Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14
TWO QUESTIONS YET
TO Be DECIDED
Taft'S Associate and the Plat.
form to Be Determined.
THE LEADERS DELIBERATE
Presidential Nomination Regarded
as Practically Settled.
DOUBT ABOUT SECOND PLACE
Rivalry Between Dolliver and Cor
telyou-Wade Ellis Draft of
Resolutions Accepted.

SfIiCAGO, ILL.,, June l3.-Thc serious
thought OF the republican leaders her
continues to turn on the balloting in next
weeks convention, first on the p-esidcr-
cy, then on the vice presidency. and
finally TO the adoption of the party's plat
form pronouncement to the country. As
TO the presidential nomination. tic figures
presented by the Taft men. and TO some
extent conceded by the other elements
give the Secretary such commanding
lead that the usual spirit OF a close con
test is wanting. AS eX-Ciov. .Ierrck OF
Ohio said tonight:
so far the presidential nomination
is concerned, we consider it settled-sel-
tied beyond the shadow of a doubt-and
Mr.. Taft will be nominated on the first
ballot by a considerable majority. This
is not a mere claim: il is the statement OF
established fact
Gov. Hcrrick added that while some
contests might be presented to the Gre
dentialS committee, yet the preliminary
rulings by the national committee on
these contests had been SO emihently ju-
dicial and with such practical unanimity.
despite statements to the contrary. that
the credentials committece would
doubtedly uphold the careful work which
the national committee had already done
That a spirit of harmony is abroad was
indicated by the statement that Senator
Murray Crane of Massachusetts. who has
been one OF the leading StratcgistS of the
| anti-Taft forces. is now counseling them
not to carry their contests further before
the committee on credentials.
Vice Presidency sin the Air."
The presidential nomination having
| failed to develop a contest calculated TO
| thrill the convention, the vice presidency
has fortunately come forward as a real
| factor of doubt. promising to keep the
convention on the keen edge OF ex-
pectancy. until the final ballot is taken.
| The most sagacious of the political
prophets frankly admit tonight that the
question of naming the Vice President is
] 'all In the air" Some of the most prom
ising bOomS are now dormant; other
| boomlets have made their appearance
only to be denied or laughed out of exist =
ence within the hour. With the positive
declaration Of Gov Hughes that he would
! not take the nomination under any cir
| cumstances the New York men have
been trying, without much success, to get
together on some name, for if they can do
this there appears to be strong teIi-
dency in the middle west to join forces
with New York. Representative Shci-
man Of New York appears 20 have wide
support, both I'm New York and at out side
points. including the Illinois delegation.
But the movement has not crystallized
yet. The name of Mr.. Cortelyou continues
to be mentioned as one which will develop
increasing strength as the ballotin,:
draws near. Ex-Lieut. Gov. Woodruff
also has his vice presidential supporters
among the New York delegation. But
there is no united movement as yet, and
probably viii be none until the New York
delegation holds its caucus next Monday
night. For geographical reasons also the
| western delegations are giving some con-
sideration TO the vice presidential claims
of Gov. Guild of Massachusetts and ex-
i'm II rrrah ~
The latters headquarters were opened to-
day and began to take on the dimensions
of one of the presidential establishments
Senator Delivers vice presidential in
terests have undergone several ups and
downs during the day. letter from tho
senator brought the information that lac
did not look with favor upon the use OF
his name for second place on the ticket
This cast something of a gloom over the
more enthusiastic Dollver supporters.
Later they were cheered by tho arrival Of
Senator Long, direct from Mr.. Dolliver's
home. While the senator had no specific
assurances TO give, neither had he any
discouraGcment and the polliver move
ment WAS revived with the feeling that IL
the lightning struck In the northwest il
would find the senator from Iowa willing
to yield TO the behcStS of his party.
The Platform.
The platform came in for renewed con-
sideration during the day. as Senator Hop
kins OF Illinois. who is to be chairman OF
the resolutions committee. held long
conference with Wade Ellis OF Ohio who
is the custodian of the draft platform en-
bodying the RooseveltTaft ideas. When
duizzed AS TO the platform Mr.. Hopkins
remarked:
You can depend upon it. there viii be
no platform until the resolutions commit
tee anoointed bv the convention considers
Lin fully and passes upon II finally"
While this was accepted AS technicaIN
exact il WAS none the less believed that
most OF the essential features OF me
canning document had been sketched With
eyactness and awaited only the formal
approval of the platform committee.
-.rrD ANN cnprrr vnyr