The Washington herald., 1916-06-07

in secret chambers and behind heavily
bolted doors. But II continued actively
throughout the day. Alarmed by the
strength of the Hughes forces, the Old
Guard leaders are dragging up their
heaviest artillery.
VIII Boost for Harding.
Word has gone out to bring in the
boys who are regular and talk turkey
to them. The watchword is this:
These long-horn Progressives are go
ing to run out on us anyway. Perkins
can't stop them. Neither can any one
else. We don't want Hughes, and as
long as We can't bring the Progressives
into camp with him, we might as well
name a stronger man. Go out and boost
for Harding"
Conferences were held all day. across
the border and within factional families.
Few of them got any where
Senators Lodge, Smoot, Crane and Pen
rose represented the Old Guard. together
with the astute brethren from Indiana
who positively refuse to go home with
out some kind of nomination for
Charley Fairbanks.
With these gentlemen Mr.. Perkins and
others of the conservative Progressives
talked and talked and talked, but moth
ing resulted in the way of a plan TO
Hughes People Busy.
Meanwhile the Hughes people were
doing some very busy recruiting and re-
ported great progress.
Frank H. Hitchcock, whose services
in behalf of Hughes once threatened TO
upset the Hughes beans was the MOST
prominent halter thrower in the COM
pany.
While he was extremely conservative
about announcing State delegations. he
said that at least a hundred delegates
had been brought into the corral during
the day. He was confident that the con-
vention will be all over after the third
ballot. as far as the Presidency is con-
cerned.
The Oregon investigation party fol-
Hughes delegates didn't pan out heavily
But two delegates were added to the five
that showed the day before.
There was some speech making, and
after the meeting delegates all over the
hotel Hobbies broke out with big re'
and gold badges for Hughes which had
been supplied them.
Senator Borah sent word that he va
too busy working for Hughes to CONF
over. But Gov. Beckman, OF Rhode Is
land. made little talk. and what th'
meeting lacked in attendance it made VI
IN enthusiastic CneeTlng.
Olive Branch Proposed.
Incidentally, the first indication Of an!
| olive-branch stuff from the Republican
came in the announcement of Edward J
Brennan. of Hudson County, New Jersey
that he had a resolution for acrOss-the
border conference Brennan's resolution
which the New Jersey delegation want
the convention to adopt declares tina
the Republicans and Progressives ough
to get together on candidates and plat
forms. and calls for a conference com
mittee. In the present mood of the Pro
gressives, the nomination OF Roosevelt
will be over and done long before an,
such resolution can be even voted upon
I The most significant and by far tn
most exciting feature OF the day was tn
Florentine room meeting of the Progress
sives.
Victor Murdock presided, and anon
] the speakers were Hi" johnson. COVER
nor of California; William Allen Whit
and John B. Parker. of California.
Foolish to Attempt Deal.
1t was the sense of the meeting tina
( it would be utterly foolish for the Pro
gressives to attempt any deal. diCker
trade or bargain with the Republicans