Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-22
BOSTON WANTS CONVENTION
Radical Republicans Oppose
Meeting in Philadelphia.
POSSIBLE Effect upon Candidacy of John
w. Weeks ms a Presidential Pos
sibility TO he Considered
Most PrayerfulIy.

Unless Boston should decide to become
q candidate for the republican national
convention next year. New England sup
port will go to Philadelphia with the only
opposition In sight coming from the radi-
cal wing Of the party writes a staff cor
respondent of the Public Ledger
But Boston is developing n new ambi-
ton. It wants to become one of the lead
ing convention cities in the country. to
bring to the capital of New England as a
means to the promotion of New England
industry and business as many of the
annual meetings of commercial, civic and
other bodies as possible. and with that
end IN view. the Boston Chamber Of Com
inerce is about to launch an aggressive
campaign.
Convention Bureau" patterned after
similar bodies which have proved SO Sue
oessful in the West. from which progress
sive section New England is drawing
more and more for inspiration. has been
organized in Boston as a permanent
branch Of the chamber. 1t has been
placed in the hands of a group of prom
fnent business men. who have been rails
ing a fund to finance the project.
While no definite decision with respect
to this has yet been reached. the next
republican national convention may be
the first big game that the convention
bureau will go cunning for. From the
commercial point Of view Boston would
like to have that convention. There are
however, political considerations to be
horne in mind and the whole question
will be threshed out from this point Of
view also.
he bor n1
land in 1916 will offer to the republican
national convention favortc son cam
didate who is looming pretty large upon
the horizon. Some of the shrcwdest po-
llitcal observers in the country are TAX
ing Senator John W. Weeks very seri-
ously as a presidential possibility. The
possible effect upon his candidacy, either
for good or i'll. of a campaign to obtain
the republican convention for Boston will
he considered most prayerfuly. Histor-
icaliy it is an asset for a candidate to
have the convention of his party held in
his own city, State or section.
Mr. Weeks Is more than a local candl-
date. He is to a greater degree than any
other man prominently mentioned for the
party leadership next year the candidate
not only of Massac husetts, not merely
eral. 1t might he that Mr. Weeks would
experience no geographical disadvantage
If the convention We're held in Chicago,
for reports coming into New England in
dictate that he is showing a surprising
strength in the West.
At the same time Chicago will have a
favorite son at the convention, who ac-
cording TO gossip, should obtain benefit
from the fact of the convention being
held in that city. 1t is also true that
Chicago might prove more favorable to
the candidate Ohio will offer. and to Mr.,
Fairbanks of Indiana. Thus, on the
whole, il would appear that, next to Bos-
ton, Philadelphia would be the city most
likely to give to Senator Weeks whatever
advantage there may be In the geographic
cal location Of the convention city This,
of course. if Pennsylvania develops no
"favorte SON"
Boston not only feels that New Eng
land has something real at stake in the
nomination Of Mr., Weeks, but also would
like to obtain that convention for com
nercial reasons. 1t would be a tremen-
dous advertisement and a notice to the
country that when it comes to capturing
all kinds of conventions the Hub means
business.
There has been talk of erecting con
vention hall, but Boston already has, IN
Mechanics hall one of the largest In the
country. Boston's hotels have been grow
ing in recent years. and an argument that
has heretofore succeeded in deprivinr
Boston Of the honor of entertaining n ma
tional convention no longer holds good
With respect to furnishing 100000 guar
antee, il Boston decides she wants the
convention the money will be forthcom
ing in a hurry to help her get IT.
Some opposition 10 Philadelphia as the
convention city doubtless will be heard IT
New England. and it will not be actuatef
by selfish, but by political motives. Pro
rressive republicans object to the conVen
ton going to the State that is controlled
by penrose They will say, some of then
already are saving 1t, that If the conVen
ton is held at Philadelphia it will NEAR
the nomination Of a reactionary. TINS
opposition will come largely from the
New England republicans who favor
Rorah or a man of his type, AS seconf
choice to Weeks And there is in New
England to-day a surprising sentiment
against the nomination of roactonary
q sentiment that the gentlemen Whf
Kindly attend to all the business at ma
tional conventions would do well to heed