The Washington times., 1915-12-13
G. 0. P. CHIEFS
GATHERING TO
PLAN FIGHT.
Five Cities Seek Convention and
Numerous Booms Are in
Progress.

With five cities seeking the conven-
ton, and with numerous Presidential
booms In a state Of great animation and
activity. the Republican National Com
nittee Is assembled here for the meet
ing tomorrow to decide the time and
place Of the national convention.
Among many of the members OF the
committee and the scores of Republic
ans assembled from many States to at
tend the conferences of the National
Republican League and the League of
Republican State Clubs. there is a tone
or confidence that the 1915 campaign will
carry the Republicans into power.
Expect Hard Fight.
On the other hand, some Of the mem
bers Of the committee who, have been
~veying the conditions in their States
are warning their colleagues that a
hard fight is ahead. Some of the COM
mitteemen say that former members OF
Congress. who in the last election. after
being out term, have been sent back
by their constituents, have got wrong
notion that the Democratic party Is
weaker than 1t really IL.
But Whatever view the various Repub-
ncanl may take of the situation indi-
viduaily, there Is no dissent in the be
lief that every preparation should be
made for an intensely vigorous CAM
Daign.
The urde rcurrents OF gossip over tho
political situation and over Presiden-
tial booms constitute subjects Of much
more interesting discussion than the
questions Of time and place OF the cen
vention.
in the belief that the Adm nistration' =
foreign policy is leading It TO the rocks.
that the tariff will help tho Republican
party out, as of rore, and that Eryan
L. w~I~ . ,,nl- 1t 80,
and help carry the Democrats to de-
struction.
Five Seek Convention.
The cities which seek the convention
are Chicago. Philadelphia. st. Louis.
San Francisco. and Honolulu. The con-
test seems to lie between Chicago and
st. Louis. though Philadelphia is In the
running. Chicago Is favored by the ma
jority so far as location is CONCERNED.
nut some OF the comroittee think the
town a hooooo in view of the 1917 eX-
perience. and, besides there is dissatis-
faction ovsy the insisteEce of Chicago
that the $4,000 it offers for the con-
vention must either he expended there
or the balance turned back
This demand from chicago lost it
the Democratic convention and may
lose 1t tho Republican gathering. also,
The convention will be held soon
after the Democratic. probably the
week after. No row is in sight IN the
committee. and a ruction over the
reduced representation OF the South
seemingly will he avoided.
While the members of the committee
nre here. holding informal conferences
among themselves today, the boomers
for different Presidential candidates are
laying their wires busiiy. Lieutenants
Of Burton. Weeks. Root. Cummins.
Fairbanks. Estabrook.. Whitman. Bo-
rah, William Alden Smith. and Others
are stirring about constantly. rhat
a strong Hughes sentiment exists Is
admitted By many of the committee
men.
Following conferences this morning
and throughout the day Republican
leaders from all sections will meet at
banquet at the Willard tonight, and
will launch the 1916 campaign. The ban
Quet is to be given by the National
Republican State Clubs Members Of the
Republican National Committee. as
sembling here for the meeting tomor-
row, will be guests at the banquet
Hammond To Preside.
John Hays Hammond, president of the
National Republican League. will pre-
side at the feast and the program OF
speeches to follow.
Mr.. Hammond will deliver an address
OF welcome. and speeches will be made
by Senators Borah. Weeks, William
Alden Smith, and Cumnins by former
Senators Root, Fairbanks, and Burton
by Governor Whitman and Henry d.
Estabrook. of New York : by J. Hamp-
ton Moore and Job Hedges.
The executive committee Of the league.
many members Of that body. and State
league officials, coming from thirty
states or more, are holding a series OF
conferences at the Willard today. The
object is to prepare the way for a Wig