The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-08

CHICAGO, June 8--The favorite sons
are .bracins for the shock.
They must carry the balloting past
the critical third. or they have no
chance in the convention.
Tomorrow may see a ballot. but II is
uncertain as yet. The allied favorites-
all OF whom insist that they are not
allied at all-would like to see this pro-
gram carried out:
To organize permanently and adopt
the platform today.
To have the nominating speeches to-
morrow. Even II nominating speeches
be limited to ten minutes and second
ing speeches to ive. that will occupy
several hours: hours enough to make
the convention very tired. These con-
vention orators seem never to realize
how much less their audiences like to
hear them than they like to hear them
selves. Wherein convention orators are
marvelously like other people.
To have one ballot-just one-taken on
Friday after the nominating speeches
are made, and then adjourn till satur-
day.
Would Develop Outline.
The point to this program is that a
single ballot on Friday would develop a
rough outline. a general impression
about the strength of candidates. with
out giving Hughes a chance TO uncover.
1t Is realized that Hughes has a large
strength that will not come out on the
initial ballot. Much Of It will not come
even on the second.
10 adjourn over night would give a
chance to brace themselves against the
shock. Nobody knows Just how many
bandwagon delegates there are in this
convention. 1t Is very apparent that
there are fewer than in most conven-
lions. and that for an interesting reason.
Almost every delegate here realizes
Hughes. II In likely to mean that he will
get no recognition whatever in case the
Justice is elected President.
Mr.. Hughes political methods are
mighty well understood among polite
ians OF the kind who figure that they
in their districts IL the nominee Is their
nominee and wins. Mr.. Hughes didn't
play his politics that way when he was
governor OF New York. and the organ
He wouldn't be likely to play II that
way as President.
In a convention OF the old-fashioped
! sort, the bandwaRoners who are I'm
structed for somebody other than the
probable winner. aim to stick" long
| enough to square themselves with the
folks at home and then to flop to the
winner in time to get credit for helping
put him across.
Magic Third Ballot.
That means that II the first ballot
makes pretty certain that a given
man is going to win, the second Is
likely to see a big drift to him, and
the third slump; likely enough his
nomination.
This is the reason why the third
ballot is so widely regarded as a
magical one in conventions.
The tried and seasoned politicians
thing; they know that the third is
the one that Is hard to get past"
So we have been hearing a vast deal
for the last week about the third bal
lot doing the business.
But this convention is different in
some ways. 1t believes. today. that
Hughes: but 1t hasn't a shadow OF an
idea that II is going to control the
postoffices in the delegates districts
as reward OF merit So II isn't go
ing to be in such fearful hurry to
That is where the favorite son man
ayers are trying to get in their dead
ly work, They have been drilling into
good business to walt and see
There has been much mysterious
forecasting OF strange things that
may happen. Root men have been
their favorite will have a fine chance
to show his quality, To get excited
would be to spill the beans"
Fairbanks Men Cautioned.
Fairbanks delegates have been eau
toned that 1t is quite impossible to
develop the full Fairbanks potential
ity at the very outset; that 1t is really
necessary TO take things coolly-which
isn't hard for a Fairbanks delegate
and let nature follow It's appointed
course.
The Cummins supporters are assur-
ed that 7. II. looks with great favor
being stored up by the oyster Bay
dynamo, which can't be released in
stanter, but which at the correct mo-
ment may be expected to put Cummins
right up among 'em and on.
All this means simply that the fav-
orite son managers are fgthing for
their lives. They want to tide things
over the critical third ballot. But
adjournment on the first day of ballot
ing, after the first ballot. That would
give them a chance to get together
and work in more intimacy, under
Against this pleasant project stand
the Hughes managers. The cool and
calculating Mr.. Hitchcock, the mild
hammered Herbert Parsons, the earn
est and vigorous Governor Whitman,
don't see the need of stopping after
the voting has started. They guess
II would be fine to go right ahead and
have the thing over.
Real Test Likely.
At some stage of the proceedings.
therefore. is likely to come Il test OF
strength on this question of ad-
journing over.
The people who still have hope of
gaining by prolonging the contest
will want TO adjourn: the others
which is likely to mean the Hughes
managers-will want TO keep the con-
vention in session straight to the fin.
ish. IL the anti-Hughes men move
an adjournment and II the Hughes
men defeat them, IL will mean that
Hughes has control of the conVen-
ton. If the motion to adjourn Is
made and carried, it will stgnily the
reverse
One possibility Of compromise ad-