Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-31
G. O. P. Hosts Soberly Con-
slider President as
a Rival
HUGHES BOOM GROWS
Frank Hitchcock Has Started Trouble
in the Camp by Assuming to Speak
For Justice =.

CNlcaSo, May "i.-hole u'SIu' "
ing to the peace of mind f"straight
goods" and Progressive Republican
leaders gathering for their conven.
tions a week from tomorrow, that
any of the candidates for the nomi.
nation-or nominations to be Confer
rcd is Woodrow Wilson. His name
is heard more frequently than that
of Hughes, Roosevelt, Root o. TIE
dozen or more "favorite sons"
The Democratic President is actu-
ally the central figure in the situa-
ton, which provides no tangible
foundation upon which to base an ac-
curate prediction as to the identity OF
the opposing candidate fortunate
or unfortunate-enough to win the
dubious honor of ruGaing against
him.
The more seasoned of the prac-
teal Republican operators, in both
camps are frank enought to concede
that picking man to head their
ticket involves less risk than picking
the right one. The theory Of the
Estraight goods" captains like
Crane, Penrose, Barnes, the Jersey
Murphy, KEELING, Williams, West and
their fellow-experts, chat a yellow
dog can beat Wilson," is being rap
idly dissipated by the reports brought
by leaders ana, delegates from their
respective States: These men admit
that the President is growing in pop
ularity and that in some parts of the
country his reelection is confidently
predicted.
Former Postmaster General Frank
Hitchcock's positive declaration that
Justice Hughes will accept the NOM
ination if it is offered him, despite
the fact that the Justice himself has
not indicated his attitude toward the
proposition, set all the leaders lined
up against both Hughes and Roose-
welt by the ears.
Hitchcock himself is about as pc-
pular with the majority of these
leaders as a man wearing a British
uniform would be in Berlin. He
made a lot of noise on his advent in
Chicago as the personal custodian
of the Hughes boom. He crowded off
toward the edge Of the spotlight and
is coming in for a roasting at the
hands of both the Hughes men and
the opposition.
He has undoubtedly done an al
most irreparable injury to the cause
of the Justice, and the latter's sup
porters are quite as indignant over
his pose as Hughes manager as the
other fellows who want to beat the
distinguished jurist. Just what hicn-
cock has done to promote the poll
tical ambitions of the Justice-it ne
has done anything-is not quite clear
to even the men who are offering
even money on the chances of Mr.
Hughes.
Some of Hughes friends tried te
Get him on the long-distance teie
phone yesterday to urge him to cal
Hitchcock off. The reply that came
from his secretary was not uneXpect
cd. It was in effect that the Justict
was devoting his entire attention t.
his judicial duties, and had no state
mont TO make as to Hitchcock o
anyone else.
This evasiveness on the part o
the Justice served to confirm the i'm
preston that the Justice is "out TO
the nomination. While the predic
tions of his supporters are quite a
optimistic as at any previous stag
of the game, the fight to head hir
off is hourly increasing in vigor.