The Washington times., 1915-06-28
international Situation Makes
Republican Nomination Most
Uncertain.
DENOMINATION FOR WILSON
Speculation Rife as to How Is.
sues of Parties Will Be Al
tered in 1916.
By JOHN SNURE.


The perplexing and troubled interna-
tional situation Is responsible for many
things and one Of them Is tho uncertain
state of political affairs in the United
States.
year from now. the parties will be
making their nominees and writing their
platforms for the 1916 campaign. Ordi-
narily. it would be possible, with the
campaign as near at hand as that to
map out with some clearness the lines
OF the contest between the leading
parties and to narrow down to a small
group cf men tho possible nominees.
But at present there is extreme un-
certainty. both as to nominees and
issues. It is. Of course. true that there
is practically no uncertainty about the
Democratic nominee.
President Wilson will be renominated
as far as can be judged.
The detection Of Bryan has not ap-
parently weakened the President Many
of Bryan's old friends have been quick
to come out in support Of the President
and to crtticise the course of the former
Secretary of State.
To Dictate Platform.
II looks now as II Mr.. Wilson will not
only be the nominee but as II tho plat
form will be dictated by him rather
than by the former premier. though
the Indications are the Wilson leaders
are going to go out Of their way to
keep the Bryan admirers in good humor
in order that there may be no such
IN. a -
Republican ranks In 1912.
The Democratic plan Of campaign in a
general way will be to proceed on the
theory Wilson is stronger than his party
and to lay claim to long list Of legis-
lative and administrative achievements
since March 4. 1918.
But a great deal will depend on how
the international sky looks next sum
to tell. in the first place. whether the
United States will be dragged into the
European war or. In the second place.
whether 1t will be involved in war with
Mexico Should the country be at war.
the prevailing belief here Is that Wilson
will be reelected on the theory that the
country will lose sight of domestic
Issues and will take the view It ought
not change Presidents while there is
war.
Republicans Uncertain.
This uncertainty about the interna-
tional situation makes for uncertainty
in the Republican field. The Republican
party has no Presidential possibility
whose chances are so good that he can
be considered anywhere near in sight of
the nomination. Politicians have come
to the conclusion that when the Re-
publican convention meets. there will be
about a dozen candidates, each with a
small body Of delegates. 1t will be a
case of going to the convention and
fighting the thing out.
In the list of aspirants, expected to
have delegates are Burton. Borah. Cum |
minis, Weeks. Whitman. Fairbanks,
Mann or Sherman, and perhaps both |
and several others.
Root may have some delegates and
the friends Of Brumbaugh. of Pennsyl- |
vania, are anxious to get him into the
running.
Plenty of Roosevelt's friends are ac-
tive. William Alden Smith. Of Michigan |
hopes to get the delegation Of his state |
and no doubt La Toilette will seek to
have group Of delegates at the con-
Nention.
No Easy Job. !.
1t will be no easy Job to pick a |
nominee at the convention and it Is
still more out Of the questian to pick |
out OF the men named. and others whose
names have been mentioned in one way
ana another for the nomination, a man
whose chances are so good as to make
him look like the best bet
No doubt, something will depend as
TO the conventions action, on the In
ternational questions which loom up.
Should the country be at war, many
Of Mr. Roosevelt's admirers would in
sist that he ought to be called back to
the White House.
When 1t comes to the issues which
the Republicans will seek to make the
most of, these are not hard to figure
out, provided domestic questions re-
sumo their normal Importance, and the
country Is In a condition OF assured
peace. But political leaders realize
fully IT Is idle to calculate on the in
ternational conditions twelve months
ahead