Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-21
DEMOCRATS HOPE
T.R. WILL Be NAMED
Say He Is Easiest Republican
in the Country to
Beat.
GARY DINNER DELIGHTS
WHITE HOUSE VISITORS
'Astute Politician" Says His Nomi-
nation Would Drive 100000
Taft Men to Wilson.

democratic visitors to the White
House today. some of them very close
10 president Wilson. appeared to be de-
lighted with the Gary dinner in New
york last Friday night and its conse-
quent revival of the talk of nominating
Col. Roosevelt in the republican ma
tional convention in Chicago This opin-
ion was shared by a cabinet member,
two United States senator's and three
representatives.
We Will all fervently hope and pray
that Roosevelt will get the republican
nomination. said the most astute poll
tician of the number Roosevelt is
by long odds the easiest republican in
the country for Wilson to beat"
Predicts Bolt of Taft Men.
Then he explained. and the reason
ings of the others were along the same
lines. that if Roosevelt should be the
republican nominee. more than half of
the more than 5000 900 men who voted
for Taft in 1912 would vote for Wilson,
again splitting the republican ranks.
col. Roosevelt" asserted this same
man, would be just as weak as would
be w. H. Taft. The Roosevelt sup
porters of 1912 would not stand for
Taft, and would go to Wilson. Neither
will the Taft people of that year stand
for Roosevelt. l have no doubt that
the colonel wants the nomination and
is willing to take the chances of cleo
tion. His adherents are going to make
a tremendous effort to win with him.
The effect is going to be to revive the
bitter factionalism within the repub-
lican ranks, create suspicious and an
tagonisms that can only benefit the
democrats"
All the news reaching Washington
is that Col. Roosevelt is edging closer
and closer to the republican party and
looking more longingly at the prize
to be bestowed on the man in control
at the June convention. Intimate
friends of his. one of them a Washing
tonian. who has just come from oyster
Bay, claim that the colonel will never
let MS name go upon presidential
ticket again unless it is placed there
publican party. They believe that the
colonel is planning, il not to control
the convention for himself, to prevent
the nomination going to some one he
and progressives. They believe he is
sincerely desirous of again reunitine
the party he once held undisputed
sway over.
Says Roosevelt Will Get It.
Dc'hoS1 as dIc CoHIuent Col. R0OSe-
Welt is out for the nomination. Many
of them have felt that way all along.
Senator Chiffon. Speaker Clark and
dozens of others have so expressed
themselves. Senator Salisbury of Del
aware. who called at the White House
today. expressed the democratic view
this way: Roosevelt wants the repub-
lican nomination and. will probably get
it. We are satisfied. In my opinion he
will be the easiest man for us to beat.
II big business wants him the demo-
Gratis ought not to kick There is no
prejudice in the democratic party
against business generally, but it will
not be good politics for big business
TO again attempt to control the White
House l do not see how Col Roose-
welt Is going to continue to play the
progressive game openly and permit
himself to be hoisted toward the White
House again by a twelve billion dollar
dinner given by big business in his
behalf
The best information reaching Wash
lngton is that the dinner given in honor
OF Col Roosevelt was not political
politics were not touched upon but the
democrats are tickled that the impress
sion has gone broadcast that it was
Tor the purpose of boosting the Oyster
Bay statesman. No matter what is said
hereafter. IL will be almost impossible
TO correct the FIRST Impression as to the
purposes of the dinner. Col Roosevelt
if he were nominated. would evidently
be neralded by democratic speakers
from every stump the twelve bill
lion dollar nominee and the selection of
big business"