The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-20

RE ANY progressives have declared WI themselves for Wilson and many have declared themselves for Hughes, but how the mass of them will vote is still an unknown quantity. As is often the case with disappointed
 third party" men Political Gossip thousands of those in the Dog Days who followed the
 colonel four years ago will stay at home; but it is req sonable to think that majority of those who left the republican party in 1912 will form the independent habit and support the democratic nominees next fall.
 If there is any widespread interest among former progressives in John M. Parker's spirited call for pro- gressive convention in Chicago, Au- gust 5, for the purpose of nominating new ticket, it has not yet manifested itself. And unless the response to ringing appeal such as the distin- guished Louisianian has made to fright a great wrong," is spontaneous, the chances are there will be no re- sponse at all worth reckoning with.
 Raymond Robins, who was chairman of the progressive convention held in June, is waiting until MT. Hughes de- Iivers his speech of acceptance before deciding whether he will vote the re- publican ticket or the democratic ticket.
 The New York Worlds Chicago cor respondent says that one reason why there is no apparent interest in that city in MT. Parkers call is because most of the former progressives have made up, their minds to ally them selves with one of the other of the old parties. It is predicted in bull moose circles that if a convention ma terializes on the 9th of August, and places a ticket in the field, the can didates would poll popular vote of two million. This far ahead of election day, however, all forecasts concerning the percentage of progressive votes that Hughes may be expected to poll will receive little serious attention. Still, a little idle speculation in these "dog days" helps to divert attention from the weather and will do no harm. THE neutral conference forcontinu- \ ous mediation, sitting at Stock holm, has been so little exploited in the hsa been so little exploited in the rress since it's financial promoter, Henry Ford, returned from Europe after a brief visit in the interest of peace, that many persons thought
 no doubt, that it Harmony Lacking h d adjourned AZ Stockholm sine die. Not so
 Judge Ben Lind rev of Denver and other American delegates who accompanied MT. Ford on his peace project, realizing the futility of the enterprise, did not tarry long abroad, but the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Aked, and a few well meaning women experienced in "uplift" re mained in Stockholm to look after tsworld peace" and give their best thought in particular to the question { of stopping the European war.
 Now comes Dr. Aked back to this country to report in person to MT Ford, and, judging from his remarks to representatives of the press, things are not going to suit him. There has been too much publicity in Stockholm and not that degree of harmony among the international delegates which the public had a right to expect. Anc unless MT. Ford shows more concerl about the conference which he helped set in motion, Dr. Aked will remain on this side of the Atlantic.
 As the peace conference has no of ficial status, and has been without practical leadership, those connectet with it have been regarded with mucf z ridicule.
 When Mir. Ford first listened tt