numerous
women's organizations and to prohbi-
tion. But eventually under the lashing
of the Anti-Sa loon League, Sweet
turned to an open espousal OF the ratl
fication of the Federal amendment
Favored Wet Bill
In the closing days of the last ses-
sion, however, Speaker Sweet and J.
Henry Walters, president pro tenn of
the Senate, were backing a bill per-
the manufacture and sale of
beers, a measure which was abandoned
after it was protested by tho saloon
men of New York City.
There is an active fight going on un-
der cover for the Republican nomina
ton for Governor, as it is generally
conceded, even by Democrats. that New
York will go overwhelmingly Republi-
can year hence.
Other aspirants who are being
groomcd for the nomination are Luther
w. Mott, member Of Congress from the
32d District, and fellow townsman of
Speaker Sweet; Attorney General
Charles D. Newton, of Geneseo; Will
lam Boycc Thompson, the copper mag
nate, of Westchester; Colonel William
Hayward, Of New York. and former
Judge Nathan l.. Miller, of Syracuse.
The candidacies Of the last two are
being actively furthered by ex-Gov-
ernor Whitman and the few remaining
members of his once powerful machine.
nv w NuiIiHdil ItiSii diC PidJiuE DOlu
candidates in the hope that one will
develop sufficient strength before the
primaries next fall to warrant Mr..
Whitman's entrance into the fight to
wrcst the nomination for United States
Senator from Wadsworth.
But should cX Governor Whitman at.
tempt to reastablish himself politically
by an attack on Wadsworth, he will not
be alone, for State Senator Frederick
M. Davenport, of Clinton, candidate in
1914 for Governor on the Progressive
ticket, is busy preparing for the fight
Tor Wadsworth's toga. So, also, are
Congressman Bertrand H. Smell and
Norman J. Gould.
But with the 1920 primaries many
months away, there is big possibility
Of all the above named being elimi-
mated by couple of men who have
taken little interest in active politics in
the last two years, having been en-
gaged in more pressing duties some
where over there. This is possibility
that all candidates at this moment are
anticipating, and some are making pre-
paratlons accordingly. Who these
dark horses are no one, not themselves
even, know now But with the re-
turned soldiers as strongly organized
as they are, and the spirit of free
masonry common to men who have
fought together active among them. it
would not surprise politicians if at
least one Of the two big places on the
y al, 49,.