Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-12-16
RRPUBLICAN POSSIBILITIES

probabilities for the Republican
nomination for president mex
year. | left Kansas with the feeling
that 80 far as Kansas Republican,
we're concerned they we're up IN
the air" as to their choice. Surely
thought, the New York and Other
eastern Republicans will have some
lineup which will enable me tc
make a good guess as to what viii
be the result OF the national con-
yention. But ! found the Republi'
cans of New York, New Jersey
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts
lust as bewildered as those In Kan
sas. Confident OF success, ready to
agree that any good man would do
they have not yet come to any con-
clusion as to the name OF the man
or the location from which he
should hail. In one New York coun-
ty I attended a meeting Of the Re-
publican central committee. / sug-
gested to them that 80 far as Kan
sas was concerned there was no
choice and we would be glad TO
know what nomination would suit
best in New York. The committee
men without a dissenting opinion,
said they were in the same state OF
mind that reported from Kansas
without a strong choice and willing
10 take counsel from others. i
talked with many county chairmen,
one state chairman, and all kinds
of degrees Of Republicans, and In
not a single instance did I find that
any probable candidate was regard
ed as exceptionally strong or an I'M
possibility. No candidate doomed up
as the positive choice of any state.
Apparently we have no great leader
to whom our hearts turn as the
champion we wish to put at the
head of our column. We have lot
of men who will do, but those who
have positive followings are elimin-
ated by their own decision or by
conditions which all accept.
I found out a few things which
may be Of interest. In the first
place neither Mr. Taft nor Mr..
Roosevelt, nor Mr.. LaFollette, will
be considered, or will want to be.
The friends Of neither of these war
riors would support them II they
were able to get their own consent,
which is not likely.
When I left Kansas there was a
good deal of sentiment for Senator
Root. There is practically none in
New York. His great ability Is con-
coded but his own statement that he
is too old is accepted as decisive,
with the further conclusion that he
would not do.
Gov. whitman has strong support
ers who are likely to present him as
New York's candidate. He Is an able
man, progressive in his thought,
and has made a good governor. The
factional feuds in the Empire state
will cripple him at least at the
start. No other New Yorker has yet
received even favorable mention at
home. One of the ablest and shrewd-
est of New York Republican leaders
said to me that New York would go
stronger for an outsider than for u
home man. ! had said / was for
Senator Borah, although l feared
that a western candidate would
have prejudice to overcome. This
leader said: Senator Borah would
carry New York by bigger major
ity than any New Yorker could. '
Others told me the same story,
practically without dissent.
1.-THE candidate ought to come
from the west,' was the very FREE
quent remark. But by "the west
they mean west of New York. l was
told that Senator Burton would be
the choice of Ohio, but that in the
event of a deadlock or mixup that
Ohio's real choice would be Gov.
Willis, and that the Garfield nom
nation of 1889 might be repeated
in the name of Willis. Senator Sher-
man Of Illinois was often put for
ward as a good western candidate
without an embarrassing record.
The name Sherman" sounds we'll
and am inclined to place Senator
Sherman's prospects much higher
than l did before l talked in the
east. Fairbanks Of Indiana, is al
ways to be considered and there are
conditions which might make him