The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-03-31
EITHER HUGHES Oh
ROOSEVELT
That Is the Way Washington Observ-
ers See the Result Of the Repub-
lican Convention.

aIt Deglnnlng 10 sum up lle prODabl-
ities IN regard 10 the selection Of a
| Republican candidate for president al
the Chicago convention next June.
Col. Roosevelt mas returned from a
vacation IN the Antilles TO find that
in his absence the boom for Associate
Justice Hughes OF the Supreme court
has been prodigious. He also finds
that numerous aggregatiOns of politi-
cal persons want 10 know how he
stands on the question OF Hughes.
VIII the colonel indorse Hughes and
thereby eliminate himself from con-
siderationg Is the question 10 which
an answer from Mr. Roosevelt is fer
yently desired
Altogether il is d novel situation In
which the Republican party finds
itself on the eye of the presidential
campaign. On the one hand are the
three bic men OF the party, Hughes,
Roosevelt, and Root, all Of whom are
pre-eminently Of presidential ealiber,
but none Of whom, so far as surface
Indications go is seeking the nOmina-
tion. On the other hand are numer-
oas lesser leaders, all OF whom are
openly and eagerly manifesting their
aspirations 10 the highest Office IN the
Gift Of the people.
That Col. Roosevelt will take a
hand III no uncertain manner III the
selection OF candidate is regarded
generally as a foregone conclusion.
Those Republicans who look upon
Hughes as the one big man ID the
party who can unite all factions and
those Republicans who are chnfy IN
terested in eliminating Roosevelt are
hoping that the colonel viii Get into
the Hughes band wagon.
These Republicans. however. are be-
sci with fears that if Col. Roosevelt
secretly desires the nomination has
first move viii be The delivery Of an
open Endorsement of Hughes in the be-
liet that the justice would be COM
PEELED 10 remove himself. for ethical
reasons. from any possibility OF con-
slderation fer the nomination. Such
a result would leave Col Roosevelt the
most prominent possible nominee IN
the field.
The tremendous growth Of the
Hughes boom IN the last few weeks is
due almost entirely TO the increasing
belief Of Republicans IN all sections
Of the country that the justice, while
TO become a candidate for
the bonor, would accept the nomina-
tion if rendered to him by the con-
vention.
This belief is founded entirely on
the fact that Mr. Hughes has refrain
ed from declaring that be would re-
jeet the nomination. The justice has
written two letters on the subject Of
has eandicaey in the last two months.
Both letters have been made public,
in each he said that be j. out Of
politics that be is not seeking the
and that be repndistes
any effort to obtain delegates 10 the |
Chicago convention IN has behalf.
In neither letter. however. did be
close the door completely by stating |
that he would not accept the nomina-
tion under any circumstances. This !
was regarded as extremely significant /
in view OF previous reports that Mr.. |
Hughes deemed it a scandal for any |
member Of the Supreme court 10 per-
nit himself to be considered for poll
heal preferment.
The inference drawn from Mr..
Hughes failure 10 close the door /
completely was that the Justice con-
served circumstances under which q
Of the Supreme eo6r1 might
with Proprlety accept the nomination
For president.
Thereupon Hughes stock went up
ward with bound. Everywhere Re
oublieans began to express the con-
Tleflon that Hughes would accept a
which came 10 him as the
free viii Offering Of the party and
would Immediately resign from the
'our1- 1t became apparent that the
fesr Hughes would reject the ncmins-
ion not only had held the Hughes
BOOM in leash. but had been respon-
sible for much Of The. acclaim Of
Roosevelt as the only available big
nan Of the party.
The admirers of Hughes are hoping
iha1 tins as the correct interpretstiun
IF the situation. They believe that if
The assumption that the justioe will |
Dot refuse The nomination is not dis
iurbed the selection Of Hughes by thr
soon viii be a foregone |
conclusion.