The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-06-23

ton was out of the way, conferences
were begun to Ak upon the running
mate of the Supreme court justice.
Roosevelt Offers Lodge.
The Roosevelt proposal to select
his friend, Henry Cabot Lodge, as a
compromise candidate was never TAX
en- seriously by the Republicans.
Lodges name was not even for
mally placed in nomination before the
Republican convention.
The report of the peace" confer
ence committees showing that the
Progressive peace committee" had
agreed to put the name of Hughes
before that convention hardly caused
q stir, nor did the news that came
few minutes later that the report had
been tabled by the ProgresSives.
Meanwhile Hughes was in the air.
on every tongue. Delegates were Inn
patient to get to ballottng. The feel
ing was everywhere that the third bal.
lot of the convention for president
would be the last-and 1t was.
Harding Is Chairman.
The Republican convention opened
at the Coliseum at II a. m, June Z.
Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio
was elected temporary chairman, and
he delivered a speech setting forth
conservative Republican principles.
Following this the regular committees
were appointed and organized and rou-
tine convention business went for
ward. There was only moderate ex.
preston Of enthusiasm at any time.
With the hope Of agreeing an presl-
dental candidate whom both parties
might support, the Progressives, in
convention at the Auditorium, and the
Republicans appointed joint confer
ence committee Thursday. and this
committee met at the Chicago club.
Shortly after midnight It was an.
nounced that no progress had been
made toward fusion Of the two parties.
The Republican members of this
committee were Senator Reed Smoot
Of Utah, w. Murray Crane, ex-senator
from Massachusetts; Senator William
E. Borah of Idaho, Nicholas Murray
Butler of New York, president of Co
lumbia university; A. r. Johnson of
Ohio, former congressman. The Pro-
gressiye members were Gov. Hiram
Johnson Of California Horace s. VIII.
kinson Of New York. Charles ]. Bona.
parte of Maryland, former attorney
general, John NJ. Parker OF Louisiana,
George w. Perkins Of New York.
Nominating speeches began In the
Republican convention about three
o'clock Friday afternoon. and nomina.
tons were closed before eight o'clock.
Balloting began at once. Two ballots
were taken before adjournment for the
night.
Progresslves In Session.
The Progressive convention opened
at exactly the same time the Republi.
cans started their meeting. Tempo
rary Chairman Raymond Robins deliv.
cred the Progressive policy speech.
Routine business followed-but Il
wasn't routine In the same way as the
Republican session was. The Progress.
sives, with such men as William Allen
White. Victor Murdoch and Hiram
Johnson. we're loudly enthusiastic.
This convention was really an explo-
siye affair-cheers, table pounding,
radical talk and all that.
1t is said that George W. Perkins
and some others of the Progressive
group had hard time keeping the
radical element from nominating
Colonel Roosevelt shortly after the
show started. The conservatives lived
in the hope Of a fusion with the Re.
publicans. The radicals said thew
didn't care what the Republicans did
They wanted Teddy" and they want.
ed him quick. There was no dicker.
ing spirit in these fellows.
Most Of the entertainment during
the week was furnished by fayorite
sons delegations md boomlets around
the hotel Hobbies and on the streets.