The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-13
HUGHES STRONGEST,
SAY G. 0. P. LEADERS
Root Stands Next, According
TO Talk in National COM
mittee Circles.
HUNT FOR A WINNER

cans gathering IN Washington from all
parts Of the country for the meeting or
the National Committee on Tuesday. the
n fact that seems to stand out Is
that all talk centres on Elihu o n
Justice Hughes a. possibilities for the
Republican nomination
There IL no enthusiasm for Hughes
among the leaders. The idea OF nom
mating him they found dlstastefui. put
the fact remains that the thought up
permost in the minds Of most OF the
leaders is how to win, and mony OF them,
after reviewing the qualifications OF the
long list Of Republican asplrants. ac-
knowledge grudgingly that tiushes
probably possesses the greatest element
of strength.
In the opinion Of many political OBJ
.ervers ~ ia this sentiment-this ques-
ton of expediency--which II likely 10
find expression in tho Republican national
convention.
The feature OF the Republican gather
ing in Washington preparatory 10 inc
meeting Of the National COMMITTEE IL
the activity for the various candloates
for President. The friends or senator
Weeks, ex-senator Burton, former vice.
President Fairbanks and Henry D. Ester
brook were mingling to-day IN inc
Hobbies OF the hotels boosting their FAVOR.
ties and feeling out sentiment.
Members OF the Republican National
Committee from such widely separated
States AS Tennessee and Oregon admitted
the existence OF a strong Root sentiment
in their localities. Former Senator New
all c,pd... ~ Touppsspp. mpmbe from
that state. said that Senator Root ana
Justice Hughes were most discussed.
lie seemed 10 think Senator Burton also
had "A good following, but beyond thar
he had been unable to detect little inter-
est In candidates. NCommitteeInan Will
Jams of Oregon said that even in tina
Progressive commonwealth Mr.. Root
was "A favorite.
Senator Burton's Ohio friends are here
In such force hat they leave little doubt
tina, the state Is enthusiastically be-
hind him. Granville w. Mooney. man
uger of the Burton campaign Wade
IL. Ellis, former Assistant ~Attorney-Gen-
eful OF the United States; Harry "
D%ougherty. candidate for United states
Senator Carmi Thompson. former Sec
rotary to President Taft w. IL. Miller,
former Assistant Alton ney-General of
Ohio, and the entire delegation In Con-
gress are at work like beavers for Ohio's
favorite son
Joseph b. Heating OF indianapolis is
at the head OF the Fairbanks boosters,
assisted by Delavan Smith, publishe!
Of the indianapolis News. ex-senator
James A.. Hemeuway and ex-Isepresenta'
tive James i. Watson. The two Jims'
are familiar figures at Republican gath.
erings and have "A countrywide acquaint'
auce which they are using TO promote
the Fairbanks boom.
The busiest little boom was that oi
Estabrook. Ormsby MclIarg Is it.
keeper. Mr.. Lstabrook is Mr.. McHarg
law partner. A staff OF assistants wa.
busy to-day helping TO Impress OF
visitors the availability OF Mr.. Esta
brook.
81 cannot hold out much longeI
against the encouragement / am receiy
ing on all hands, said the happy Yankee
who represents New Hampshire IN tn
committee.
The Lawrence Y. Sherman boom re
ceived a shock this afternoon. Its stool
in trade is the likeness Of its distin
guished subject matter TO Lincoln.
Justice Hughes would make the mos
| popular candidate and the most un
popular President said one OF tho ok
timers.
one of the Interesting visitors to M
Republican meet Is Horace {. san
we'll of Indiana, president ~ the M
ttonal Republican Union, which wa!
formed TO bring about a change in tn
plan of making up the temporary rol
IN the convention.
MIR. Stillwell's organization woult
have the national convention voluntarily
abdicate Its time worn function o.
making up the temporary roll permit
| ting that duty - he performed by :
committee on credentials from the vari
Gus States. The trouble At chicas,
grew out OF the action of the natioi.a
committee making up in the beginning
"A roll OF delegates after their own way
OF thinking. While they did not VOTE
! on their own title to seats. they voice
ON the title of every other one OF III,
contested delegates. In a Common cause
they were in "A position TO render each
| other a service in getting seated.
"I would suggest that the national
committee az an agent OF pure diplo.
macy voluntarily surrender It's function
| Of fixing the temporary roll OF tho con.
vention,' said Mr.. Stillwell. "In THU
way the committee could forever settle
| the charge which II has frequently had
to face that tho exercise OF the function
OF fixing the temporary oil constitutes
an endless chain, "A dovetailing system
which is uurepubl.can, unropresenta
tive and u~nresponsive TO the sentiment:
OF the party membership at the time
the committee acts"
Indications tonight were that the mex
Republican national convention will h,
held "A week later than the Democrat,
and Chicago still seems to be IL prime