New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12
I0HNSON-T.R.
SPLIT AWAITED
Politicians See Californian
as Big Possibility
for 1920

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and
George W Perkins sat down together
in the trophy room at Sycamore Hill
yesterday afternoon to compare cleo
ton notes. Both were disappointed
The Colonel was perhaps even more
disappointed and chagrined than Mr.
Perkins, for reasons that must be obvi-
GUS 70 all who read the Wednesday
morning papers that were published at
a time when Charles Evans Hughes ap-
peared 10 have been elected.
There was no stenographer present
and few will ever know just what
transpired. They discussed the situa-
ton confronting Republicans and Pro-
gressves, the remote possibility OF the
election of Charles +. Hughes. But
most OF all, they kept an eye on the
future when tney talked, as they DID,
al out what was done here and left un-
done there.
Neither the Colonel nor Mr.. Perkins
would discuss the meeting. AS mat
ter Of fact, however, il is pretty clearly
understood that, while other state SIT
nations may have been discussed. the
conference centred about California.
Johnson Looming Large
Since Wednesday morning there has
been some close scrutinizing OF the re-
turns as they dribbled in from that
state. The glazing feature has beeh
the enormous discrepancy between the
plurality of Hiram Johnson, successIul
candidate for United States Senator
and the minus plurality OF Mr. Hughes;
I. il difference Of a few thousand
more than 100000 votes. :,
On that basis, what Republican poll
ticians expect, purely on the conjecture
theory alone, without any advice from
OYSTER Bay, is an estrangement De-
tween Colonel Roosevelt and his Tor
mer running mate, Governor Johnson.
They cannot get the idea out OF their
heads that, on the face Of things, luug-
inc Inv the way the West joined the
South not in political feeling, but IN
oeographical and political strength ana
overturned the East, Mr.. johnson
looms up as the possibility Of the
future. with everything turning MS
way for 1920. ,.
This much is cited by political OBJ
servers.
T.R. Wanted Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt wanted to be
President next year. He knew the
problems that would confront the coun-
trv. domestic and foreign. lie had ms
own policies, which he wanted to put
into effect. The Chicago convention
chose Hughes. The Colonel repudlated
the ProgIessives and fought for
Hughes at a great personal sacrihee'
his friends believe, because ne thought
Hughes would carry out many Of his
Now the Colonel finds Hughes de-
feated, apparently by situation that
Hiram Johnson, his former running
mate. might have avoided. Therefore,
not only the Colonels friends, but
other political students, would not be
at all surprised if the big stick were.
aimed directly at Johnson's head II
Hiram johnson takes advantage OF his
political position in way that the
Colonel deems a violation OF their
former political friendship.
In defence of Johnson in the Call
fornia situation il is stated that the
number of ballots cast for him was
not greatly in excess of the number
cast for Hughes The explanation OF
that is that Johnson's opponent for
the United States Senatorship was a
Democrat whose strength was exceed
ingly small. and therefore many Cali
fornians simply did not vote for any
body for Senator.
Thought Split Healed
Everybody knew that Hughes had
made a mess of things, unwittingly
perhaps, on his first trip 70 the Coast,
but then the Republican managers set
about putting things 20 rights. The
exchange of kilograms between john
son and Hughes after the latter left
the state was the first step, and after
that it was supposed that the break
would heal before election.
James Hemenway, of Indiana. and
James 4. Garfield of Ohio, Progress
sive, leader Of that state, were sent
out TO California a few weeks before
election on separate missions, but
with the same end in view. They were
TO find out what the situation was.
Both Investigated Individually. Both
saw Johnson. Both reported back TO
Chicago headquarters and TO the Re-
publican National Committee that
everything was o. X, and that the
state would go for Hughes by $4,000.