The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-06-16
REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HUGHES;
PROGRESSIVES TAKE ROOSEVELT
Supreme Court Justice Chosen Third Ballot Fourth Day of Con-
venton and Resigns Bench-The Colonel Named by Acca
nation at Same Time-Harmony Efforts Are Frutless
Despite Eagerness to Patch Differences.

sible. And Chicago prepared to catch
up on its sleep and go back to home
cooking.
This place has closed it's eyes on a
scene OF mad politics. Yet there was
noticeable lack of enthusiasm as
compared with the Republican con-
vention of four years ago. The claims
of candidates were not presented as
aggressively as were the claims or
President Taft and ex-President Roose-
welt, the rival candidates in 1912. The
tone is different.
At the last convention each side
was asserting it's claims to the control
OF the party machinery; each side was
insisting that it was voicing the SEN
timent of the party. 1t was a conflict
one of the most memorable in our
political history-between men who
felt that the life of their party de-
pended on the success of their efforts.
Each Side Afraid.
Each side was afraid that the other
side would kill the organization, the
stand-patters by refusing to meet the
surrender of what Mr. Taft's friends
called Republican conservatism.
This time the distinctions OF four
years ago disappeared, and there
seemed to be no material difference
between the programs of the two sides
so far as they relate to issues or plat
form phraseology.
The password this time was Hun
cry and it opened any caucus door.
The politicians are hungry for the Of
fees from which they were separated
by the Democracy's return to power.
They are reinforced by the candidates
for the United States senate and con-
gress and for state and local Offices.
Harmony Demand Of Candidates.
These aspirants realized at the con-
vention that in a presidential year
much depends upon whether the tide
is with the party or against it.
The special interests also are hun
CRY. For the first time in many years
they have found the atmosphere at
Washington chilly and uninviting.
"The old home isn't what 1t used to
be-" The lobbyists who visit Wash
ington now are as watchful as wild
ducks toward the end of the shooting
season. The special interests are not
willing to take any chances; the can
didate who desires their support will
have to show them that he is avail
able. These two elements, the hun
cry politicians and the representatives
of the hungry, favor-seeking corpora
lions, sifted out the claims of candi-
dates shrewdly and announced their
choice eats.
There was third factor which en-
ters into the calculations here-name-
lythe fact that the Progressives were
hungry also. They were responsible
for the overthrow of the party's nomi-
nee four years ago, and they did not
want to assume responsibility for such
Democratic victory this year.
The Hughes Boom.
There were some Progressives who
steadily believed that Colonel Roose-
welt was the strongest man who could
be nominated, in spite of the fact that
he had eliminated every outside ele-
ment to which the party could appeal,
as well as large number within the
party.
Early in the convention the drift
went toward Hughes. His friends
said he would have more votes on the
first ballot than all of the favorite
sons combined. This claim. Of course,
was not conceded by the other candi-
dates, but the number Of the delegates
pledged to him seemed to grow in
spite of the fact that he was soon re-
ceiving the attacks which are gener.
ally directed against growing candi-
date. Senator La Toilette was the
choice Of radical reformers. but there
were very few OF them In the conven-
ton.
At the opening Senator Cummins
had a following among his neigh
bors. Senator Burton had consid-
cradle personal following. Former
Vice President Fairbanks had an
earnest support, and Senator Weeks
workers were in evidence.
Senator Harding's Speech.
Senator Harding's speech as tenn
porary chairman was all that condi-
tions and circumstances would permit.
The great Webster said: "Eloquence
exists in the man, in the subject and
in the occasion" Eloquence had only
one-third OF chance. 1t had
the man. Senator Harding is an
orator. The committee could not have
selected better man to open such
convention. He is both pleasing and
imposing in appearance. He has an
excellent voice and splendid de-
livery, and he represented in his views
and hopes that element of the party
which was dominant In the conven-
ton. His speech possessed strength
and humor and his thoughts were
expressed in phrases that will be re-
peated by those who lack his skill in
rhetoric.
The speech satisfied the audience,
for IL was just such an audience as
would like that sort of speech. He