The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-15

linduiryy- were sent. The consensus q
oplnion. Cleaned from these 800 m
QuisttiFe communications. vas that
ElIhu Root should be the nominee.
As second choice Burton, Of Ohio. and
Weeks. Of Massachusetts,, scored. The
politicians here are not ready 20 &C
cept that canvass as q criterion OF
wholesale sentiment One cause OF
their reluctance is their fairly soldily-
imbued belief that while Root would
make fine President. as candidate
he would be anything else but that.
They argue. in support OF this opin-
ion. that the progressive element in
the party. a gOodly part OF it would
not touch Mr.. Root with ten.foot
pole.
Something has happened here with
in the past few days, and al New
York when the redoubtable taunal
naturalist bade adieu to the efete
east and headed toward the setting
sun. 10 cause the president makers
TO pause, look and listen. The first
refers TO the newly-formed National
Progressive Republican Union, which
has opened up for business here with
Charles c. Hart, as the secretary in
charge The second refers to Col.
Roosevelt's parting shot as the train
pulled out OF the New York terminal
station. He vocaled a prayer that the
Republican party would nominate a
man whom he would heartily sup
port.
What the National Progressive
Union is was stated BY Secretary
I Hart 10 me today just before he left
here for an extended tour through
Republican fields. The National Pro-
gressive Union he said. has been
organized to give voice to the pro-
gressive sentiment in the Republican
party. There are approximately S.
! 900. 900 Republicans in this country.
and about IS per cent are forward
I looking men and women. Despite this
overwhelming preponderance Of pro
I gressive sentiment in the party these
progressives have no organized rep
resentation in Washington, except
such as is afforded by the national
Republican Congressional commit
tee Of which representative Frank P
Woods. Of Iowa. is chairman.
/ The National Progressive Repuo-
lican Union is sustained by sub
scriptions from men who are interest
ed in the success of the progressive
Republican movement. and who have
no reason for desiring to dodge the
searchlight of the Federal law for
the publicity OF campaign contribu-
tons. 4 public accounting Will be
given OF every dollar received, and or
every penny expended.
The Republican party is full Of men
who measure up to the progressive
c0ncept-real statesmanlike leaders
Of the type OF Senator's Borah, Cum
Minis, Hughes and others. and one OF
whom. if nominated. will be elected
in November next year
From this statement, as well rs
Roosevelt's. it has dawned with a
;hud on the votaries of the old regime
that they may have to call council
OF their generals and revise their war
plans on more modern and progress
siye lines. They had planned TO go
back 10 their old ways-just as far
back as they could go-but in the face
Of the challenge, they are expected 10
take a new tact. 1t is evident TO them
that while there may be no more
trouble from the bull moose as q
party, there will be trouble, and trou-
bic a.plenty. from that animal as an
Organized element within the party.
4 ii they insist on setting up the old
idols without leaving any room in the
party pantheon for the exhibiting OF
some OF the new ones.
And right here in this connection
NAV be found the sudden and unex-
pected recrudescence of the Charles
Evans Hughes talk. In all the cor
respondeuce OF the penmen who are
! scouting the country for the big news
papers. which has been published
within the last week. the shadow OF
the gentleman with the distinctive
auburn. gray-streaked whiskers, how
ers like a Zeppelinominous. tragic
and inflated with weighty significance
for the fortunes Of others. There Is
no questioning it-Hughes is the one
name in the lengthy list that general
opinions selects as the one which can