The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-20
I. R. TRUMP CARD
How Will PrOgreSsives Play
Him Is Question.
If They Nominate First, What
Will G.. 0. p. Do?
OLD GUARD MIGHTY NERVOUS
Stampede for Hughes Declared
Supreme Hope.
Depend on L. r. Himself to
Check PrOgressives.

Washington, May 20.-With prac-
tically all the convention delegates
chosen, a factor which has existed all
along, but which the Old Guard Re-
publican leaders nearly lost sight of
during the mad scramble for control
of the delegates chosen to the G. o. P,
gathering, is beginning to loom up as
a most potential consideration in the
presidential nomination fight. That is
the attitude and course the Progress
sive convention will follow.
Notwithstanding all the talk of the
Progressives f1ocking back to their old
horse in the Republican party, the
possibilities that lie in the Progress
sive party convention. which meets CO.
incidentally with the regular Republic
can convention, form a most vital fac
torTin all the figuring on the lineup
thai is to be put into the field against
President Wilson.
Doubt Moose Acquiescence.
Today Senator Lodge. who is slated
to Be chairman of the resolutions COM
mirlee of the Republican convention,
along with others, was warned not
to count too surely on acquiescence
by the Progressives in whatever the
Republican convention might do.
4 THEE of the leading Progressive party
orsanization men reported that at
present there was a decided DISPOSE
ton to hold back action by the Pro-
gressive convention pending develop
mehts in the Republican meet. There
4 is some danger, however, it was re-
1 ported, that even this could not be
done and that circumstances very
\ easily could a rise whereby the Pro-
1 gressive convention would go ahead
and nominate candidate without
waiting upon the results of any par
i leying with the Republican leaders.
This report was accompanied by the
flat statement that it must not be
considered any game of bluff and
u thas 1t did not mean that the Pro-
gressive convention was going to as
sernble simply to act as a club on the
Republican convention.
Easy to Upset Plans.
No one realizes more than the Old
Guard leaders, who expect to control
e the Chicago convention, how easily
7 the progressive party convention can
upset all the well laid plans for peace
parleys to end in a harmonious and
+ united campaign. What they fear
most is that the progreSSives will
meet. nominate Roosevelt and put it
squarely UP to the Republican conven-
some of the Old Guard leaders were
informed today, it is not the present
inteption of the progressives to adopt
that course-that they intend to meet
and do their part, at least, in seeing
if united action cannot be had against
the Democratic ticket-yet the Old
Guarders can see such a situation
coming about as a possibility. And it
only adds to their many worries.
The Old Guarders are pinning their
hopes to Colonel Roosevelt, himself, to
prevent this situation arising. They
Il say that such a course would only
result in the stifening the ranks of the
c. o. p. gathering against Roosevelt
and. ending whatever chances that
there might be of that convention
nominating him. They also believe
that Colonel Roosevelt's attitude dur
ing the entire preconvention fight
points to his refusing to countenance
such a course by the Progressive con-
vention. At least they hope SO.
Conccde All But Nomination.
But this factor and the undoubted
strength that Colonel Roosevelt will
have in the Republican convention it
self creates q situation where such
leaders as Lodge of Massachusetts,,
PeTlrose of Pennsylvania, Smoot of
Utah and Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire. men who bitterly opposed
that he will have the controlling
voice of the gathering except on one
thirg-the nomination - and Mr..
Lodge is willing he should have that.
These so-called straight goods
leaders are perfectly willing that
Roosevelt should have a large voice
in the writing of the platform and
have his say about any other matters
in connection with the convention,
save that of his nomination, The be-
lief Sis all but universal here that if
Roosevelt should point his finger at
anyone of dozen eligibles and say he
would get behind him in the cam
paign. the man thus designated would
be Nominated in hurry.
II Stampede Fails.
Few things about the coming gath
eririg are certain, but this is one
u there will be a concerted effort to
sweep the convention off it's feet to
Justice Hughes somewhere between
theE first and fourth ballots. The
Hughes men hope and confidently ex-
pect it to go over. If it does not
theE know Mr.. Hughes as candidate
is gone, for from his position on the
supneme bench he could not accept a
noInination, his friends say, after a
protracted and bitter contest. Old
guafders know this. The Roosevelt
tielegates-and there will be more OF
them in the G. o. P. convention by q
good many than the old guard ad-
1nitfed' a few weeks ago-knoW this
So Win the delegates before they &C
into the balloting. But only the bal