New-York tribune., 1916-04-27
They Believe Tuesdays
Results CIincn Their
Control at Chicago.
TALK OF HUGHES,
BUT WANT ROOT
Fear of Stampede for Roosevelt
Dispelled by Outcome in
Massachusetts,.
Lrran n. r.lsun. Bu,..s I

fFror rhs rrlbuns Bureau
Washington, April 26. Old-line Re
publicans were rejoicing to-day in the
returns from yesterdays primaries
both in the evidence that they VIII
have full control Of the Republican
convention and in the anti-Wilson sen
timent shown in the Middle West by a
queer turn in Nebraska, news OF whicn
has lust reached here. They saw IN
the returns assurance that their party
plans safely could be carried out, and
that the November battle would not be
quite so close as they had begun 70
fear.
The Roosevelt defeat in Massschu-
setts occupied the most attention Inc
fact that Roosevelt had discouraged
the effort TO make a contest there de-
,racted somewhat from the Old Guard 5
.stisfaction. and this was somewhat
Offset. too, by the size OF the vote
which he polled and by the number OF
Obioans who wrote in his name. His
sunnorters here declared that the
Colonel had not been seriously hurt
bv the result, pointing out that ms
chances Of success were based en'ireiy
., sentiment among the leaders when
the convention met, and that rev deI-
oro,e. more or less would make no dh-
ference to him.
The Old Guards satisfaction was
based chiefly on the fact that Massa-
cbusetts showed no overwhelming uc-
r,ord for Roosevelt. There has oeeh
zeal fear of possible stampede not
in the convention, but among the ueIe-
oates before IL meets because oi '"e
r,ovine popular support Of the eN-
President. This fear the Massachusetts
vote has dispsiled for the time thougn
il is admitted that it might be revived
should the Colonel have striking sue
ccss in his projected stumpine tour
in the Middle West in the last week be-
fore the convention.
Bay state Fight Criticised.
The fact that fight was made at all
in Massachusetts was sharply criticised
to-day by one OF the men closest to the
Colonel.
"Some Of the enthusiasts there got
out of hand. and made the fight against
Roosevelt's wishes" this man said. "He
is not fighting for delegates this year,
and would not take nomination based
on such a campaign. He realizes as
we'll as any one that the only hope OF
success in Ousting Wilson and inau-
gursting a real foreign policy. inolud-
Ing preparedness. is IN complete party
harmony. and such fights tend to dis
turb that"
Assurance Of control Of the conven-
zion by the Old Guard is the most i'm
portant direct result the political man
ayers see IN the primaries. BY the
day's vote the Old Guard got over
hundred delegates. all carefully picked
70 Re safe and non-stampedable, and II
there had been any doubt that the
ruard-so long as IT was united-could
control the convention, II has vanished.
The majority Of the politicians here
are now talking Hughes. but the Root
that circumstances Will turn out so that
he can be nominated with fair hopes
OF success. The leaders recognize that
they cannot take the party TO defeat, as
they did in 1912. il the delegates know
il, and the fear that Root could not be
elected is the one thing that stands IN
the way OF his nomination.
Believe Hughes Would Win.
Hughes, the leaders believe, could
surely win. He is the second choice
Of almost everybody. though the first
choice OF none here, and he has been
showing great strength IN the private
polls taken by politicians throughout
the country. Roosevelt IS objected TO
not only because of the remnants OF
the feelings Of 1912 feelings carefully
kept out of sight just at present, since
il has been recognized that his help
must be secured 10 win-but also be-
cause his stand on the questions at
issue has been 80 definite and uncom-
promising, and many of the politicians
still hope 10 "pussy-foot" on those
issues and pick up hyphen and pacifist
votes that Roosevelt would lose.
The sudden development of anti-N IL
son sentiment in Nebraska was not
learned here until late in the day, but
caused great rejoicing among all Re
publcans who heard the news. There
was a Democratic bolt OF about $4,000
votes from Wilson for no conceivable
reason except a protest az his policies
and such an evidence Of disafection
there were only about $4,000 votes cast
was hailed as most auspiciou:
omen.
II seems that Robert G.. Ross. livery
stable keeper, OF Lexington. Neb.. 20
himself named as candidate for Pres
ident. He had no campaign and no plat
form. and was not widely known, ye
he polled 5000 votes.