The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-02-26
TIMBER FOR
The Presidency
Republicans will Have
Abundant Material.
Weeks, Borah, Benton, Root, Cum
mings, Mann and Hughes
Mentioned.

Washington. Feb. 20.-Western
Republicans who are coming Presi-
dental possibilities think that John
w. Weeks already is a candidate for
the domination and that James r.
Mann almost certainly will be.
Senator Lodge in his famous SYM
phony Hall speech stated only what
he has said repeatedly before and
since. that he had no ambition be-
yond that of serving as Senator
of the United States from Massachus-
etts. No Senator from Maine. YER
mont, New Hampshire. Rhode Island
or Connecticut cherishes Presidential
aspirations. nor is any other Repub-
lican name mentioned in that con-
nection.
In the Days of Blaine and Reed.
New England. it is true. has al
most lost the habit of Presidential
candidacy. During the years of
Blaine's consuming ambition Blaine
had so grown as a national figure
that locality was hardly regarded.
The disadvantage seriously affected
Thomas B. Reed. however-so seri-
ousiy that men from his own ter
ritory incurred his lasting hatred by
prefsrring the Mckinley band wagon.
MoTeover the same qualities that
made Reed great as Speaker and that
have given Mr.. Mann his wonderful
grip on the minority in the House
worked against his popularity as a
candidate, for the martinez some
times can command battalions bet
litical influence unquestionably has
weakened in the last ten years, per-
haps never to be regained, and it
will be admitted by all fairminded
men that locality might decide the
issue against Weeks when nothing
else would.
Personality Will Count.
Against this condition. however.
is 10 be set the peculiar circum-
stances under which a Republican
candidate must accept the nomina
ticn in 1916. Ii it is true, as il ap-
pears 10 be, that New York is al
ready lost to the Democrats and that
the West is uniting on the cry of
Anybody TO beat Wilson," person
ality must be taken into account
as carefully as locality. The man
who can be depended upon to treat
all factions as friends and to stand
independently and stoutly upon his
own feet for the genral welfare is
the type of man the convention may
demand, regardless of residence. 1t
may take Weeks as readily from
Massachusetts as Borah from far
Idaho.
SOftening Toward Root.
A noteworthy fact in connection
with the preliminary gossip is that
the leading men here all have grown
stronger during the present session
OF Congress. owing to the extraor-
binary work they have been called
npon 10 do. For example. a remark
able softening of opinion is notice
able toward Elihu Root, who will
retire from the Senate in two or three
weeks. Other great international
questions have engaged Congress and
the country since the vote on Pana-
ma Canal tolls. and the wise expert
ence and skill of Root have exerted
a profound influence upon Congress
and public opinion at time when
the weakness and incompetency OF
the Administration have been most
notorious. Roots speech on the
shipping bin is pronounced one of
the greatest addresses ever made in
the United States Senate. while his
willing acceptance of election TO the
New York Constitutional Convention
has shown his readiness to accept
service wherever he could be of most
use.
Burton Has Grown Stronger.
Burton, of Ohio. like Root. disap-
pointed his friends by his refusal TO
make a campaign for reelection
when, as the outcome proved. both
could have come to the Senate; but
Burton, as the antagonist OF river
and harbor malappropriations and as
the all-round genius in opposition to
the shipping bill has made himself
a great figure in current legislation.
Burton has only friends among the
Republicans and the sincere respect
81 his opponents. Society may not
want a bachelor in the White House
at least hopeless one-but good
government has nothing TO fear from
Burton.
OF Cummins and Borah.
Cummins of Iowa. also has out
done himself of late in the Senate.