The Washington times., 1916-04-01
Lodge and General Wood Also
Are LuncheoI. Guests of
Robert Bacon.
PREPAREDNESS ONLY TOPIC
Colonel Later Holds PoIltica!
Conference With Progress
sIye Leaders. .....

NEW YORK, April L-Theodore
Roosevelt and Elihu Root met ana
shook hands yesterday for the hrse
time since the Republican convention
of 1912. when Root. a. chairman OF
the convention. was credited with
running the steam roller over the
further Presidential aspirations OF ths
colonel, so far as the Republican
party was concerned.
The meeting took place in the home
of Robert Bacon former ambassador
10 France. Park avenue and Thirty
fourth street. Besides the principal
guest and his host. there were pres
emit Senator Henry Cabot Lodge OF
Massachusetts. Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood. and Root.
Following the luncheon the colonel
went to the home OF George w. Per-
kins, in Park avenue, for q confer
cnce with Walter Brown. OF Ohio:
Medill Mccormick. of Chicago; Henry
l. stoddard Horace 8. Wilkins son, Of
Syracuse; Henry Allen. Of Kansas,
and William II. Childs.
No Political Significance.
Persons disposed to regard the con-
ference OF political Significance were
told II was entirely without the Do
litical pale So far as Roosevelt is
concerned, he stated emphaticaliy the
conference had only to do with M
tional preparedness.
Mr.. Bacon got Senator LodFe to
come on from Washington sa,d ,hs
colonel, and asked me to meat hir,
10 talk over national preparedness for
seit-oefense as a means of securing the
peace and honor OF this country. and
10 consider how best to proceed "a
~aken our citizens to the vital mead AZ
this movement for national prepared
ness. We did not discuss politics A. ali
Inc entire conversation related to the
matter as set out" 49,.
Lodge and Roosevelt have aiways
been friendly. although they went their
various Political why's In 1912. Lodge
remaining in the Republican party ana
supporting Taft This year he Is a can
didate for delegate. at-large to the ma
tionai convention. and Is opposing the
mon avowedly for Roosevelt.
Root stated last night that prepafee-
ness only had been discussed at the
luncheon. S, Stanwood Menhen. presi-
appeared much amused when told OF
the meeting. and said he knew ncthjn ,
OF the luncheon and the pPernredness
conference; Ambassador Bacon an
swered this by saving Menken would
not necessarily have to know about n.
How Politicians View Il.
In political circles the two GATHERINGS
or yesterday are regarded az of more
Than passing notice. Several leaders
favorable to Roosevelt profess to see in
the conferences an inclination on the
part or Republican managers to give
Rooseelt serious consideration. They
say the coloners strength in the Repub-
hcan party is on the bound. Even Root.
It In said. has always had privately an
admiration for Roosevelt. and. realizing
he cannot win the Presidential nomina-
ton himself. Ia disposed to pull for the
former President.
Root. II ig said, believes that with
Roosevelt In the White House he can
be of great usefulness as Secretary of
State when the reorganization of Eu-
rope begins ut the close OF the war.
In the conferences Roosevelt 10 hold
ing since his return from the West
Indies. politicians see a drift of certain
Republicans to make II difficult for
Justice Hughes to pick UP the race.
Root. so II 10 said, does not believe
Hughes 10 the right man to handle thu
international situations which are bound
to arise after the war. It viii also be
remembered that in the keynote speech
delivered by Root IN the Republican I'M
official convention he urged the pre-
paredness theories for which Roosevelt
has long stood sponsor. ...
In all circles the luncheon and con-
ference of yesterday are regarded az
| of political Importance. equal to IL not
greater than the Gary dinner.