New Britain herald., 1914-08-27
SULz[R MAY STEAL
 MOOSE PRIMARIES
Progressive Leaders are in Deadly
 Fear Of Former Governor.

New Ork, Aug. Il.-FrOm COlOnel Roosevelt down progressive leaders the state over are in deadly fear that William Sulzer will steal the Bull Moose primaries. So critical has the situation become that William Ham, lin Childs, chairman of the progress sive steering committee, deferred his trip to Utica several hours yesterday to confer with the Colonel at national progressive headquarters.
 MT. Childs would not talk about candidates; neither would MT. Roose- welt. Asked point blank if he would support Sulzer at the primaries the Colonel hesitated a moment, and then replied:
 1T have made my effort and as things are now I will not interfere with the primaries in any way. l have no doubt that the progressive party will act with entire wisdom in nam ing their ticket
 SulZer is Confident.
 Sulzer himself spent three hours with Colonel Roosevelt at Oyster Bay on Tuesday afternoon. The ex-Gover- nor, who dsclares he is the only simon-pure progressive in the race, as we'll as a simon-pure prohibition ist said that he would win in the pro- gressivce primaries and that no one else had chance. He informed the Colonel that he would carry at least fifty counties in the state and then asked MT. Roosevelt to back him.
 The Colonel, it is understood, told Sulzer he would play an impartial part in the primaries. Sulzer then, it is said, asked if he could depend on sup port in case he won. The ColonePs reply is said to have been evasive, and friends say he will not tour the state for Sulzer in the event that the deposed Governor does that which the leaders pray he won't do-steal the progressive primaries.
 Assumes Neutral Stand.
 Colonel Roosevelt's answer to Sul- ger was taken by many to mean that, having indorsed Harvey D. Hinman, the Broome County republican, and then having withdrawn his indorse- ment at the request of the commit tee of twenty-one he had washed his hands of the affair.
 Progressive leaders, who regard Sulzer as anything but martyr, real ize that, should the ex-Governor win in the progressive primaries, the poli- tica1 joke of the century would be perpetrate' and they would be the laughin;. elk of all other parties.
 To prevent any such thing happen ing will be the chief subject of the conference of the progressive leaders who will meet in Utica today, rather than the selection of state ticket. They know from the number of let @{S,<<> F. I there is a goodwdear- or -Sulzer senti- party, now that the. committee of twenty-one has cast .Hinman aside How to overcome this before primary day is their chief problem
 Several Other Candidates.
 The other candidates for Cover now in the progressive ranks are Chauncy J. Hamlin, of Buffalo; Fred erick M. Davenport, of Clinton, and William H. Hotchkiss, of New York. The last named is an unwilling can didate and has told progressive lead CTS he does not want the place.
 Colonel Roosevelt, it was reported yesterday, has switched from Hotch- kiss to Davenport. Some of the lead CTS are against Davenport, 1t was Sa1d. ana prefer Ham1in.
 Refuses to Answer.
 Do you favor Mr. Davenport ?'' Colonel Roosevelt was asked.
 T will not answer any questions about candidates" replied the Colonel.
 Have you heard that there may be considerable opposition to MT. ?"
 T haven't heard of any"
 Hugh Gordon Miller and "Suspen- der Jack McGee were callers on the Colonel yesterday MT. Miller, before going in to see the Colonel, gave out a typewriter statement to the news paper men saying he was instructed by his district, the 18th, to go to Utica and demand that Colonel Roose- welt be selected Governor, and that it was the Coloners duty as "good to run.
 Miller finally got in to the Colonel and came out a moment later. his face blanched.
 Did you tell the Colonel he must run?" he was asked.
 "Yes," said Miller, ''but he said he wouldn't and that if nominated he would decline.''