Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-06
OLD GUARD, NOW IN
SADDLE, DISPOSED To
PLEASE BULL MOOSE
Hughes Boom Grows and He
Will Be Nominated If RooSe-
welt Men Will Agree to Sup
port Him
BY RALPH SMITH.

CHICAGO. Ill, June 5.-The old guard
of the Republican party is master of
the situation here. just as they we're
four years ago, but the old guard is
more disposed to treat with the Pro-
gressives than they were four years
ago, which statement is made as a
preface TO these two important facts:
First-Hughes, in the opinion of the
old guard, is the most available candi-
date seeking the nomination and can be
named with comparative ease in the con-
vention, and will be named III future de-
velopments indicate that his choice
would prove politically expedient.
Second-The political expediency of
Hughes as a candidate will turn on the
latitude of the Progressives toward his
nomination.
In a word. the old guard wants, more
than anything else, a winner and the
old guard realizes that no candidate has
the remotest possibility of victory I'M
less he is acceptable to the Progressives
In this situation ii is only natural
that today all hands are bulls respect
ing the Hughes boom, but underlying
the hurrah and excitement there is a
deeper feeling of concern and a more
profound consideration of what the
Progressives may do.
HUGHES MOST FORMIDABLE.
PROFESSIONALLY Hughes is far and
away the most formidable man in the
field, completely overshadowing Roose-
Welt and all others seeking the nomina-
ton. So that the big question of the
day is:
IF Hughes is nominated will the
Progressives indorse him without hav-
ing an explicit declaration of what he
stands for?"
Thet Progressives say they will NOM
mate no man without knowing his posi-
ton on the vital issues of the day, and
these issues, be il said. are the ques-
tions that Theodore Roosevelt alone has
outlined.
The Progressives further avow they
will mot be willing to accept any NOM
inee even upon a satisfactory Republic
an platform without knowledge that the
nominee is the embodiment of that plat
form"
Until Hughes issues some sort of a
statement il will be impossible for the
old guard, the rank and file, or the Pro-
gressives to know whether he embodies
the views that will be enunciated in the
Republican platform. No man in Chi
cago knows whether Hughes will issue
any sort of a statement, and there are
evidences of apprehension even among
his managers respecting his silence and
a downright fear that at the eleventh
hour he may spill the beans" by dra-
matically declining to allow the presen-
tation of his name to the convention.
The remote possibility of such a thing
sends cold chills up and down the
spines of his boosters. Though they
maintain an outward calm and express
confidence that "Barkus is willing"
4 feature of the situation as it APP
f~ RI
silence respecting the Burton boom
which looked up considerably last Sat
urday. This may be attributed in part
to the arrival of a strong congressional
contingent from Washington who to a
man almost are against Burton because
OF his antagonism to river and harbor
bills in past congresses.
DEFEATED TWO BILLS.
Burton defeated two river and harbor
bills during mis- service in the senate
and many of his former congressional
colleagues have not forgiven this.
The silence respecting Burton has
been displaced by an incipient boom
for Warren c. Harding, Ohio senator
and temporary chairman of the conven-
tion Many of the Washington contin-
will be nominated unless Hughes is
chosen before the third ballot They
predict this belief on the keynote speech
that Harding is to make They believe
he will make "come hither" keynote
declaration and so favorably impress
the convention that the delegates will
turn to him as the Republican party
out of the wilderness.
The Fairbanks boom has dwindled to
the proportions of a boomlet today and
the view is entertained that Charley"
-. - ,,-s11 1,
he is nominated for vice president on a
ticket headed by Hughes.
In the event the presidential candi-
date is chosen from the middle west,
Senator Jimmie" Wadsworth. Of New
York, is regarded as the probable choice
Of the convention for vice president.
Harding and Wadsworth would make
fine ticket" argued an Ohioan today.