Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-09
REMARKABLE SITUATION
ON EVE OF NEXT CAMPAIGN
Pronounced Issues Devel-
oped So Far.
CONDITION WITHOUT PARALLEL
Forces Apparently Working in Favor
OF Republican Party Months Ago
Made Futile by European War and
New Issues 1t Created.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times Dispntch1
WASHINGTON, August s.-The coun-
try is being treated to rare political
phenomenon, marked by the fact that
while whole national campaign for the
election OF n President and n new Con-
gress is considerably less than a year
off, no announced candidates have de-
veioped in either party. and no pro-
nounced issues have assumed definite
form upon whir'. the fight Is to be pro-
jccted.
Political history will have to be
searched for many generations back to
produce parallel to the present stu
alton. AS n matter of fact. no exact
parallel can he pointed to. There may
have been campaigns in which as little
interest has been manifest. but none
in which so many OF the essential eIe-
mcnts were absent.
II is true that the Republican or
ganization is prolific in presidential
possibilities. that willing leaders may
be found in all parts OF the country
who might easily be persuaded to as
sumo the responsibilities of n nomi-
nation. but IT is equally true that not
one OF them has passed beyond the
favorite son" stage, regardless of the
fact that the nominating conventions
are less than eight months off
For instance. New York stands forth
with Root, Whitman and Hughes:
Massachusetts with Weeks; Idaho with
Borah; Indiana with Fairbanks; Illi-
nois with Mann and Sherman; Ohio with
Burton, Herrick and Willis: Iowa with
Cummins; Wisconsin with La Toilette,
and so on down the list. In all this
host. however, there is no towering
hgurc. no prc-emincnt leader, no un-
questioned Moses
NOT ONE AVowED
CANDIDATE IN LIST
Moreover. In this list there is not
ono avowcd candidate for the Prcsi-
dcnt--not one whose friends claim the
privilege. of Offering to the nation.
Hughes and Root. probably the two
ablcst men on the roster, have each
declared and redcclarcd that they are
not candidates for the Republican
nomination. None OF the others has
declined support for this honor. neither
have any OF them come out into the
open with intentions OF seeking sup
port.
The truth is. Republican politics and
policies arc very much in confusion,
and this confusion naturally involves
possible candidates. There have been
many miscalcuiations on the part Of
tho opposition party since tho Wilson
administration began. Many read
justments have become necessary. much
realigning In order to keep up with
the big events.
When the Underwood tariff bill was
passed. Republican leaders were rca-
sonably sure n winning issue had been
created. They believed hard times
would be inevitable. and a prosperity
platform had never failed to net them
thousands OF votes Then when the
repeal OF tho canal tolls was enacted
n piece OF lcgisiation that seemed to
split the majority party wide open
another hopeful condition arose. Anti
trust legislation was forced through
Congress. and this was looked to to
increase the dissatisfaction OF the
business interests with the new re-
Eime.
All these forces appeared for n time
to he working for the success of the
Republican party. and, Just as pre-
dicted. "A period of depression followed
tho revision OF the tariff: business men,
pinched by restricted markets. began
to mnrmur. and the majority party or
Continued on Fourth Pase)