New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-17
ONLY BUBBLES AND STEAM
SAYS SAMUEL c.. BLYTHE
Seethers Seethe and Boilers Boil, But Who Will
Be Nominated No Man Can Tell, Observes
The Trbune's Convention Correspondent

ing been provided for that purpose by
the committee on arrangements.
However. sub-boss William Finn Of
the Roosevelt forces, while appreciating
highly Mr. Roots abilities as welkin
ringer. was not sure II would be well to
employ Roots talents in that direction.
1t Is the idea of Mr.. Finn to start some
thing in the convention at the time Mr..
Roots name is submitted TO the as
sembage by Victor Rosewater as the
national committees conception OF an
ideal temporary chairman. and suggest
in a clarion voice it would be well TO
have a tried and true Roosevelt man In
that job, precipitating thereby strug-
gle that should have definite informa-
ton in IL as TO the strength Of the two
leading c, .idates.
Mr.. F'linn's idea has not met with full
approval Of the other Roosevelt leaders.
There Is feeling il might he we'll to
postpone the clash until later in the
convention.
Advocate Of a compromise candidate
favor postponement. They say the thing
to do is to select Mr.. Root, listen to his
speech and then take an adjournment,
hoping BY that time order may begin to
shove its well combed head up through
chaos, and that there may be found
way TO save the Grand Old Party. Sew
era eminent persons on the ground
favor this plan, having adjusted light
ming rods and placed themselves in the
most conspicuous and lightning infested
spots they can find. One silver tongued
young orator is rehesrsing a speech by
which he hopes to ss-of gold-and-
opportunity is offered. Politics, as has
been remarked, is an unselfish and
genial pursuit
Consider the OffcehoIders' Union"
The situation is not without Its pathos.
Consider the dire straits OF the Office
holders Union and the Band Wagon
boys. They are pacing back and forth,
wrInging their hands and beating their
fevered brows Originally the Office
holders and the men who want to hold
office were with Taft Then from purely
patriotic motives and because they de-
sired to be on the ticket with Roose
welt. thinking II might help them subse-
quently to get on the payroll. they
shifted to Roosevelt. Now they are torn
with conflicting emotions, not knowing
whether TO jump back to Taft. who may
win. or stick TO Roosevelt, who may
lose.
But sad as is their dilemma, they are
enjoying a holy calm when compared to
the Band Wagon boys. They want TO
jump. They must jump soon. They do
not know where TO jump. They button
hole every newcomer and harass every
man who has been on the ground day.
They clamor for information and they
are met with the statement that there is
none. II they do not land they are lost
and they may be lost anyhow Time is
pretty nearly up with them. They are
about TO hear the ringing Of the last bell.
No sadder spectacle has ever been seen
at a Republican convention than this
concourse Of patriotic American citizens
unable To decide as 10 what particular
candidatorial slant their patriotism shall
take.
There Is much talk OF compromise. but
it Is only talk, largely promoted by three
or four citizens, each Of whom thinks he
would be the perfect solution Of all these
pressing difficulties. Undoubtedly, IL
there could be a frank expression Of
opinion from the Taft leaders and the
Roosevelt leaders, aside from the princi-
pals, it would be found that Cd or 40 per
cent OF them favor the abandonment Of
the two leading candidates and the Sc
lection OF another man for the sake OF
the party.
There might be fewer Roosevelt men
who would talk this way than Taft men.
but there would be considerable show.
ing on both sides. So it may fall out
that on Monday night. say, or on Tues
day night. IL the Roosevelt forces lose
their temporary chairman fight and dt
not bolt in consequence, there may be
gathering away down in the engine room
OF the Congress Hotel. where the subject
will be discussed openly. instead Of whis-
pered, as it is now.
The idea is growing. Nothing NAV
come Of 1t, OF course, but there are
large number Of Republicans who think
more OF the Republican party than they
dc Of any individual or any set of midi
viduals. and some Of this kind are In
Chicago
But that is in the future. The facts
Saturday Colonel Roosevelt is leading
i'm person and the Taft leaders have stiff
fened i'm consequence Of his coming
Both sides make glowing claims and
neither side can tell what will happen.
There IL a constant realgnment. Roose
Welt men nip out a Taft man now and
then and the Taft men have ways o.
their own for getting even.
When night came on Sunday neither
side had gained or lost much. 1t is still
n speculative stand Of, an open propo-
sitionN Nobody need be surprised If Taft
wins by handful OF votes. Nobody
need he surprised II Roosevelt bolts In
that case. Nobody need be surprised if
Roosevelt wins. in which case the TAI
men will do their boiling at the polls.
There may be two conventions in ths
same hall There may be an inconclu-
sive ballot or two and a third man pro-
posed and selected. Anything is posi-
bic. for conditions defy analysis. They
are not subject to the usual tests. The
human paradox has projected himself
into the fight and he has created a stu
alton as paradoxical as he is Where