Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-02

7. R. rs AT STANDSTIII.
Odds 10 to That Hughes Will Be
Nominated For President by the
Chicago Convention

Washington, June 2. - Justice
Hughes, through his. secretary, an
nounced today that neither Frank
H. Hitchcock nor any one else is
authorized to work for the nomina-
ton of the Justice in Chicago.
"Justice Hughes has no represen-
tative, and there is no man authoriz-
ed to use his name as a Presidential
possibility" said the secretary, Laur-
ence H. Green, positively.
Chicago, June yesterday was a
Hughes day. There was a further
distinct swing toward the Supreme
Court Justice for the Republican
Presidential nomination, while the
Roosevelt movement seemed to be
practically at a standstill so far as
it was reflected among the Repub-
lican leaders who are gathering here
for the national convention.
The coming together of the Re-
publican National Committee to pass
on the contested seats disclosed a
surprisingly strong undercurrent in
favor of Hughes among the party
leaders. The talk among them for
Roosevelt was much less pronounced.
On one point nearly all seemed to
agree-that the nomination for first
place on the Republican ticket lay
between the Jurisr and Colonel
Roosevelt.
The situation was summed UP by
Reed Smoot, United States Senator
from Utah, who declared in favor of
Justice Hughes upon his arrival here
yesterday morning. Senator Smoot is
credited with being one Of the keen
est political observers among conser-
vative leaders, and his statement at
tracted attention owing to the fact
that he personally always has been
friendly toward Colonel Roosevelt.
Said he:
"If ] were betting man, would
lay odds of 10 to l that Hughes will
be the nominee and 90 to l that
Roosevelt will not get the nonina-
tion. That is the way I size up the
situation.
There were circumstantial reports
that ex-senator w. Murray Crane,
of Massachusetts, who is one of the
powers in the Republican party, will
make known his preference for Hugh
es soon after his arrival in Chicago.
Republican leaders yesterday began
trying to find out what action would
be taken by the Progressive National
Convention, which meets June T.
They are trying.:to get some definite
information as ! to whether Colonel
Roosevelt reallyfintends to run for
President as the candidate of the Fro
gressive party in the event another
man is chosen by the Republicans.
Political supporters of both Roose-
welt and Hughes were. jubilapt last
night over the: defeat of the attempt
made by certain members of the Re-
publican National Committee to have
the contests over delegates heard by
subcommittee instead of by the full
committee, which always has decid-
ed these disputes.
When Chairman C. D. Hilles sug-
gested that subcommittee be named
to go over the documents in the. CON
test so that the. full committee need
not waste time considering trivial dis
putes, the Roosevelt and Hughes sup
porters scented. possible plot to
have the contests considered in secret
sessions and they vigorously protest
ed. Senator Smoot led the fight
against the motion voted down.
The case of Virginia, which elect
ed twice the ordinary number of dele
gates, was the first considered. On
suggestion of Chairman Hilles the
question was referred to the delega-
tion itself as to whom should be
seated.