The sun., 1916-11-13
SEEK SLAYER OF
G. 0. P. COCK ROBIN
Republican Managers Trying
to Fix Responsibility for
Defeat Of Hughes.
ALL EYES on GOV JOHNSON
Leaders Believe Party Must
90 West for It's Next
Standard Bearer.
ALL EYES on GOV. JOHNSON

WAsniNoroN, Nov. Ic.-Tuc ~l,epuDli-
cans will try to do "a little house clean
ing soon. according to general opinion
among politicians here. where interest In
the political trend Is greater. perhaps.
than In any other spot in the United
states. The editorial of Gen. Harrison
Gray Otis Of California In which he read
tho riot act TO Gov. Hiram johnson.
charging him with party treachery. ard
the Governors hot reply are subjects OF
interesting debate and reflect the gem
cral situation.
For several months. perhaps. the at
tempt 10 fx the responsibility for the
killing Of the Republican cock robin
will ~ on. In the end there il likely to
be some readjustnent. This relates. to
leaders and TO possible candidates.
From the region west OF the Mlssis-
sippi comes the demand that the Repub-
Leans must go west OF the Father Of
Waters" for the next standard bearer.
That might mean a quiet bid for john
son; II might mean Senator Borah or
IDAHO. II Is pointed out that the centre
OF political influence has shifted west OF
the Mississippi. That Gov. johnson will
figure In the calculations for the head
of the national ticket four years from
now 10 conceded generally. Senator
Borah would not permit the use OF his
name before the Chicago convention
when State delegations were offered to
him.. He will probably have to bestir
himself to prevent his name being made
the nucleus OF Presidential support in
1.-THE next four years.
Mosmanaaemen Charged.
Names OF possible candidates will APP
pear interesting as they represent the
Efforts within the party to correct al
legged mistakes and NEE. the future
with some hope OF victory. That the
former Progressives must receive a
larger share In the direction OF party
Affairs is conceded. Feeling within the
party now is high. Attempts to Ak the
responsibility for mistakes wherever poi-
iticians cluster lead to charges that the
campaign has been m~ismanaged. Men
are found who say the Progressiyes had
too much TO say and others who contend
that they did not have enough 20 do In
the management. IL was pointed out AS
n significant fact to-day that IN New
York and Illinois. where the Progress.
s'yes had "A big voice. results were no,
at all unfayoiable.
The orly State IN which tho former
Progressives were recognized tina;
showed unfavorable results for MIR,
Hughes was Ohio, and James \. Gar.
field was not Identified with the cam
paign there but was attached to the
Chicago headquarters. The Ohio cam.
paisn was mans ged by the old Guard
who tried to keep col. Roosevelt out Of
the safe. In ST. Louis. where the Old
Guard influence was sufficiently strong
Ia limit Col. Roosevelt's campaign IN
that state and even alter mis- Itinerary
to omit 81. Louis. they failed to deliver
n S~enatorship or an electoral vote ia
Hughes.
Worked at Cross Proposes.
Certain II is tina the Republican cam.
paign organization was far from beinp
q harmonious AFFAIR. II vas known Ia
the midst OF the campaign that Chicago
headquarters and New York neadquar.
tiers worked az cross purposes and
Chairman Wilcox was constantly bese'
by factions each seeking to unhorse tho
other. II a representative OF one faction
collected money the other side con.
planned. in some cases even to the con
tributor. \ Washington banker CAV,
$1,000 20 Frank II. Hitchcock to assis
In the campaign. \ few days later 4
conservative Republican Senator callet
on him TO protest that he should not have
given il to Hitchcock. This is one %
many examples Of the spirit OF faction
alism that beset the party. Chairman
Wilcox became so unpopular with III
Old Guard In the Senate at one tim.
that they determined to demand his re
moval. This movement. 1t Is needless {,
say. was short lived and did not get IA
with Candidate Hughes.
An organization OF Old Guard Republi
cans made up Of names very familiar I,
the country got together in Washing, %
and arranged TO serve notice on MI
Hughes Immediately he was elected
that he should not recognize the Progress
s!yes at the peril of losing the suppor
OF the House for his administrative pro
sramme. This movement was n matte
OF common knowledge In Washington.
In Ohio. Illinois and Indiana the Re
publican candidate for President WA
asked TO pledge himself In advance I,
! recognize the Old Guard organization
to the exclusion OF the former Progress
sives in distributing patronage in thos,
! States. Against this demand Hughes Sc
himself sQuarely n declared that unde
no circumstances would he pledge him
self. In Illinois this statement was az
pcpted with good grace. hut In lndiani
aud Ohio there were some wry face
and even threats,
All Of these incidents are OF the past
Il is acknowledged. but they are uscfI
as shedding light on the internal uffair
Of the Republican party just now. q
which the Johnson-Otis row Is n sign
and bespeak very plainly the probabil!t,
Of n general house cleaning IN the In
terest of harmony and OF party success
Returning Republican politicians ar
reluctant to discuss for publication In
ternal party affairs until the election
storm has quite blown over. Propose,
plans of REIMBURSEMENT are also vagu,
In n measure the situation must wur
Itself out, but the demand for reor
ganization IL obvious and this process
viii be forced If 1t does not come abou
normally.