Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-09-16
TALKING ABOUT
1916 CAMPAIGN
Presidential Possibilities
Discussed.
ACTIVE WORK.
Root, Burton, Weeks. Smith,
Sherman, Borah and Roose-
welt Talked of.

Washington, Sept 14-Who will bs
the Republican standard bearer Yin
next years presidential campaign?
That is a question that has been
discussed by politicians of all parties
with the approach of the fall elections
1t Is assumed by every one that the
President will be renominated by the
Democrats. Just now it seems prob
able he will be given the nomination
unanimously, but even if some ambi-
tious Democrat should bob up during
the next year, apparently that Demo
crat will have little chance.
The Presidents loyal and enthusi-
astic supporters in his home State of
New Jersey have for months been
restless and straining at the leash to
start a Wilson boom, but they have
been restrained by inspired letters
from Private Secretary Tumulty, who
has assured them that the President
does not wish any demonstration of
that nature. He does not desire to
appear to take advantage of the war
situation to advance his political for
tunes, it is explained.
With this apparent certainty exist
ing as to the identity of the Demo-
cratic candidate, interest centres in
the man most likely to be chosen by
the Republicans to lead their forces.
Preliminary heats are now being run
by a number of possibilities. They
may develop more strength and speed
before the convention meets next June
with judicious grooming.
Senator Roots Friends Active
The men for whom active work is
now being done include Senator Elihu
Root, ex-senator Burton, of Ohio; Sem
ator John Weeks, of Massachusetts,
and Senator William Allen Smith, Of
Michigan. Mr.. Root has attracted
much attention by presiding over the
New York Constitutional Convention,
where he made several notable ad-
dresses which have been construed as
campaign documents. His ability is
widely appreciated throughout the
country and his stanch Republicanism
is not to be questioned. But sound,
practical politicians say Mr.. Root
would not make an ideal candidate on
account of, his age He was born Feb
ruary 10, 1S45, so that if he were elect
er President next year he would be 72
years old when inaugurated. His boom
is being forwarded, it is understood,
by Republican leaders of his own
State, more for the purpose of shut
ting out Governor Whitman as a pos
sibility than in the hope that he may
be nominated.
Burton as "POrk Barrep Opponent
Senator Burton, recently returned
from tour of Suth America, has
since been engaged in a tour of North
America, where he has not forbidden
the mention of his name as possible
presidential candidate. His friends
are urging him upon his record as the
arch-enemy of the pork barrel" con-
gressional appropriations, and there
are indications that he will have prac-
tically all of the Ohio delegation.
Senator Weeks Is making public ad-
dresses and his friends are pointing
to him as the man who would make
a conservative and able Republican
President. Senator Smith, of Michi-
gan. has not concealed his ambition
to be the Republican candidate, and a
flock of workers have been busy look
ing after his interests at home, while
a corps of stenographers have made
an epistolary campaign in his behalf.
Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman, of IL
1inois, will go into the convention as
the favored son candidate of that
State.
Senator William E. Borah, of Ida
no, also has been favorably mentioned
as possibility, but so far as known
no active campaign in his behalf has
been started. Senator Cummins, of
Iowa, and Ex-Governor Hadley, of Mis-
souri,, are two others who are men
toned
Surveying the field, everything in
dicates that the Republican sentiment