Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-20
Committee on Arrangements
for National Convention to
~ Gather in Chicago.
CHOICE OF TEMPORARY
CHAIRMAN TO BE TOPIC
Selection May Be Postponed Until
More Delegates Are Chosen-Har-
mony to Be Keynote.

Some political interest attaches TO the
meeting in Chicago this week of the
committee on arrangements. for the re-
publican national convention. which is
to be held in that city commencing
June :. 1t is expected that there Will
be discussion over the advisability of
selecting a temporary chairman.
The opinion is held by leading re
publicans in Congress that the selec-
ton of temporary chairman should
be postponed for some time. This
view also was expressed by National
Committeeman Alvah II. Martin of
Virginia. a member of the committee
on arrangements. who passed through
Washing ton yesterday on his way to
the meeting.
The attitude Of republicans here is
that the selection should be deferred
until after more delegates to the con-
vention are chosen. The one aim of
all the leaders. progressive and reg
uar. is to conserve harmony to the
utmost degree possible An unwise
choice of temporary chairman might
reopen old wounds. ii is said, and
Would Please Both Factions.
II is declared to be the wish Of the
thermometers that temporary chair
man be named by the committee ac-
ccptable to both factions Of the party.
thus to assure a running start toward
a -ct-toGe;rte- convention.
Politicians at the Capitol say they
sec - favorable indca ton OF harmony
III the tendency which seems TO be
sowing 10 elect unrestricted delegates
ortside of the ''favorite SON states
This is in line with the predetermined
program OF the big men in the party
10 have an open convention and to Sc
1t the presids entail ticket at Chicago
after full and free conference. and not
in the primaries. taking the man who
the majority of the delegates think is
likely to make the strongest run.
Temporary Craftsmanship Problem.
CHICAGO. March 2O.-Selection of a
temporary chairman for the republican
rational convention. which meets here
in June. was the problem faced by the
members of the republican national
committees subcommittee on conven-
ton arrangements here today.
The members of the subcommittee
are: Charles d. Hilles. New York,
chairman: James 4. Reynolds. Wash
ington. II. c.. secretary. George r
Sheldon. New York. treasurer: Fred W
Estabrook. New Hampshire; James p
Goodrich. Indiana; Ralph Williams.
Oregon; Franklin Murphy. New Jer-
sey: Alvah II Martin. Virginia:
Thomas X. Niedringhaus. Missouri;
Charles B. Warren. Michigan: John T.
Adams. Iowa: Fred Stanley. Kansas
and Z. G. Duncan. North Carolina.
William F. Stone of Maryland, ser
Seant-at-arms of the national commit
tee; Walter n. Wilson. western treas
urer for the committee. and Fred w
Upham also were present.
Tho committee plans two-day SEES
sion.
Only One Absentee.
With the exception OF f.. &. Duncan OF
North Carolina, every member of the
subcommittee was present when
Charles d Hlles of New York, chair
man, raped for order. The western
members were regarded as favoring
an immediate selection of the tenn
porary chairman. their position being
stated by Ralph Williams of Oregon
There will he less strife he said
IT we make the selection now than
there certainly Will be il the selection
Ia put off for two months.
Franklin Murphy Of New Jersey
brought word of the elimination Or
Elihu Root of New York from the
temporary chairman contest lie said:
Mr.. Root has stated positively that
he would not attend the convention"
Candidates for the temporary chair
u&Hship whose names appeared in the
discussion were Senator w r. Borah
Of Idaho, Senator Henry =. Lodge of
Massachusetts. former Gov Chase :
Osborn of Michigan. Coy. :. A. Mccall
OF Massachusetts and J. {. KNOX Of
Pennsylvania.
Uniform Primary Law Favored.
Chairman Hihes declined to discuss
presidential possibilities. He said an
effort would be made to have the con-
Nention 90 on record as favorinp A
uniform pres ideutial primary law
Before the session began Ralph Will
liams of oregon said that the republi-
cans III oregon regard Justice Charles
E Hughes OF the Supreme Court as
81 do not think, said Mr.. Williams
that the leaders regard Col Roose-
Welt Seriousl. as candidate
Franklin Murphy said he did not
think Col Roosevelt would be seri-
ously considered by the convention as
a presidential candidate Elihu Root,
he said, was the ideal candidate"
The wisest leaders Of the party. -"
said Mr.. Murphy. seem to think that
Col. oRosevelt could not be elected if
he were nominated. He is stronger in
the west than in the east"
Fred ". Cpham Of Chicago. head of
the Chicago convention committee who
has just returned from the east. said
that the sentiment he had heard in
that section placed Justice Hughes
first, Gov. Mccall second and Former
Vice President Fairbanks of Indiana
third S possible convention candidates.