The sun., 1908-09-14

Wuat WlCkeQeT tnan seventeenth cen"
tury pirate, or he might have understood
that Mr.. Hughes's character was COM
posite Of all the graces and virtues since
George Washington went out of politics.
Both estimates were cracked like bull
whips about the corridors.
Possibly the most interesting figure in
the hotel this evening was Elihu Root,
the Secretary Of State. While Mr.. Root
ate bis dinner at table with State Chair
man Woodruff. Mrs. Woodruff and Will
liam Barnes, Jr.. there was a constant
craning Of necks in his direction. One
heard at frequent intervals:
If he would say the word he would
be nominated with a slam. The leaders
are crazy to get his consent to be a candi-
date against Hughes. But he won't do
it,"
The Secretary Of State was on his feet
most Of the dinner hour. At least 100
recently arrived delegates stopped to
shake hands with him or ask brief ques-
ton. Mr.. Root was affability personifei.
Occasionally he left his table altogether
to speak to Congressman Olcott and Mrs.
Olcott, or to Senator and Mrs. Depew. or
to young Mr.. Wadsworth and his wife.
The Secretary's table was tho star table
Of room filed with Republican head
liners. Mr.. Woodruff. obviously de-
lighted at his juxtaposition with the
Secretary. beamed. grinned like the
chessy cat Of story books and futtered
with a desire to please. MI. Woodruff's
these last strenuous days Of the hope
less fight aRainst HuRhes
A newspaper man who had just left
Senator Depew's table stopped by Mr..
Woodruff's table and teased the chair
man with this question:
oan MI beSt %oGSq sSs says you decided you
Mr.. Woodruff turned the color Of
nice well done brick and waved his ques-
toner away. Then he called friend
and agitatedly sent him over to Bouquet
Billy Halpin's table to ask who the person
was that spoke to him.
Some reporter was kidding you.
Halpin sent back.
well. thought IL might have been
well. you know one can't be too careful
Mr.. Barnes was throughout the dinner
the very picture OF gloom; not a single
merry smile chased across his saddenec
face: Mostly Mr.. Barnes glowered.
Within handshaking distance Of Seore-
tary Roots table Herbert Parsons dined
Clews, Parsons. In his brisk. alert man.
ner was as busy on his feet as the smiling
Mr.. Root. He was here, there and every
where. passing out bits of snappy con-
versation. patting the boys on the back
and apparently very. happy. He was
superfoially the exact antithesis Of Mr..
Undoubtedly the oheeriest, chirpiest,
most animated person in the room was
Chauncey NJ Depew. who dine1 with his |
wife. This is the Senator's fiftieth con-
vention.
And the most amazing 1 ever at
tended he commented. where are we
at? My boy, don't ask me that. Diana
OF Ephesus would have thrown up her
tion.'
There was a constant procession to
and from the Senator's table. Congress-
man Olcott. the only man who had energy |
enough left after gruelling day in the
corridors and headquarters rooms to
slick up In evening dress. eomphmented
why. I'm back to twenty years ago."
said Cbauncey. There's many a fight
left in me"
Along came the square shouldered,
square jawei. deliberate John Raines for
. chat with the Senator. Hamilton
Fish, Assistant Treasurer OF the United
otdtes anu HotSfpie ior ociuS tnc tdhcSt
man in the room, paused to shake hands.
High and low the Senator hailed them
yayly.
You couldn't have thrown biscuit
without landing on some headlirfer in
he big political vaudeville show. Little
Abe Gruber held forth in a corner, as
'erting mildly enough that the Governor
hadn't chance for his white alley.
Bennet's the man. said the diminutive
Colonel Congressman Bennet's the
goods, They will unite on him and then
yood-by, Charles Evans
Marcus Braun Of Second avenue. whose
wasn't strong enough to reconcile Marcus
o the wearing OF brass buttons and the
,lue uniform Of the customs service,
ossed grins right and left, but declined
O put himself on record for or against
Judge Job Hedges with a party Of up
'tate dissenters from the Hughes idea.
olemnly cracked such after dinner joke
q he figured he could pass out without
'eing nailed.
What do ye know. Job9' queried a
riend
Hope. said Hedges in his ierky way.
William HaIpin. whose sobriquet OF
bouquet Billy Ats his Chesterfleldian
manners like glove, held palaver with
}. B. Odell, Jr.. and bowed suavely to 1
masculine and feminine.
There's still a chance" said Halpin, ,
II they can unite against Hughes to- ,
morrow. Here's the point. Most Of the
elegates are afraid to turn Hughes down,
ut they really believ he cannot be elected
he gets the nomination. II we could
My get Root finished Halpin wisdully.
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