New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-14
Herd Almost Ready to
Romp Into Republican
Convention Hall.
WANT COLONEL, BUT
OTHERS HAVE CHANCE
Perkins Wary. While Leaders
Admit Many Progressive
Planks Are Laid Aside.

Some Of the Bull Moose leaders re-
turned yesterday from tho meeting OF
their national committee in Chicago
with the enthusiastic idea that the
national conventions of the Progress
sives and Republicans. to be held IN
that city on June 7. would be real
"old home" celebration. Everything
was practically arranged, in their opin-
ion. for he great herd of Moose dele
gates to march. with hands PLAYING and
banners waving. into the convention
hall OF the Republican wing.
Leaders who expressed that opinion.
however. did not find it eNpedient 20
be quoted 20 TINT effect. Other lead
ers. including George ". Perkins, who
were willing TO rush into print. put on
the soft pedal. No list of candidates
was Forthcoming as alternatives for
Colonel Roosevelt. In fact, II was
pretty evident that they all wanted the
Colonel 20 lead again, but were will
ing to consider lots OF otncr candi-
datei, purely for the sake Of defeat
ing wilson
Even Mr.. Perkins admitted that the
clause in the Chicago statement to the
effect that "it need not necessarily be
Colonel Roosevelt" meant Just what I
said. In fact, he said. the party would
stand by the whole statement. which,
he added, was written and adopted in
plain language"
But, mind you" said Mr.. Perkins,
I'VE are not looking for amalgsmation.
II is just a sincere effort q see If we
can't get, the same candidate and the
same platform There IS great diff
ference between that and the Pro
gressives returning 20 the Republican
, party"
The idea was, as another committee
man put It. that:
Wilson must be defeated, as dis
tinguished from getting the Republi-
cans back in power"
That was the whole sentiment a. the
national committee meeting. he said,
where only ore man. William Allen
White, of Kansas, named an altcrna-
tive cand date In the person o. Justice
Charles l. Hughes. And Mr.. White
named Justice Hughes, not at the
meeting of the committee. out az the
informal gathering of the committee
men.
The impression was gathered that
the Roosevelt party was ready 10 mod
fly some important blanks m :ts plat
Z form and accept most any good strong
Republican candidate. except a bronze
reactionary of the most ancient and
! honorable cast. The sacrifice would
be made for the sake OF defeating
Wilson"
/ 1t was further pointed out that while
| upon "a political contingency" the
| contingency had been strongly sensed
/ FIVE months anead OF the time when i
was likely 70 arise.
To get back 10 the premature Fourth
! of July celebration on June :. Ii was
! learned that Mr. Perkins was in Chi
! cago on the day of the meeting Of the
! Republican National Committee In
| Washington, on December =. The
news was flashed to Mr.. Perkins as
soon as the decision of the time and
place was made by the Republican com
mitteemen. Then it was that he en-
gagged several hundred rooms for pro-
spective Moose delegates and pat lien
on the Florentine Room in the Con
gress Hotel, as a gathering lace for
the clan.
And this was done with pIemedita-
ton and solid purpose. Not only did
the Bull Moose want to hold their con-
vention at tho same time and place
as their once-removed Republican rel
atives. but they desired 20 Mold II IN
eXamtly the same hall where trey haC
counclled in war. after walking out
Of the 1919 convention. There they
intend 10 resume the conference, al
least temporarily, where they left OF
/ four wears ago