Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-16
REPUBLICANS
LOOK TO HUGHES
Demand For. Jurist as Presi-
Dental Nominee
Increasing
COLONEL'S TIDE EBBS
Former President Counted as Having
Talked Himself Out of Chances OF
Nomination
COLONEL's TIDE. EBBS

i Washington, May 16-Sentiment Il
Republican politics is definitely crys-
tallizing behind the movement to
nominate Associate Justice Charles
E. Hughes for the Presidenc" at
Chicago. Only the rankesr partisan
ship could be blind to this fact.
lnm practically every lion I
Inc country the demand l.; growing
for the return of the jurist to active
politics, and if the demand gains III
! volume during the few rema:ring Lays
Of tie prcconvention campaign .> it
has during the past six weeks 1t Is
apparent that only two circumstan-
Ces can prevent Mr.. Hughes nomiEa-
ton. : the opposition of Roosevelt or
the fiat refusal of the New Yorker to
accept the first place on the ticket,
ii if is offered him.
Justice Hughes has never made
any declaration to the effect that he
would not accept the nomination. and
his friends feel that he will never
make it. They believe that he will
take the nomination if ir cores to
HIM without his seeking.
This shouting for Hughes pro-
ceeds from no enthusiasm for the man
from no magnetism of his personality
from no understanding of the things
for which he may stand. 1t proceeds
solely from the conviction that re
! could come nearer defeating Wood
row Wilson than could any OTHER llv-
! ing Republican. That is the whole
story.
The belief prevails among average
party men that the Bull Moose, as
body, could not deny their support
to Hughes; that Roosevelt himself
would be compelled to go along, and
that, with the old organization again
united behind man whose record is
on straight, party success in Novem-
Der would be a foregone conclusion.
This is the line of reasoning which
has suddenly given Hughes the lead
ing position in the fight.
His supporters are reminding Re-
publicans everywhere, it might be
added, that the German voters op-
posed to Wilson would be solidly
for Hughes; that the Irish vote op-
posed to Wilson would of course be
for the ticket, and that the Progress
sives could find nothing in the juriSt
to kick against. They are saying
that Hughes has a record OF pro-
eressive achievement, whereas Roose-
velt has only record of progressive
shouting.
iven all these elements of strength
il would seem that Justice Hughes
would be the ideal candidate, and
that no question need arise as to his
nomination. But it so happens that
the selection of Mr.. Hughes means
the elimination of Theodore Roose-
Welt "a circumstance which must be
taken into profound consideration.
Roosevelt is himself candidate
for the nomination. Three months
ago it looked as if he would capture
the convention. The tide was so set
in his favor that it seemed lmpos-
sible for any man or group 'ot meh
to head it off But that was three
months ago. Since then Roosevelt has
done much talking. 1t has been heroic
talking It has breathed war. 1t
has been challenge directed at
every interest that has sought peace
with Europe or peace with Mexico
It has beer just one sledge-hammer
attack after another upon the process
ses where by President Wilson has
sought to maintain friendly relations
with the German government on the
one hand and the Mexican de facto
regime on the other. :.
This militant attitude on the part
. States are for peace on any mono