Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-23
HUGHES BOOM IS
CAUSING ALARM
Roosevelt Supporters En-
deavoring to Head Off
Wave
CHANCES LESSENING
CHANCES LESsENING
Bull Moosers Frantic Over Apparent
Drift of Republican Sentiment to-
ward the Jurist.

Washington, May 23.-lnfluences
behind the movement to nominate
Theodore Roosevelt for the Presi-
dency on the Republican ticket have
been. seized with alarm at the growth
of the Hughes campaign and are
aiming desperately to head off the
near-stampede in behalf of the As
sociate Justice.
Moreover, there is evidence of the
same alarm on the part of favorite-
son managers and willingness to
pool interests with the friends of the
former President if such coali-
tion becomes necessary in order to
scotch the Hughes movement.
The organization Of the "Republi-
can Roosevelt committee" in New
York, composed entirely of former
Taft men, is part of the eleventh
hour effort to save the Roosevelt
candidacy from the Hughes uprising
The proposed whirwind speaking
tour of the Colonel through the West
is another part Of it, and the char
tering by, George w. Perkins of all
available hotel rooms in Chicago,
said to be more than 1000 in num-
Der, is still another part of the plan.
The truth is the Roosevelt mana
gers have far overplayed the Hughes
game. In the beginning of this con-
test managers of the Colonel's CAM
paign encouraged the Hughes boom
ali over the country. They did this
in the expectation of using the name
of the jurist to secure uninstructed
delegations. 1t became certain early
in the fight that Roosevelt could not
go out and make winning fight i'll
the primaries and that his only
chance for the nomination would lie
in Juggling at the convention.
1t never occurred to the Roosevelt
people apparently that the Hughes
campaign would run away from
them. In fact, thSy seem to have
assumed that the Justice would at
the proper time put the kibosh on
it, not with the idea of aiding Roose-
welt, but to prevent the highest court
being dragged into politics. Mr..
Hughes has done nothing of the sort.
He has permitted his name to be
used and even allowed it to go on
the official ballot in Oregon and else
where.
This was a serious miscalculation
on the part of Colonel Roosevelt's
friends. They have succeeded in
packing the Chicago Convention with
unpledged delegates, the. thing they
most wanted, but they now find that
most of the unpledged gentlemen
are leaning dangerously in the d.
rection of Hughes and that impor-
tant party leaders everywhere are
Joining in the shout for the jurist's
nomination.
Senator William Alden Smith, of
Michigan. who was Michigan's sec
ond choice for the nomination, has
come out, it is reported, in favor of
Hughes. It has been rumored for
days that Sen Albert B. Cum
Minis. of Iowa, will retire from the
race in few days and will urge the
nomination of Mr.. Hughes, Former
POSTMASTER General Hitchcock, one
of the most adroit politicians in eth
er party, has opened Hughes head,
quarters at Chicago. In fact. just
one thing after another is happen,
ing to disturb the sleep of the Roose
welt people.
That is why the Colonel's friends
have found it necessary to resort tc
any possible means of heading of
the Hughes boom. They realize that
unless some very skillful work i:
done there will be but two ballots
cast at Chicago. The first will be the
complimentary vote for the favorite
sons and others whose names may
be- before the convention. The sec
ond will be cast to nominate Mr.
Hughes.