Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-07
ROOTS |NDEC|S|ON
WORRIES LEADERS
Republicans Want a Positive
Declaration on the Presi- r
Dental Question.
FORMER SENATOR RATED
AS "BIG MAN" OF PARTY
But Believed to Be Unable to Get
Progressive Vote-Justice
Hughes Looms Up.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

NEW YORK, July Talk of Elihu
Root for the republican nomination for
the presidency is causing some perturba-
ton among the friends of other presi-
dental possibilities. The point is this :
All the reports from reliable sources agree
that If Mr.. Root-lets call him senator
for once a senator always a senator
-ealiy wants the nomination, there is
nothing to it but Root
He is such a big man in the republican
party that no other prospective candidate
would dare hold out against him in the
convention. They would all take off their
hats and say, after you, my dear
CASTOR"
But could he be elected? All, there
you have it. And that is what the prac
teal politicians are discussing now. His
candidacy would appeal, of course. to the
stand-pat element in the republican party,
would attract the big business crowd
and all that sort of thing, but how about
all these former bull moosers who are
looked upon to help the democrats out
of power? viii they stand for Root, the
very personifcation of all that is con-
servative in the old republican manage
mentc
View of Rank and File.
The rank and file are looking for some
one with whom to win in 1916. Almost
any republican you meet will tell you he
is sure that the party is coming back a
year hence. and that there are several
men WHO can lead it to victory. But he
will also acknowledge at the same time
that the wishes and desires Of the pro-
gressives must be taken into account, and
that the candidate must be one who will
at least not be offensive to the republicans
who voted against the regular ticket in
1912.
Now. the embarrassment over the
Root candidacy is this: 1t Is well un-
derstood that New York is to rally
about the standard of Root. That is
for the purpose Of getting delegation
through to the end for a candidate of
the type of Senator Root.
1t is fact, however, that some re-
publicans of weight and influence in
the party think that better vote get
ter than Senator Root can be selected
from the western field. If 1t is the SEN
timent of the convention that Senator
Root is the man. all right and good;
they will take him.
Prospect That Causes Worry.
What they are worrying about now is
that the Root movement may kill off
somebody who would be a more effec-
tive candidate at the polls. They wish
that Senator Root would say that he
either does or does not want to run. In
other words. the use Of his name to col
lect delegation of certain type. II
intended only for that purpose, is In a
way blanketing the prospects of other
who are in earnest.
1t would clarity the situation for
Mann. Fairbanks. Burton and Weeks
the four men who are believed to be
people would say now that their man
does not want to be the candidate This
Is what The Stars correspondent Is told
by big republicans
It is not possible to find out just
where Senator Root stands on the
at present Naturally, he
Is flattered by the sentiment in his ia
vor. He may fall for 1t" in the end or
he may put the crown aside in the in
terest of his party. The friends of the
deal at this time to know Just what he
intends to do.
Hughes Fails to Convince.
Here is something the Stars corre-
spondent has encountered in the course
of inquiries in this state: The renun-
citation Of Mr.. Justice Hughes pres,-
dental aspira tions is not taken seri-
ously. His recent statement that he is
not in the running does not convince.
He may not be candidate in the ac-
cepted sense, but prominent republi-
cans here say that when it comes to
clinches in the national convention.
and the time seems opportune for the
of Hughes name, it will
be put forth and Mr.. Justice Hughes
will not be either inclined or able to
pose as an unwilling Barkis
1t IS said that New York state would
like to name New Yorker as the can
didate- II is certain, New York repub-
licans claim, that this delegation will
cast the deciding vote in the selection
of the candidate. whether he is a New
Yorker or not.
1t is prophesied that If the convention
IL fearful of the Root candidacy as
vote-gettIng proposition. New York
will present Mr.. Justice Hughes name,
and the Weeks. Fairbanks and Mann
people Will have to eliminate him be-
fore the delegates get to voting for