The Washington times., 1916-04-10
Boston Now Is Center
OF Political Interest /;
Roosevelt in the Hub
Over Sunday Developments Both Favorable and I'm
favorable to CoIonel-Story of Barnes Support
Received Here With Interest, But Reservation.

With the Republican national conven-
tion less than two months away, G.. o.
+. political pots are boiling everywhere
today-albeit interest seems to be CEN
tered on Boston.
Colonel Roosevelt is on a visit TO New
England this week, When he left Oys-
ter Bay. the colonel vigorously asserted
he expected to Keep politicians at arms
length and hold confabs only with old
Harvard friends and social and literary
lights OF the Huh.
However. there is quite n little Tight
on In Massachusetts now over the 80.
lection OF delegates to Chicago and the
opposition forces are watching anxious.
ly the former Presidents moves.
After leaving Boston, Mr.. Roosevelt
is TO go to Pennington. Conn. to visit
q relative, and this causes the opposi-
tion TO appreciate that the colonel In
quite In tho New England limelIght.
Blow for Barnes.
Over Sunday political developments
both favorable and unfayorabie to the
colonel have been recorded. The re-
election OF Frederick C. Tanner as
chairman OF the Republican State COM
mitteo"of New York appears to have
delivered n solar plexus blow at the
power OF Eoss Barnes, who bitterly
The Barnes influence In New York ap-
rears to be or tho wane, end the
coloners friends will not shed any
tears over that fact
A storS less encouraging to the Roose-
welt forces ss that the State commit
tees poll OF delegates to Chicago shows
thet Hughes is the preference OF n
large majority OF them. while Root Is
running second in their minds.
However, II is realized that both the
Hughes and Root delegates have in
their midst many who will flock to
tile coloners bandwagon II the Chicago
convention shows signs OF a stampede
toward the former President.
Probably the most interesting story
developed yesterday came out OF Bos-
ton. II originated with Harvard grad
yates, class OF 'SS. who say that Will
liam Barnes Is for Colonel Roosevelt.
The report that the New York enemy
OF the colonel has flopped has been
received with reservation here. but Il Is
told with much circumstantial detail.
Barnes, according TO the informant.
made these statements at a dinner OF
members of the Harvard class OF 1893
which was held recently at the Harvard
Club in New York city. Before making
crccy by asking the walters to leave the
room.
Syn of Old Guard Attitude.
Some political leaders who were told
of the story said II was a pretty good
indication that most OF the Old Guard
political leaders were at least not more
bitter In their opposition to Roosevelt.
The Barnes story was about the most
exciting bit of political gossip which
marked the arrival OF Colonel Roose-
veIt In Boston on his trim to Massa- =
chusetts to attend meeting OF the
Harvard Overseers. The colonel would
not comment on the report or on any
other phase OF the political situation.
making IL evident that he wished 10
avoid political controversy.
Joseph II. Choste issued a statemen
explaining his reasons for supper tinl
the Root candidacy. In part tho state
ment read:
Mr.. Root Is the only one OF tn,
three leading candidates who can full,
commend himself to all members of the