Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08
Why Chicago Was Chosen for
the Convention.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
Avoids a Flat Declaration That He
Will Decline Nomination.
UNCERTAINTY AS TO HUGHES
Closest Friends Do Not Know What
His Position Is-A Mystery
in Politics.

As aftermath of the meeting of the
republican national committee there was
considerable political gossip relating to
presidential politics. After the din of bat
tie was over and the smoke cleared away
the politicians discussed the selection of
the convention city in an unbiased way.
However it was not much of battle
after ALL mostly a sham battle.
The fact is, the real leaders in the re-
publican national committee. and the men
who will manage the convention, wanted
TO go to Chicago in the first place. But
Chicago was coy, and in her present stress
of financial circumstances was inclined
TO drive a close bargain. The influential
politicians. thoroughly aware of the fact
that in the next presidential campaign
money will be hard TO obtain on account
of the hue and cry against campaign con-
tributions, We're also looking out for num-
Der one. and were also inclined to do a
little swappin' and tradin' themselves.
Hence the apparently fervid enthusiasm
in behalf of Kansas City.
Why Kansas City Wanted It.
Kansas City was in earnest and, as one
of their delegation expressed it, ION the
level in seeking the convention. While
there is no doubt that Secretary Taft's
friends in Missouri thought Mr.. Taft's
boom might be advantaged by holding the
convention in pro-Taft community, it is
also fact that Kansas City and Mis-
souri, earnestly desired the convention for
other reasons. The business element,
democrats and republicans alike. wanted
TO boom the town. The republican poll
ticlans as was so eloquently set forth by
Senator Warner in his speech, felt that
republican prospects in the next presi-
dental election would be materially en-
HANGED by the enthusiasm created in the
holding of a national convention within
the state, and the attention which would
be attracted thereby to national issues.
After the members of the committee had
arrived some malicious person started the
story that the selection of Kansas City
was an administration victory. 1t is not
known who dropped this fly into ointment,
but 1T is certain that it served to turn
number of gentlemen. The controlling
motive, however, in the selection of Chi
cago is well understood to have been
unitarian in nature. 1t was a question of
. expense. convenience of access, hotel and
telegraph facilities and the like.
Among the members of the committee
and the other politicians who gathered
here there was no end of gossip on pres
idential politics and speculation as to
President Roosevelt's attitude Many
prominent republicans who came to this
gathering have talked with the President
in the last two or three days, md reports
of these conversations have gone abroad.
Some of the most influential men who
shared in these conferences have since
told their friends that they sized up the
Presidents attitude to be about as fol-
lows:
The Presidents Attitude.
That his principal object at present is
to avoid making fiat declaration that he
will not accept another nomination. His
purpose is said to be to keep the 'reac-
tionaries," or conservatives, as you
please. guessing, and thereby prevent
them from concentrating on some one
else. With the President making a final
and unequivocal declaration of his re-
fusal. the next step for the conservatives
would be to combine if possible upon
some strong candidate as against Taft.
1t is said that the President does not
wish this. but prefers that the game
should drag along, the Taft people max
ing hay all the time in the sunshine of
presidential favor, while the conservatives
were under a cloud of doubt.
1t was said that the President is trying
to prevent any state convention from de-
claring for him in a way which would
require him to answer. Tennessee pro-
poses to hold it's convention in January,
but the President hopes to be able to
stave 1t off until April the month in
which Tennessee conventions have usual
ly been held.
Uncertainty as to Gov. Hughes.
There was good deal # uncertainty
among the leading politicians over Gov.
Hughes of New York. They cannot get
him to declare himself and they do not
know what his position may be. Gov.
Hughes is the great enigma in republican
politics. He is d mystery to his closest
political friends, and these republican pol
iticians who are now jockeying for posi-
tions cannot get line on the governors
form and condition. Some of them said
that for all they know he might do as
MIR. Parker did-decline nomination I'M
less a platform was made to his partic-
ular pleasure.
The best judgment among leading repub-
Iicans was that the meeting of the ma
tonal committee did not develop any
strong light on the presidential situation.