The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-15
ibid BULL MOOSE
COMMIT SUICIDE?
Politicians Think Roosevelt
Sent Followers Back
toe. O. P.
COLONEL IS BUSY MAN
Republican Chiefs Look Toward Oys-
ter Bay and Wonder What's
Happening.
COLONEL IS BUSY MAN

Republican leaders here are looking II
the direction Of Oyster Bay. They an
profoundly interested In the movements
of Col Roosevelt and the sudden interes,
he is manifesting in the Republican
National Convention Of 1916 Many prom
inent Republicans. especially Of the Pro-
gressive type, and nearly all OF the for
mer leaders in the Progressive party
either have had conferences with Col
Roosevelt or are headed for Oyster Bay.
Former Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon, who
was chairman Of the Progressive national
organization until few weeks ago. when
he relinquished the place to former Rep
resentative Victor Murdoch, Of Kansas.
was in Washington tlis week on his
way to confer with Col Roosevelt. Sen
ator Borah has seen the colonel and
may see him again. and Senator Miles
Poindexter. OF Washington, who. until Q
few days ago, enjoyed the distinction OF
being the only avowed third party Pro-
gressive in the Senate, has been in COM
munication with the fountain head of
Progressive inspiration.
Might support Root.
One of Col Roosevelts closest
newspaper friends. NJ ellison Gardner,
who went to Oyster Bay recently sent
ton, apparently with authority. eX-
laining conditions under which Col.
Roosevelt would support the Republi-
can nominee for President in 1916.
This article limited that Col. Roosevelt
might see his way clear 20 give his
support to Senator Root il the latter
should be nominated Other persons.
even among the Republicans. claim to
have intima tions that Mr.. Roosevelt
would support Mr.. Root If he were re-
duced to the necessity of choosing be-
tween President Wilson or some one
representing the present political re-
gime in Washington and Senator Root
leading the Republicans.
Col Roosevelt is represented as being
especially interested in Strengthening the
national defense and in restoring Wig
orouS foreign policy. He has such great
Confidence in Senator Root to deal with
both subjects in stateSmanlike way
thai he appears to be willing to forget
Mr.. Roots part in the Chicago conven-
ton of 1872 and support him as a candi-
date
Throughout the country leaders who
figured in the organization of the Bull
Moose party have been announcing their
return to the Republican party. The
exodus has been SO great that for time
there was a feeling of personal sympathy
for Col. Roosevelt upon his apparent po-
litical isolation. Now it is the belief of
most of the political observers here that
Col. Roosevelt released his former po-
liticai followers. and that their return to
the Republican organization is part of a
general plan of the ProSressives in
which Col. Roosevelt himself will play
a part.
Not Partial to Cummins.
People who have talked with Col.
Roosevelt do not believe that he is par
tial to Senator Cummins' candidacy. They
understand he looks with favor on Sem
ator Weeks. He is thought TO be friend
ly also to Myron T. Herrick, Of Ohio.
He would support Senator Borah IL he
were a candidate, il is said. but is not
favorable to Fairbanks OF Indiana.
Many of the older Republicans express
pleasure that Col. Roosevelt shows a
disposition to come back into the party.
Former Secretary Knox is one of them.
NJ. Knox has been quoted by some of
his friends as saying that he could read
lily imagine a situation in 1916 when Col.
Roosevelt himself might be nominated
and elected by the Republicans.