Evening star., 1915-12-14
Choice of Convention City Now
Between Chicago and
st. Louis.
REPORT FOR Meeting
AHEAD OF DEMOCRATS
Senator Penrose Voices Impression
That Candidate Will Not b :.
Chosen Beforehand.

Ane ISPuOuCdn nduOnel COM
mittee today named June ? as the
date for holding the republican
national convention, after defeat
ing. by vote of 81 to 13. propo-
sition to hold it June a.. The
place is still to be fixed.
The republican national COM
mittees subcommittee on call,
appointed to frame the call for
the republican national conven-
ton next year, reported today in
favor of holding the convention
June 7, 1916, but did not mention
any OF the four cities which wan,
the convention.
Adoption Of the .sub-commit-
tees recommendation would
mean that the republican conven-
ton would be held week prior
to the democratic convention at
St. Louis.
The full committee must pass
on this recommendation.
The committee decided it would
give a hearing to suffrage and
anti-suffrage leaders after hearing
claims of the various cities seek
ing the convention. Philadelphia,
Chicago, St. Louis and San Fran
cisco all were in the field.
mo Choice Beforehand"
9"In my opinion, all speculation
about the prospective republican
nominee for the presidency is fu-
tile at this time. The candidate
will be selected by the convention,
after serious consideration and
many Eotes, and will not be
agreed upon beforehand"
Thus spake Senator Penrose OF
Pennsylvania at the New Willard
this morning after he had talked
with many OF the scores Of repub-
licans who are gathered in Wash
ington at this time, representative
republicans from all sections OF
the country. And he voiced the
belief of many others. The ma
tional committee convened at IL
o'clock this morning.
Sentiment for Late Convention.
Presidential possibilities laid aside
for the moment, the main topic of dis
cussion was the date and place of hold
ing the national convention. A strong
sentiment had developed against post
poning the convention until after the
democratic convention. The weight OF
precedent, it was said, was in favor OF
the republicans meeting first, and this
fell in with the inclination of many OF
the national committeeman.
An embarrassment TO such program
was round nthe fact that West Nir-
ginia and South Dakota will not hold
their primaries until June for the
election of delegates to the national
convention and it was feared that the
show might be over before these dele
cations could get front seats. In the
case Of South Dakota; there is saw
ing clause allowing primary to be
held April l. but National Committee
man Burke estimated it would cost
Sl25.00O to call an extra primary and
he was against the earlier date.
Chicago VS.. st. Louis.
On the question of location it was
apparent earlier in the day that the
contest had narrowed to Chicago and
ST. Louis and was exceedingly close.
Monetary considerations were declared
to be the same in the case of both
cities, each ready and willing to put up
sl0O, 1000 for the expenses Of the con.
vention.
we will put the check on the table,"
said St. Louis.
Chicago has never defaulted yet and
will not now said Chicago. :, There
are no strings to our offer"
Two other considerations entered into
the problem, however. Stated in the
they were. first, the question OF poiit-
ical harmony, and, second. the ques-
ton OF political expediency.
Fear Part of Chicago Press.
Many Of the committeeman who had
sat through the weary weeks of the
to the convention Of 1912.
subject to daily criticism of a section
of the Chicago press and who charged
to that criticism large measure OF
for the bolt of Col.
Roosevelt, and the subsequent defeat
of the republican party. were averss
to going back to Chicago.
They feared, they said, further hos.
tiiity Of some OF the Chicago news.
papers, its effect upon the convention
and the stirring up of discord by fac
tfonal attacks at a time when the re-
pubiicans would be trying to reunfts.
These men who otherwise wouid
favor Chicago on account of physical
comforts, hotel and climate and teie-
graph facilities as well as accessibility
announced their intention to support
St Louis. They were met with the
argument, however, that Illinois ami
New York will be called upon to sup
ply the bulk of the campaign expenses
in the 1915 campaign. and that 1t woul9
be cutting off the nose TO spite. tho
face il Chicago were "discfplined," as
for the alleged offense Of
section OF its daily press.
Much At Stake In Missouri.