The Washington times., 1915-09-12
Campaign Must Be Taken Sc
riousIy Despite His Rejec.
tions, Say Those Inside.
MIGHT WIN HELP OF T. R.
Business Interests of Country
Would View Nomination in
Kindly Light.

ALBANY. Sept. 12.-The close Of the
constitutional convention let loose a
flood Of gossip about the Republican
situation. about Root and the Presi-
dency. Governor whitman and a second
term. Frederick c. Tanners strained re-
lations with the governor. Henry l..
Stimson's aspirations. the attitude Of
William Rarnes and many other things
The next couple Of months, 1t is pre-
dicted. will see some mighty interest
ing developments in Republican politics.
some new alignments in the State or
ganization and the probable rupture Of
certain old friendships.
Roots Candidacy.
In the foreground. it is said will be
the Root candidacy for President 1t
has been said repeatedly that candidacy
u to be taken most seriously. far more
seriously than any disclaimer Root
might feel impelled to make either at
this time or in the near future.
The campaign for Roots nomination
u already launched. according to Re-
publicans who are in the confidence of
the party leaders. Some of the more
optimistic Of the Root Republicans talk
Of q harmony campaign next year, with
Colonel Roosevelt making speeches for
Root for President. Why not, they ash.
seeing Root was in Roosevelt's Cabinet.
praised by the colonel as a statesman
Of high order?
One great advantage Of a Root nomi-
nation, it is pointed out. lies just there !;
It would make it easy for Roosevelt
to return to the Republican fold. Re-
publicans say Roosevelt wants to get
back. and they believe he would well
come the opportunity Roots nomination
would afford him to lambast Wilson
while supporting the candidacy OF an
old friend.
Business For Root.
The business interests Of the country
would look kindly on Root. it is said.
confident he would restore industrial
prosperity. AS a successful Secretary
of War. a great Secretary of State, a
United States Senator who exerted cum
usual influence in Congress, and. lastly.
e ss Would G hase ae % y
ted, Roots friends say, that he was the
equal If not the superior of Wilson:
even Democrats would find it difficult to
question that.
William Barnes is quoted by friends
as expressing the view that New FORK
Republicanism should put itself solidly
behind Roots candidacy: in that event.
Barnes Is said to hold the opinion that
tion would be a strong proba bility.
Roots craftsmanship of the constitu-
tionai convention. particularly his
emphasized his candidacy to many
minds. But Barnes and other organi/i-
ton Republicans are for Root for Presl-
dent. 1t is said. not because of that
speech or of Roots conduct Of the con-
vanti0n fS 10
there would have been far stronger op-
position to certain parts of the proposed
constitution but for the desire not to do
anything to diminish Roots prestige.
May Help Constitution.
The same consideration. 1t is asserted.
ts likely to prevent the organization
forces from openly antagonizing the
adoption of the new constitution In the
approaching campaign. Barnes and the
Republicans who train with him do not
like the constitution as whole, but
may swallow 1t rather than put them
selves In an attitude of hostility to the
one man who above all others in the
convention was responsible for its pro-
vision.
But the party situation in this State
Other things besides the new constitu-
tion enter into 1t. One Of these. as de-
scribed by Republicans here. is the
evident desire of Root. and what is
called the Federal crowd" to force
the nomination of Henry L. Stimson
for governor next year.
Frederick c. Tanner Republican State
chairman. has gone over to the Root
Wickcrsham Federal crowd" so-called.
and in SO doing has broken with Gov
ernor " hitman. at whose request he be-
came State chairman There is gossip
of recent interview between Whitman
and Tanner. in which it Is said Tanner
made demands the governor was not
willing to grant. In the end. 1t Is said.
Whitman virtually invited the State
chairman to make his future visits few
and far between.
party organization say Root will hurt
his chances for the Presidential nomi-