Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-02
Battle Line Shaping Up Def
niteIy Among Republican
Leaders at Chicago.
"PRACTICAL POLITICIANS"
WOULD PREFER COL LONEL
Mass of Uninstructed Delegates Yet
to Be Heard From, However.
Brandeis Action Discussed.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.


CHICAGO, June with ali
of the regular republican lead
ers, managers and sublieutenants
of the class known as practical
politicians" on the scene of ac-
ton, the battle line of the ap-
preaching contest for the repub-
lican presidential nomination is
shaping up definitely. 1t is be
coming more apparent each day
that the real contest is between
advocates of Justice Hughes and
the supporters of Col. Roosevelt.
The candidacy of the favori+e
sons is secondary for the present.
Furthermore, and this statement is
made in all seriousness. the contin-
gency is not remote that should they
be forced to make a choice between
Hughes and Roosevelt. their own
chances having gone glimmering. some
of the old guard leaders and practical
politicians would side with Roosevelt.
Mind you, this statement applies to
the leaders, managers and wire-pul1ers
and does not include the great mass of
uninstructed delegates yet to be heard
from.
Reason Frankly Admitted.
The reason for this attitude is ad-
mitted frankly: it is based first upon
the fear of the politicians that they
cannot do business" with Mr. Hughes
should he be nominated and elected
Furthermore. the open adherence of
big business" to the Roosevelt cause
voiced by corporation influence In Chi
cago and financial interests in New
York is attractive to the big bosses
1t spells immense campaign contribu-
tions, unlimited moral suasion" to
be exerted powerfully. inexorabiy
SURPRISING the work OF 1896. All this
looks good" TO the practical politi-
clans. Another chapter may open how
ever, when the rank and file of the un-
instructed delegates reach the scene
and learn of this possible combination
between the bosses and big business
Whether they will yield to the voice
of the siren with the accompaniment Of
the gold harp cannot be foretold.
Perkins Has Hands Full.
George W. Perkins. who is the head
and shoulders of the move to obtain the
nomination of the colonel by the regu-
lar republican, convention, is having
his hands full holding back the radical
bull moosers. Their impetuosity
threatens to mar his plans Headed by
that 'unreconstructed' bull mooser,
Hiram Johnson of California. the CON
science progressives." the onward,
Christian soldier" shouters and amen
brethren" groaners, they are insisting
upon nominating the colonel in the pro-
gressive convention right off the reel.
adopting a radical platform and ad-
journing to ''ler the regulars think it
over"
The colonel himself does not want
such action and although he has re-
peatedly declared he is not coming to
Chicago. it is thought today that If his
presence is required to hold his en-
thusiasts in check he will drop in on
them suddenly some day and lay about
him Justify with the big stick.
Desires of Progressive Leaders.
The desires of Col Roosevelt, George
W. Perkins and the constructive pro-
reconciliation of the factions and NOM
ination of the colonel by the regulars
are outlined by a man whom / know
to be in position to echo them He
said:
The progressive leaders perceive all
sorts of peril in hasty action by their
convention. For one thing reunion
of progressive and republican parties
may be defeated by it. In the next
place they hold the opinion that for the
progressives to adopt a platform be-
fore the republican convention passes
it's crisis simply would be handing the
old guard in the republican convention
club with which to knock out all
chance for combination nomination
of Roosevelt.
They figure that the old guard in
that case would duplicate the progress
siNe platform SO closely that no man
could tell them apart. nominate a man
other than Roosevelt and ask the pro-
gressives to vote the republican ticket
On the strength of the platform
Candidates Must Be Platform.
THE progressive leaders know that
some of the old guard have had this
project in mind. for they have been
asked more than often when they ex-
pect to adopt their platform. The nro-
gressive party holds this is a year
when the candidates must be the Mat
| torn. The dangers confronting the
course are so liable to shift thar a
platform adopted now might be with
out meaning by November. Therefore
the nominee must be a man who viii
be platform in himself. From these
| things it is apparent that the nroorae
sive plan involves two points unon
which the leaders have determined
! That the republican convention
should be given every opportunity to
mutual agreement.
Second. that the progressive plat
form should not be adopted until either
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