TAFT OR HUGHES?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 7

TAFT OR HUGHES?

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

THE REPUBLICANS' CANDIDATE.

FINANCIERS' SUPPORT. BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. ' London, November 19. "The Times'" New York correspondent indicates tho growing inlluonco of Mr. Hughes, Governor of Now York, as a potential candidate for the Presidency. i inanciers, reading between tho linos, infer from his speeches that he adopts Prosidont Roosevelt's policies, but would bo more cohscnative in his methods of dealing with trusts and corporations. Honce Mr. Taft-: tho 1 resident's first choice, is less popular in New York State. Mr. C. E. Hughes, Republican, who defeated Air. Hearst for tho Governorship of New York btate, is admitted to bo a strong man. On the other hand, a recent cablegram indicated that Mr. Taft, Secretary for War, and President Roosevelt s nominee, was considered so weak a candidate thnt leading Republicans were urging Mr. Roosevelt to reverse his decision, and to contest tho Presidency for a third term. Tho American "lieview of Reviews for July wrote: —"There now remains only a year until the holding of the national Presidential conventions. It continues true today, as for a good whilo past, that i»r. Roosevelt and Mr. Bryan are the only leaders who have an appreciablo personal following. But for tho third-term question, and his own absolute declaration that under no circumstances wou d he accept the nomination, Mr. Koosevelt would be chosen without an opposing voice in the convention. As matters now stand, the Republicans are cautiously taking account of thoir available supply of Presidential timber. Pennsylvania has brought forward Senator knox and it is possible that, his candidacy will take on a serious character. As AttorneyGeneral and Senator his force and ability 115 a public man have been well shown. That Oluo will lino lip for Secretary Taft seems no longer a matter of doubt. This onorgetic public servant has been travelling and speaking m tho' West, and there is no difference of opinion anywhere as to his exceptional fitness for the highest office in the gift of the people. Governor Hughes, of Now York, has within the past few weeks commanded the attention °f entire country by his veto of the 2-cent rate bill and the calm strength he haa shown "5 ®f cu 7 n £. the tardy and reluctant adherence of the Legislature for his public-spirited programme. There is a pronounced movement in f>ow York to bring him forward as a -Presidential candidate. It is fully expected thnt Illinois will present the naino of Speaker Cannon to the convention, and Vice-President Fairbanks will havo the support of Indiana if ho determines to porsist in his candidacy. Several other Eepublicans havo been prominently mentioned, but their supporters have not yet brought them forward in so distinct a manner.

Current Literature)" for October comments on the non-comrmttnl attitude of Mr. Hughes, both- ps to 'Presidential find Vice-Presidential candidacy. At a gathering of Vermontcrs Mr. Hughes \Tras introduced as "a man who, instead of busting trusts will regulate them." "Wo are anxious to hear,", the introducer nddod, . from a man wlio can tell us how trusts and individuals con bo regulated without shaking to its foundation our present prosperity." But Mr Hughes failed to rise to tho bait. His i ■S as on principles of State government, and the nearest ho cmpe to trusts and trustbusting was in tlie following statement:—"lndustrial progress is what wo need; commercial enterprise must bo encouraged, but the community as a wholo must have its duo, and no concern or aggregation whoso success is attained i A expense of tho people and tho rights of tho community and at the expense of lofs of opportunity to others who should have it can bo permitted. That is a menace to our free institutions, and suroly a harvest will'be reaped from such enterprise, which will bo sad and unfortunate to the people." "Working for reforms along conservative lines is a fairly popular summing up of Mr. Hughes's platform.