AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 5

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. MR. TAFT NOMINATED. A GREAT MAJORITY. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright. fEeceiml June 19, 10 p.m.) New York, June 19. In the presence of a gathering of 14,000 persons the Republican Convention, sitting at Chicago, adopted with acclamation the Roosevelt platform, including a modified form of the plank recommending legislation to ensure labour organisations against the effect of snap judgments by Courts in the issue of injunctions, but upholding the authority of the Courts. Another plank demands the strengthening of the Sherman antitrust law, and a third recommends the revision of the tariff by a special session of Congress immediately after the installation of the next President. The workers are described as the most direct beneficiaries under the protective system. The platform declares that the United States owns one-fourth of the world's wealth, and makes one-third of modern manufactured products. . When Mr. Taft was proposed for the Presidency there was a demonstration, second ouly to that accorded to President Roosevelt. The first ballot for the Republican nomination resulted as follows :— Mr. W. H. Taft 702 Senator Knox <3S Mr. C. E. Hughes 83 Mr. J. C. Cannon 01 Mr. C. W. Fairbanks ... 40 Senator R, M. La Follette 25 Senator J. B. Foraker ... 10 The Penusylvanians, amidst immense cheering, cast three votes for President Roosevelt. Mr. Tuft's nomination was move unanimous at the subsequent ballot. President Roosevelt predicted several weeks ago that .Mr. Tali- would have at least 700 votes on the first ballot, which would give him the nomination, because only 491 votes are required. The. result has proved him a good prophet. The Democrats will hold their convention at Denver next month, anil Mi-. Bryan will probably receive that party's nomination, which is also being sought by the "two Johnsons"Tom .Johnson. Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, and John A. Johnson, Governor of Minnesota. The election is to take place in November. Mr. Taft is 50 years of age, and has been United Stares Secretary of War since 1904. He has been described as "the handy man of the Administration," and has been judge, law-professor, a delegate to the Vatican, and Civil Governor of the Philippines. ' He also for a short term acted as Governor of Cuba. Senator Knox, who has represented the Stale of Pennsylvania since Juno 10, 120', is 54 years of age. He graduated in Ohio in 1872, and was admitted to the Bar in 1375. "With his partner in the legal firm of Knox and Reed lie has represented many largo corporations, including the Carnegie Company. From April 9, 1901, to June 60, 190*, he was Attorney-General in tho Cabinet; of President, Roosevelt.

Mr. Charles Evans Hughes, Governor of New York, and candidate for the Presidency of the United Slates, is a remarkable personality. Born in Glenns Falls, New York, in 1362, he is the sou of a Bapi-fct minister, who crossed over from England hi 1855. A precocious child, he .graduated at Brown's University with high honours at 18. Governor Hughes was travelling in Switzerland in 1905 when the Equitable disclosures startled the American public. On the understanding that he should have a free hand, he consented to return to New York and act a3 counsel for the Armstrong Insurance Investigating Committee. His searching questions brought out tho fact that secret contributions wore being made from' the policy-holders' money to the Republican campaign funds through Mr. Odell and Senator Piatt. Odf-1 and Piatt had to take their place on the witness stand with terrible results. Mr. Hughes' report produced laws which made life insurance safe and policyholders secure. During this inquiry Mr. Hughes was nominated for Mayor of New York, but declined the honour. He afterwards became Governor of New York .State, defeating Mr. Hearst. Mr. Joseph C. Cannon, Speaker of Congress, of which lip has been a member since 1873, is over 70 years of age. Mr. C. W. Fairbanks, the Vice-President of the United States, is a lawyer, who has served several terms as a senator. Senator La Fallette has taken a leading part in national affairs, and has been a senator since 1905. Senator Forakor is a vigorous American politician, just over 60 years of age. Ho \iti3 elected Governor of Ohio in 1835, and again in 1887, but was defeated for that office two,years later. A lawyer, who has been a soldier, he is said to be very popular, in a personal sense, in the Eastern States.