Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-05-31
NATIONAL POLITICAL
POT BEGINNING TO OBO|L
Great Interest i'm G. o. T.. Convention
as Date of Meeting Enters
Home Stretch.
SENATOR CUNINHNS HAS
81 INSTRUCTED DELEGATES
Cummins Headquarters Will be Open
ed in Chicago Tomorrow. The
Senator Has Largest Num-
Der Instructed Dele
gates of all Candi-
dates.

w III uuL d Wcch lulcINSuluS
til the national republican conven-
tion in Chicago events of the past
week have had more than the usual
significance.
Chief intero4t continues to center
in the activities of the Roosevelt
leaders, the growth of the Hughes
boom and the steady, persistent ef-
forts of the men behind Root They
are by no means the only one. Th
ring is full of aspirants who will
have votes on the first ballot and
many of them on the second ballot.
From ten to fifteen names will b,
presented to the convention. In ad
dltion to the above named they are
Cummins of Iowa, Weeks of Massa-
chusetts, Sherman OF Illinois, Bur-
ten of Ohio, LaFollette of Wisconsin,
Brumbaugh of Pennsylvania, Du
Pont of Delaware, Ford of Michigan
and perhaps Knox of Pennsylvania,
Borah of Idaho and McCali Of Mas
sachusets.
Roosevelt Accepts.
The week started off with tne vis-
it of George Won l.. Meyer and twen-
ty-hve men to Colonel Roosevelt at
Oyster Bay, where he was officially
notified of an organization Of 200 re-
publicans for his nomination. The
colonel virtually accepted wnen he
declared: 81 am naturally deeply
touched and pleased by your action.
l accept it absolutely in the spirit
you have taken it,"
This was followed by Colonel
Roosevelt's visit to Washington to
testify in the Riggs bank trial. He
received an ovation in the capital
city, although he did not discuss
politics there.
Detroit Enthusiastic.
The colonels hackers have also
been encouraged by the action OF
Detroit republicans, men of promin-
ence, who have sent kilograms TO cy-
cry republican delegate in the ,oun-
try virtually asking them to shift to
Roosevelt when they have voted their
pledge.
Saturday an important meeting was
held at Oyster Bay. Delegations
of republicans were there to formally
ask the colonel to announce tinl-
self for the republican nomination.
Political observers contrast this or-
casion with the one four years ago
when seven governors waited upon
the colonel and asked him 10 enter
the ring against Taft, which he did.
Hughes Boom Grows.
Hughes sentiment continues to
gain ground. His supporters declare
that it is Hughes against the field
and that the only thing remaining is
his consent. Many profess TO see III
his silence an indication that he will
accept if the nomination is forced
upon him.
Several newspapers have given
prominence to an intervie- in which
Hughes is supposed to have predict
ed that Roosevelt will be nominated
The story is denied by Justice
Hughes private secretary who in.
sists that the jurist has had nothing
to say on the situation.
Depend on Record.
The chief attack upon Hughes by
the progressive republicans who
want Roosevelt and the old guard
who are against both Hughes and
Roosevelt is that his views are not
known on the big issues of the day
particularly preparedness. Hughes
men are depending upon his active
record as governor of New York to
be sufficient evidence that he Ii
right" on the problems of the ma.
tion.
1t is reported that movement Is
on foot to smoke out" Hughes and
to get statement from him before
the convention. The plan is to ad
dress letter to all the candidates
asking them to state their positions
Since Hughes Is the only one who Is
not an avowed candidate, the pur-
pose Of the project is clear. So far
he has lodged every effort made by
individuals and delegations to place
him on record.
Root Men Active.
The Root campaign was formerly
launched few days ago but 1t ap-
pears to be making considerable
headway. Headquarters have been
opened in Chicago. The Old Guard
is not solidly behind Root. Crane OF
Massachusetts, for instance is for
Hughes and Penrose of Pennsylvania
has not declared himself. Rumors
We're current this week that the east.
ern millionaires who have profited
by the war have subscribed to big
Root fund but this is not verified.
Root campaigners insist that for
ty-five OF the eighty-seven New York
delegates will vote for Root on the
first ballot They think this will
make an impressive showing before
the free delegates who may be infiu-
enced for Root in that manner,
The main efforts of the "favorite
sons candidate have been directed
toward minimizing the Roosevelt,
(COntinued on mage a