The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-05

Roosevelt's help but not his dicta-
ton"
No Leader.
They are determined not to permit
Roosevelt to name a ticket by pro-
cess of elimination. One OF the out
standing features of this convention is
the absence of commanding leadership
by the men who compose the odd
Guard" They are on the ground but
seem to have no definite control OF at
fairs.
There is a conspicuous lack of what
every convention has known as fix
ers." who came with planks for the
platform all prepared and assurances
that they were going in. little groups
of leaders who go together IN confer
ences and arranged things and then
practically brought them before the
convention for ratification. All that is
absent this year.
A notable example of this condition
is in the Pennsylvania delegation
which is split four ways Senator Pen
rose, who always has spoken for the
Republican organization in the state,
is silent and while he probably will
cast his vote for Senator Knox, it is
generally understood he will do so in
order not to disclose his real choice
No stampede strength.
OF all the "favorite sons who Will
be presented to the convention none IS
estimated to have the strength to COM
mand stampede. The Weeks sup
porters are continuing their claims of
zoo or more votes on the first ballot.
Senator CUMMINGS managers claim
more than 100 votes on the first bal
lot and in addition say that Colonel
| Roosevelt would support their man,
but it is not generally believed that
any of the favorite sons vote can be
held all the way through.
eft -
mitteeman from New Hampshire, said
today he believed all but four candi-
dates would be practically eliminated
after the first ballot. He thinks Colo
| mel Roosevelt is out of the race.
Maintain Party, Says T. II.
Regardless of what action the Re
publican and Progressive conventions
finally take, Victor Murdoch. of Kan
sas, chairman of the Progressive ma
tional committee who arrived today
said the party organization should be
maintained
THE Progressive party must not
| and will not pass out of existence no
| matter what the result of the coming
| conventions" said Murdoch. He de-
| clined to predict the probable action
of the Progressives.
Mr.. Murdoch said he was not a can
didate for reelection as national COM
mittee chairman and would endeavor
to be released from that position.
James r. Garfield of Ohio, another
Roosevelt leader, today stated that po-
| litical expediency was largely the
cause of the Progressives' failure to
| disclose any definite plan regarding
the support of Colonel Roosevelt.
Perkins for Harmony
George Perkins of New York. recog-
| nized spokesman for the Progressive
| party, issued a statement reiteratine
| that he was for harmony with the old
err party. but not for harmony at any
price. He did not amplify this state
ment beyond saying he will not lose
sight of the fact that too high a price
can be paid for anything and that
| harmony was no exception to the rule
Hughes, Says Hitchcock.
| Frank H Hitchcock. who is work
| ing for the Hughes forces, issued a
| formal statement today, after a con-
| ference with other leaders. declaring
| that the nomination of Justice Hughes
| isineyitable.
| Mr.. Hitchcock included in his state.
ment an analysis of the strength OF
| favorite son candidates to show the
total strength of the combined favorite
sons to be 345.
| Justice Hughes will receive more
votes on the first ballot than the com.
bined strength of the favorite son can
didates," said Hitchcock, land hi;
| nomination on an early ballot is in
| evitab1e.''
| The Hitchcock statement empha.
| sized that it will require 493 votes tc
nominate a candidate and that the
| combined instructed strength of the
| favorite son candidates falls 148 vote.
| short of enough to nominate.
Among those opposed to Justice
Hughes, a report was circulated today
| that he had gained the disfavor of la.
Dor through the supreme courts de
cision in the Danbury Hatters case in
| January, 1915.
Investigation of the report de
| veloped that the decision of the court
was unanimous, all the justices par.
ticipating and was delivered by Justice
Holmes.