New-York tribune., 1907-12-06
DISCUSSING THE
PRESIDENCY.
MEMBERS OF .NATION4L
COWDIITTEE PUZZLED.
In Doubt as to INr. ROOseJeifs 4ttl-
understanding for To
days Meeting.
from The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Dec. MANY additional menu
bers of the Republican National Committee ar
rived in Washington to-day, and political dis
cussion is lively. A radically different situa-
ton exists from that presented four years ago.
At that time Senator PIatt. of Connecticut, Sen
ator Allison. Senator Lodge. Speaker Cannon
and other party leaders had sounded the key
note of the coming campaign by their foreefuL
interviews in The Tribune and elsewhere. de-
cIaring that Mr. Roosevelt would be the party
nominee When the national committeeman
reached Washington IL all over but the
shouting. and all that remained for them was
to climb into the Presidential band wagon
which they did with the air of having never
intended do anything else
This year a majority of the committeeman
declare that they are for the President, but
decline to commit themselves further. Many OF
them came 10 washington with sincere convic-
ton that Mr.. Roosevelt would be persuaded to
succeed himself and Rle chief development OF
the gathering so far has been the gradually but
steadily growing conviction that this is not the
Presidents purpose. This conviction as nc
spreads leaves some of the committeeman with
out anchorage. and they are at a loss to know
just where they stand Few are willing to risk
the chance of falling out with the administra-
ton. and some have recourse to the entirely
safe course of declaring that they still for
Mr.. Roosevelt despite his personal attitude.
If they could assure themselves for certain
that the President would under conditions
change his attitude as announced in his election
night statement, there would be infinite relief
among those politicians who at heart wish
some other candidate but who fear the conse-
quences of aligning themselves with the fac-f
tion which opposes Mr.. Roosevelt
Speaking not TO be quoted. many committee
men say they are unable to declare for any
particular candidate without mourning the dan
ger of alternating themselves from the mass OF
the Republican voters of their states who
as loyal to Mr.. Roosevelt they ever We're
OF the fifty-four members OF the COMMITTEES
all but seven OF eight viii be present at the
meeting tomorrow. and most of the absentees
will be represented. except, perhaI those from
Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philippines, by
proxies William Barnes, jr. who arrived to-
day holds the proxy for William L. Ward. who
is being detained at horne by i'll health To-
norrow's meeting will be held at II o'clock at
the Shoreham and viii be devoted to the
lection of chairman Harry S New will be
elected unanimously. and after luncheon the
whole committee will call on the President who
will receive them in the East Room of the White
House The really important work of the COM
mittee will go over until Saturday. when. after
hearing arguments from various cities, the place
and date for holding the convention win be de-
ternined Tonight. as last night, the current
is strongly in favor of Kansas City, June >.
but Denver is making lively campaign. and
many of the party leaders prefer Chicago re
gardIess of the tempting money offers from
other places.