New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-25
THINK ROOT CAN
WIN CONVENTION
Party Leaders Convinced
Ex-senator Would Run
Best Race.
BELIEVE HUGHES
WOULD REFUSE
Politicians Doubt if Justice
Would Leave Bench-See West
Swinging to New Yorker.
Iron Tho Tribune Bursur

lfrom Ihc Tribune buretlT
Washington, Dee. %. -Elihu Roots
refusal to allow ms name TO go on the
Minnesota primary ballot as a csndi-
date Tor the Republican nomination for
President viii not by any means alimi-
nate hlm from the race. according 10
Republican leaders here to-day. IL
merely confirms me general belief thar
he Wall not be an active candidate. but
the leaders declare tf8t his high quail
scat.ons viii insure that his name Will
be given the most careful consideration
b. the convention.
Word or the Senator's action came
in q dispatch from Minneapolis. which
said he had written the State RepGbli-
can Committee:
III my name is put on the ballot
shall be compelled to insist on its bo-
ing withdrawn"
This report attracted much interest
around the Capitol to-day, but was de.
clarCd by those closest 10 Mr. Root 20
have been expected. To large extent
II puts him in The position Of Justice
Hughes. with the difference tina. there
Is 10 bar 10 his accepting the nomina-
ton II 70 ia offered TO him, while Jus
tice Hughes's place or the Supreme
bench is considered by many 70 be such
a bar.
Since the Republican National Com
mittee meeting there has been a grow
ing feeling that the convention would
az least offer the nomination 10 Mr.
Hughes, ana many of the party leaders
hope and believe that he will End r.
impossible to refuse The demand for
his nomination throughout the country
is great and IL - generally agreed that
he would be the strongest candidate.
Doubt Hughes Would Accept.
But there is serious doubt that Jus
tice Hughes would accept even n unani-
nous nomination, because OF his beli.f
that the Supreme Bench should never
be dragged into politics re Is Known
20 feel very strongly on this subject
and n is also knowG that his personal
ambitions and tastes have always
tended toward the bench rather than
toward active political work
because Of this the leaders are plan
ming 10 have some other candidate
ready in case Mr.. Hughes refuses tps
nomination. The various Pr, sidfntisl
booms have practically an -oker tho
form Of getllrr r line for this second
choice, and, while the sentiment Cor
Mr.. Root cannot fairly be- called
boom, since neither he nor MS friends
will attempt 10 make an active cam
paign, his friends here feei that be is
the man most likely 10 be- chosen In
case Dir. Hughes rs eliminated
Nr. Root u is understood, rs not az
all anxious 10 accept q nomination. Re
feels that his age and the disapproyal
with which many have looked on his
work arc enough 10 bar him from the
race. When, during the last session
Of Congress. his nomination was suE-
gested by Senator Gailinger on th,
floor, Mr. Root reminded the Senator's
that he would be seveIty-one years old
on February Is, and that. II elected, he
would be seventy-sIN years old before
the end Of his term While his health
il excellent. and neither HIS physical
nor mental powers are impaired by hIs
age, he breads the strain Of a strenu-
Gus campaign. lie mas. however told
his friends that if the convention
should decide tlat he was the man 90
make the race. he would not feel that
he had a right 20 refuse the call
West Swinging Toward Root.
The general argument against Mr.
Root is that his record as a lawyer FOR
big corporations and his part IN the
1912 convention would make him SO
unacceptable to the Progressive states
that his election would be impossible.
All adyices reaching Washington, how
ever. indicate that a great change tow
ard him has been coming over the
West One politician from a state that
voted for Roosevelt In 1912 expressed
tho continents of many to-day when
he said:
81 was ready to help hang Rot in
1912, and if any one had asked me
then, I'd have said I'd never vote for
him for dog catcher. But I've changed
my mind, partly because Of his record
on the New York Constitution, and II
he's nominated I'll not only vote for
him, but take off my coat and get 20
work to- beat the band"
This change has convinced many Of
the old line leaders that Mr.. Root, In
spite Of the feeling about him, would
be the strongest candidate that could
be named His great ability, his long
experience, his patriotic stand and his
fearlessness, they declare, mark ham as
an ideal man for the country N such
a crisis as they believe we are about
to reach. They are, therefore, working
quietly but steadily and will be ready
to make a strong showing for the New
Yorker when the time comes. they do
not expect TO fight In the primaries, but
they do believe that the convention
will be made up of men who will really
represent the people and who will BE-
able TO see the advantages Of choosing
him as their leader.