The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-12
ROOSEVELT IS OUT,
VIEW OF OLD GUARD
Both Hughes and Root Men See
Signs Of Surrender in Pro-
gressive Utterance.
SAY NOMINEE WILL WIN

preted yesterday by Republicans in &C.
Of how the political situation stands.
To so-called "old guard" adherents II
appeared as confirmation Of their belief
that they have definitely side tracked
any movement in the direction o; Col.
Roosevelt's nomination by the Repub-
iicans. To the Hughes men it mean
confirmation Of the clarity OF their views
respecting the man the party wants. To
both wings Of the Republican. party the
statement Of the Progressives looked
like the f%orerunner Of a complete sur
render to the action Of the Republican
national convention.
Republican leaders who do not want
Hughes AZ their candidate are inclined
70 think the Progressives are not over
sealous for him themselves. but have
pitched upon him as offering the line
Of least resistance in their way back
into the Republican fold. To these lead
srcs IT appeared that the Progressives
have realized at last that this is to he a
Republican year and that the namin Of
one Republican whom they will accept
mean merely that when the two con-
ventions get down to work the Progress
sives will be ready to consider not one
only. but everybody who has a chance
Of winning.
Real Issue SIN IN Tariff.
One Of the "old guard leaders. who
has been working hard to eliminate Col
Roosevelt. said yesterday the Progress
sives know there is no place this year
for u third party and fhe fact that this
tS,tb la ttere for tbent tn roalixe is nf
more Importance to the Republican
party than anything the Progressives
DO. He asked. as " he believed there
could be only a negative answer, II
there was anything the Progressives
could put into their platform this year
that will not be in the platform of the
Republican party.
Preparedness is the big talking issue
Of the campaign. he said. and the Repub-
licans will take no bach seat on that
proposition. The real issue. he pointed
out, is to be the tarin-the question 81
what IL TO happen commercially when
the European war ceases-and on that
the Republicans and Progressiyes arc in
accord. In his opinion the only ground
for a third party this year is paciisir.
and therefore the Progressives. being Of
militant brood. haven't anything to stand
on, not even the necks Of the "old
guard" leaders.
SO this leader. who believes that Elihu
Root can he nominated and elected. thinks
the Progressives' statement is ~ no inn
portance whatever. and that II will he
so considered by the Republicans In con-
vention. That does not mean. of course,
he pointed out. that Justice Hughes will
not he considered. His idea is that Jus
tice Hughes will he very much consid-
cred. not because the Progres-ives have
suggested him a. a candidate who can
,ptto tho Manly huf aolply borausc no il
one Of the available men in the Re-
publican party.
support for Any Nominee.
There Is no installing tina, the assur-
ance respecting the ability Of the Re
publican candidate to win this year Is
shared by Republicans generally. Even
those who are strongest In their advocacy
Of Justice Hughes as q candidate are
loa1h to admit that ne is the only Re-
publican who can be elected. They think
he IL the most available candidate. bur
they concede that should the situation
four weeks hence seem to demand the
selection OF some one else this candidate
would go TO the polls with a full anti
Democratic vote behind him.
One man said yesterday that he would
wager that whoever the candidate ~ the
Republican party is he viii get the sup
port Of Col Roosevelt and that at the
opportune moment the Colonel will take
the natioC srto his confidence and explain
that he elected him.
In the Hughes camp tho Progressive
meeting and statement meant merely
that the Progressives have hit upon tho
true feeling Of the country ~ large.
thereby proving not only the astuteness
Of their managers, but also the wisdom
Of the Hughes advocates in the I.epub-
ican party.
The action Of the Frugressivcs DID not
serve to draw out the Hughes Repuh-
licans to any extent. however They
still admit that the New York delegation
will go to Chicago split into two fairly
equal factions. one for Hughes. the other
for Root. Such advantage de- there Is 10
ono or the other within the delegation
seems TO lie with the former senator.
for the reason that the Hughes men.
grateful to Senator Root for his party
services In the past, do not harbor
tcward him the bitterness that exists
or the other side toward Justice Hughes.
willing I q Take Root.
The most ardent Hughes men arc
willing to admit that II they can he
shown that Elihu Root stands a chance
OF being elected they will vote for his
nomination. but they declare that All
present signs are against such "A con-
tingency. Samuel $. koenig. chairman
OF the Republican county committee. en-
pressed the general feeling among the
delegates here when he said yesterday
1T IL evident, | think, that a ma
j"rity Of the New York state delegates
are in favor Of Justice Hughes. How
ever. there will be no attempt on the
part Of the party organization to line up
delegates for or against any candidate.
So far az New York county Is concerned
We have our " preference, hut we shah
go TO the Chicago convention prepared
to confer with delegates from other
States. and. after thorough canvass of
the situation, determine who Is tho best
man for the party to nominate
"Thi seems TO b" the general atti-
tude OF men with whom | have talkcl
We may haye our individual choice, hut
We shall approach the subject with open
minds and by frank and free Interchange
Of opinion pirk the right man. 7 do not
look for any concentration of opinion
until after 80 get to the convention"
The letter OF Mr.. Wickcrsham indOrs-
Ing Justice Hughes was likewise re-
ccived according to the attitude of
various leaders. The Root men dccla red
that Mr.. Wickersham may express his
own view, hut that he is far from know.
ing what the men in hs party think or
will do. The Hughes men said Mr.,
Wickersham' view reflected public
IN the reports now being received from
other sections OF tho country.