New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-12
BOOM 1916 CANDIDATE
Senator Townsend. of Mich
lgan. the Man. Says Banker.
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN,
w. j. Smith Declares Party Can
not Follow Men Identified
with Extreme Radicalism.

Michigan now comes forward to sug-
gest possibility for the Presidential
nomination OF the republican party In 1916.
lie is Charles f.. Townsend. United
States Senator from that state. Work on
his behalf has already begun.
Senator Townsend looks To me 10 be
the logical leader Of the party declared
W. j. Smith OF Battle Creek. Yesterday.
who was in the city on his way home
from Washington. The almost sub-con-
scious growth among his intmates OF a
belief In tine Senator's Presidential avail
ability naturally grows out of the lead
ership which ne has assumed in Wash
ington lie. conspicuous.y among the
more lheral-minded OF regular Republic
cans has had the courage OF his convlc-
tons and has pat up square-toed
fight"
Mr. smith VINO is vice-president of the
Old National Bank. of Battle Creek. has
long been prominent iu the political as
well as the financial affairs Of Michigan.
lie IL was VINO managed the campaign OF
Mr. Townsend for the Sante. He has
long been an admirer of Senator Town
send.
Speaking of the Senator's Work IN
Washington. Nj Smith said
lie has taken the rank ~ leader
simply because he has taken tine militia
tive I'm matters where initiative on the
part Of others was lacking That his
leadership IS wise IS shown by the way
In which his colleagues have assented 10
his plans and by the many compliment
tarv things which are said about him IN
Washington.
His colleagues IN the Senate. once
fearful that he might be too radical no"
have full confidence in his sanity and
Judgment. he IS more liberal than the
conservative type Of Root and Lodge. but
tnat element Of the party recognize that
party leadership for II is out Of the Ques-
ion. Townsend represents the progressive
type 10 which the conservatives would
rather turn. for he stuck by the ship IN
the storm and has never been personally
offensive
THE party cannot be reunited under
men who hav- been Identified with eA-
IRENE radicalism. The men VINO voted
for Roosevelt or took To- the storm cellar
or passlvely helped the Democrats may
as well drop their Presidential aspira-
lions The men who would tear down
everything that the Republican party has
ever done and start all over again can
not o.. intrusteJ with the helm. We must
have II the head not a progressive popu-
list not a man who grabs AT all new
theories To catch all theorists. but one
who is truly q progressive Republican.
Townsend stood last year and STANDS
now for progressive Republicanism.
Mr.. Smith said he believed that when
the time came there would be multitude
of Republicans outside OF Michigan who
would push Senator Townsend forward
as tho partv's greatest nope.
1T was formerly said that Michigan
could never have a President" added Mr.
Smith THE reason was that the state
was solidly Republican. II could be
counted on 10 vote the ticket without
the incentive Of state pride In the candi-
date But the situation has been changed.
Michigan went the limit last fail smash
ing the Grand Old Party more than any
other state II announced Itself the CEN
ire of the Progressive movement, and "A
force with which the Republicans must
reckon IL they want TO prevent a lasting
sniff with the third party Progressives
mt ont Of business the Republican party
would achieve a most important strategic