New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-08
Colonel Not a 1916 Candi-
date-Party'3 future
an E 1igma.
PERKINS STICKS;
DAVENPORT COY
HOtchkiss Asserts Results Show
Progressives Hold Balance
of Power in Nation.

What Is the future Of the Progress
sivc party in this state and nation ?
The leaders Of the party, from Colo
mel Roosevelt down the line, cannot
answer that question. They refuse to
talk about it. They want chance
20 recover from the blow received on
Election Day and an opportunity to
study more complete returns than are
now available.
Apparently the Progressive big
wigs" are in the position of a man
who has suddenly been hit over the
head lie is dazed. and slowly turns
around to see who hit him and feels
his head to find out how badly he has
been damaged.
II the Progressives had the assur.
ance that Colonel Roosevelt would
again lead them in 1916, it might give
them courage, but he has impressed
upon them that he has no intention Of
running for President again, and that
they must find another man to take
up the burden in the next Presiden-
tial election. So far they have not
been able to discover such man.
All reports Of the meeting OF the
executive committee of the national
committee Friday agree that the lead
els were unable TO come to any con-
illusions as TO just how serious they
should consider the defections from
the ranks AS shown by the election
returns at hand and as to what future,
if any, there was for the organization.
"All we did yesterday" said George
W. Perkins, chairman Of the execu-
tive committee, twas 20 discuss the
returns we had. We came TO no con-
illusions, because the returns were so
incomplete
what is the future of the Progress
sive party, in your opinion y Mr.. Per-
kins was asked.
IL don't think ought to speak
about it until we get all the returns"
he said. at would be inopportune to
make any statement at this time. We
have sent letters to every state chair
man asking him to send in detailed
reports. II will take several weeks
to get these, but they will be avail
able when we have our next meeting
of the committee. which has been
called for December in Chicago
Asked if he would remain as chair
man of the executive committee, Mr..
Perkins answered with some indica-
ton of annoyance that the question
had been asked so many times he did
not think il necessary 20 make any
reply at this time. He did say that
a story that he had sought his nomi-
nation as district delegate 70 the
constitutional convention on the Re
publican ticket in The Bronx and that
his action showed he had returned TO
the Republican party was ridiculous
He was regularly picked as the Pro-
gressive candidate, and did not know
that he was to be named by the Re
publicans also, in pursuance OF ~
sion arrangement, until after the prl-
maries. Then il was impossible to
decline the Republican nomination, he
said.
lust before taking an afternoon
train for his home upstate yesterday
Frederick VI. Davenport, Progressive
candidate for Governor in this state,
was asked TO make statement about
the future OF the party and his con-
motion with it. He replied that he
would rather not talk about 1t at THIS
time.
"As to the future of the Progress,
sive party as an organization said
William II. Hotchkiss, who, by the
way, did not attend the Friday con,
ference. al think that any party that
cast anywhere from 100000 TO 1,5OO,'
coo votes in the nation on Election
Day is still a force to be reckoneo
with. and may be said 70 hold the
balance of power"
"As TO the future OF the Progressive
movement" Mr.. Hotchkiss continued
~ am as confident as ever that 1t vii
become the dominant factor in Amerl'
can politics. if not in two years, ther
in six. The Republican party may
assume the leadership Of the Progress
give movement If it does, it will wlr
in 1916. II may be the Democratic
party. II so, the Democrats VIII WIN
If neither party become Progressive
then the Progressive party, or sons
other party. will lead the movement
IL was not fair to say that the re
eult Of the Tuesday election clint
mated Colonel Roosevelt as candi
date for President in 1916, Mr.. Hotch
kiss said.
you can't eliminate man who has
no intention of running" said MT
Uotcbkiss. "The Colonel told me with
in a week after the election OF lsiz
that he would not again be a candi'
date for President"
II is known that both the Colonel
and Mr.. Davenport are bitterly DIS
nppointed over the result OF theil
camnaigninp in this state.