The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-07
Chances for Republican NOmi-
nation Were Never Better.
WILL NOT MAKE A Statement
Denies Sending Message Agree
ing to Run With Moose.
Chance of Third Party in Race
Grows Steadily.
CBY VIM. HOSIERY

Oyster Bay, June 7-Colonel Roose-
welt denies he had sent any message
to Chicago agreeing to run on the
Progressive ticket if Hughes is nomi
mated by the Republicans.
This, however, is not to be inter-
preted as meaning that Mr.. Roosevelt
will not run on a third ticket. 1t is
to be taken exactly at its face value.
Colonel Roosevelt has sent no mes
sage of any kind regarding any candi-
date or relating to any contingencies
which may arise.
No situation has yet arisen making
it necessary for Colonel Roosevelt to
say what he will do with regard to
the nomination of Hughes or any
other candidate whose name will come
before the convention
The situation is precisely this:
Roosevelt is in the fight to finish.
His supporters are standing fer him
loyalty and in their estimation his
chances for the nomination of the Re-
publican convention were never bet
ter than they are tonight. Not having
been asked if he would support
Hughes in the event of his nomination
it is understood to be Roosevelt's
view that he is not called upon to take
any stand in that regard.
Third Party Looms Big.
At the same time there are suffi-
cient reasons for the assertion that
the danger of a third ticket is almost
hourly increasing because of the atti-
tude leaders in the Republican ranks
have assumed.
Here again Roosevelt has not given
any consideration to such a report be-
cause it has not yet been put up to
him. He has of course, read the
statement George w. Perkins issued to
the Progressive delegates in Chicago
announcing that Roosevelt is the only
candidate the party has; but the IN
derstanding is that Mr.. Roosevelt only
knows of this through the newspapers
and he declined tonight to continent
on the Hughes address in Washington
| on Monday afternoon nor any of the
| other rumors and reports which are
emanating from Chicago.
/ These facts stand out clearly, how
/ ever, in a birdseye view of the field.
| the hughes speech has not made him
any more satisfa Glory to the Progress
/ sives- Practically any other candidate
who has been suggested by the Old
Guard is equally unsatisfactory to the
Progressives. While Colonel Roose-
| welt holds himself aloof from the sit
/ uation here, he directs the fighting
1 through Perkins, Cortelyou and Loeb
over the long distance telephone.
| These three are matching wits with
! the Old Guard and paving the way for
the contingency which is looming up.
viz: A third ticket.
This may be precipitated by an at
tempt of the Old Guard to cut the
| Gordian knot by the nomination of
Burton, Harding or some other OBJ
Jectlonal That would blow up the
whole situation or the nomination of
HugheS without a full statement of
his position might accept the same
end.
T. r. Is Confident.
| Colonel Roosevelt is in no spirit for
compromise. He is sure of himself
confident that the people are with
him, firm in his belief that he can
render real service to the nation if
| called again to the presidency and GER
tain he can win.
bit of political by-play is not to
be lost sight of. Two friends who
called on the colonel came away with
the statement that Maj. Gen. Leonard
| Wood would not be Objectionable to
Colonel Roosevelt as the Republican
nominee. The colonel declined to
/ comment on this beyond reiterating
that he had not endorsed and would
not endorse any candidate in advance
| of the nomination