New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-04
OLD GUARD SPLIT;
LOSING CONTROL
Ask for Conference with
Hughes Supporters in
Effort to Agree.

lfrom star Correspondent OF Tie TribuneI
Chicago, June 3.-The leaders of the
Republican "old guard" have asked
Frank Hitchcock and other Hughes sup
porters to join them in a conference
with a view to getting together on
candidate whom all can support.
Herbert Parsons declared positively
that Justice Hughes would accept the
nomination if it were offered TO him,
although he declared that he had not
been in communication with the Su-
preme Court justice.
Senator Boies Penrose refused point
blank to support the nomination of ex-
Senator Root when asked TO do so to-
day by William Barnes.
After several conferences the favor
lite sons found themselves unable to
agree upon a candidate whom all could
support because their delegates would
not follow them
The cold guard" Is completely split
over candidates, and will, it is now be-
lieved, be unable to control the conven-
ton because of the tendency Of many
of the delegates to refuse to follow
their leadership. Until to-day the "old
guard" claimed the custodanship of
$40 delegates who would vote as they
were told.
These were some of the developments
to-day in situation which has become
so muddled, complicated and intense
that even the proverbial Philadelphia
lawyer would be unable TO straighten IT
out.
Day of Discussion.
It was day of discussion, with moth
ing concrete arrived at, and at bedtime
the question Of who the Republican
candidate for President would be was
al much in the air as ever. The Hughes
men looked upon the results of the day
as favorable TO their candidate, and this
was probably so, because the justices
name was mentioned more frequently
by members Of the "old guard" and
newly arriving delegates than ever be-
fore.
What gave the Hughes men their
greatest 10y was the message from
leading members of the "old guard
that they wanted a conference. that the
situation was rapidly getting away from
them and that something had 10 be
done at once. Some of the "old guards
men," however, conferred with George
w. Perkins, an 1t gave rise TO report
that efforts were being made TO elm
mate both Hughes and Roosevelt.
Mr.. Perkins frankly admitted that ne
had had three conferences, but ne
would not discuss them, except TO say
that the Progressives were united on
one candidate and that il was up 10 the
Republican leaders 10 give good ana
sufficient reasons why he should not
be named
No general conference Of the "old
guard" leaders has been held as yet
because the differences Of opinion
among them are so pronounced. IL is
probable that by tomorrow series
OF conferences will begin which VIII
lead 10 something definite by the time
the convention meets.
Political Veterans Warned.
Roosevelt and Hughes as the lead
ing candidates, in fact, the only can
didates that are taken seriously 81
this time, are giving the old political
veterans the time of their lives. They
don't want either. They would prefer
Root, Burton, Fairbanks or any other
member of their clan, but they know
that none Of them can be nominated
under present conditions.
The statement Of Herbert Parsons