The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-09
CONVENTIONS
IN FOOT RACE
SAYS WHITE
Contest to See Which Can Make
First No>c'natiOn.
Ii Hughes Be Named Roosevelt
Will Not Run.
THE SITUATION IS REVERSED
Ii Colonel Be Nominated Then
Hughes Won't Take 1t.
Finish Likely to Come Earlier
Than Was Expected.
Ii Hughes Be Named Roosevelt
Will Not Run.
THE SITUATION is REVERSED
Ii Colonel Be Nominated Then
Hughes Won't Take 1t.
Finish Likely to Come Earlier
Than Was Expected.
(EY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.)
Copyright, 1916, by George Matthew

Copyright, 1916, oy george matthew
Adams)
Chicago. June 9-The contest in
Chicago has developed into a twenty
four hour footrace, not between men
but between conventions. II the Pro-
gressives can get Roosevelt nominal
ed before the Republicans get Hughes
nominated. they feel that Hughes will
not accept. If, on the other hand, the
Republicans can get Hughes nominal
ed before the Progressives can get
Roosevelt nominated, the Republicans
feel that Roosevelt will not accept.
The nomination, which every one fig
ured should come Saturday in both
conventions, may now come this aft
ernoon or tonight.
The noisy demonstration for Roose-
Welt in the Progressive convention re-
vealed something more than mere
claque. 1t revealed an unshakeable
purpose on the part of the Progress
sives to name Roosevelt 1t is I'M
thinkable that the Progressive con-
vention should get itself in a mood to
nominate Hughes. And what is more,
the fight was raging in the Progress
Sive platform committee to draft a
plank condemning members of the
supreme court for becoming even re-
ceptive candidates for any other office
than chief justice. If that plank is
serve notice on Justice Hughes in
advance that he cannot run on the
Progressive ticket.
1t is only fair to say that the plank
is being opposed bitterly by some of
Colonel RooseveIt's staunch friends.
But the introduction of the plank, and
its support by a considerable minority
of the platform committee, indicates
a temper against Justice Hughes
which will make his nomination well
nigh impossible.
Fayorite Sons Die Hard.
On the other hand the favor1te sons
are dying hard in the Repupllcan con.
vention. Theirs will be the tactics OF
DELAY. They will try to shift the nom1-
nation of a presidential candidate over
until Monday. The Hughes boom Is
impulsive They feel that if they can
hold it off over Sunday and If during
that time Colonel Roosevelt indicates
that he will accept the Progressive
nomination a statement from Justice
Hughes will be forthcoming, forbid
ding the use of his name by the con-
vention at all. Other than these facts
everything from the convention ls out
the froth of rumor-
Rumor says that PenroSe taxed 10
Colonel Roosevelt over the telephone
Rumor says that the colonel is ready
to declare for Hughes Rumor says
that a coalition of the favorlte sons
against both Roosevelt and hughes
has been formed with a working ma
jority of the convention But these
rumors are unimportant.
Race for Precedence.
The big important phase or the news
today is the fact that it is race of an
overwhelming majority in the Pro-
sressive convention against bare
majority and possibly only minority
in the Republican convention to name
Roosevelt before Hughes or Hughes
before Roosevelt All the tumult and
shouting in the Bull Moose convention
was but a notice from the Progressives
that the race was a one heat race and
that soon it would be over
As a sidelight on the issues OF the
race it may be well to note that the
keynoting in the Progressive conven-
ton was punctuated by applause and
that it sounded like a football match
with a close score, IN the last half of
the last quarter. While the sad, silent
and respectful way the Republicans
heard their keynote suggested taps
rather than anything else
The gentle reader is left to consider
whether a compact enthusiastic one
minded crowd can act with more ce-
Ierity and precision than rather
vaguely disorganized group of jealous
u1inorities without direction or pur-
nose enthusiasm or vision By Mon
day the Republican party may come to
itself in convention assembled. But
TODAY it is not ready TO announce its