The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-11
Situation a Middle
Up to Last Minute;
EpentS CROWD Fast
Chaos Persisted Until Landslide for Hughes Cleared
the Air-But Progressives Claim :, RS Nomina-
ton 81 Second Ahead of Hughes Z.
By JUDsoN c. wELLIvER.

CHICAGO, June 11.--Ncver In all the
history of political conventions was
there q gathering In which great events
tumbled over each other 10 furiouRly
fast as for few hours Mt the close OF
tho Republican-progresslv conclave OF
yesterday, L.
In the mePnins, the Republican, had
not nominated, and 1t was uncertain
whether they could
The Progressives had net nominated
and there was question whether they
would name Roosevelt. on Hughes. or
anybody at ali, II Roosevelt should
be named. would he rum
The conference committees between
the two parties had not agreed on a
harmony plan, They wer" to try again.
pliEh anything,
II was re leraiiy believed thai RooBe-
welt did not wRnt tn run rs thi''i
candidate. but his Progressive convcn-
way out of that deadlock.
Hughes, II was commonly conceded.
could OF be elected II Roosevelt should
run, Democrats. on the fringes Of the
sure Victory for Wilson in eli the por-
tents,
II was a skein that seemed to defy
all efforts at its untangllng.
Skein Looked a Tangle.
Then began the marvellous process Of
STRENGTHENING them out. The Repub-
llcans went into session and. instead OF
proving themselves deadlocked over a
nomination. produced landslide to
The progressives. having been held
back for four days from accomplish
Inclination msnt IF Their eli
speeded up their performance. deter
mined to name their candidate be-
fore the Republicans should have put
forward Hughes. They brushed ASIDE
careful men who had been allowed to
guide the proceedings. shouldered
aside the timid and uncertain, ones
and smashed right through all par
and formalities, to the nomination OF
Roosevelt. II was accomplished ac-
cording to the best reports, about
thirty-one seconds ahead of the nom
Then came the Roosevelt telegram to
the Progressive convention. declining
conditionally Every man and woman
in that gathering knew, however. wner
certain to be met. Colonel Roosevelt
said he would decline absolutely II n
was necessary to give Immediately
final answer. but he preferred to leave
III
should have spoken and defined his at
titude on the issues. then II could be
finally deterined whether the deciina'
ton should be effective or not.
Then Came Hughes Statement.
So the convention adjourned, anc
within the hour came the ringing state
ment from Justice Hughes. meeting. al
everybody believed. all the require
ments OF Colonel Roosevelt. certainly
all tho expectations OF the most en-
thusiastic advocates OF vigorous pol
icy of Americanism. In both conVen
tions. II was a declaration OF suci
pith and substance that. had 1t beef
made three months ago, II would haV'
insured the nominate OF the Justice OF
the first ballot. with Roosevelt prob
ably out OF consideration. and the PRO
gressives practically absorbed back int
the Republican party.
At the end of IL all both convention
were well nigh stunned. Men rose from
their seats in the halls, when the gavel
came down in signals of "sine die" AM
wandered out in a half dazed fashion
They hadn't been able to digest all o
1t. 1t would take time to realize al
the history that had gone on befor
theirs in that one day, and In whic
they had been little part.
After thought, Il has become resog
rizcd as consequence OF a notorious pre-
ponderancc of humane experience,
better than fore thought. 1t is quit
possible now to calculate and demon
stratc that from the beginning this gen
oTal outcome was foreordained. 1t wa
impossible to believe that Colont
Roosevelt, in view of his bitter hos
t!lty to the Wilson Administration
would permit his candidacy on a mino
ticket TO become the instrument 70
prying Mr.. Wilson back into the Whit
House. On the other hand. progressive
some of fhom, 1t may as well be OF
served, have been quite willing tina
Wilson should he reelected II Roosevelt
could not be chosen. insisted that Roose
Welt could mover refuse their nomination
once It was pressed upon him, as
duty both to the millions who had TO
lowed him into the new party, and
the principles for which that part
stood.
Roosevelt Meets Crisis.
But Roosevelt was equal to III
emergency. He made the fight for h
own nomination. right to the last dltcl
C-@Le T@oL Hin IN HsIIc