Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-19
Republican Politicians See
Wonderful Effect in Speech
Made by Mr.. Root.
THINK HE ENDS DANGER
OF ROOSEVELT DISRUPTION
Justice Hughes Still a Favorite for
the Nomination-Empire State
G. O. P. United on U. S. Issues. |!
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, February 10
New York and the nation are now
one, lV the view OF republican
politicians here. Since Mr..
Roots speech the aftermath
talk is all to that effect. Thev
argue that the Empire states
place in the campaign henceforth
will be recognized as in the fore
front.
There is A good deal of self-com-
placency and some satisfaction in this
reflection. There is also self com
placency when they roll off the names
of Root, Roosevelt and Hughes. Not
that the old guard and the new guard
of old line republicans are thinking
much of Col. Roosevelt as a candidate,
but they do not object to him as a
New Yorker who is exercising a strong
influence on public sentiment. They
say that the appearance of Mr.. Root
ends the danger of Roosevelt disrupt
ing the republican organization in the
struggle for district delegates.
AS to Justice Hughes, some of the
politicians who a few weeks ago were
talking quite vociferously of him as
talking with equal vociferation of Mr.
Root, but they still point to Justice
Hughes as an eminent New Yorker.
one whose influence helps to keep the
Empire state to the forefront. So you
can take your choice of the three emf
nent New Yorkers and indicate pref
erence without hurting anybody's feel
ings, provided that you dwell on your
particular favorite's influence in the
coming campaign FOR whoever may
be nominated"
There is no question that during the
last few days the republicans have
vitalized, as they believe, national is
sues. and also have offered the rest
of the country the opportunity to hnd
a suitable candidate in New York.
Interested in Party Success.
What Mr. Roots mind is nobody pre-
tends to know. It is known, however.
success Of the republican party next
November and that his address dis
closed an intensity of feeling against
the Wilson Administrations foreign
policy that surprised some of his own
friends. But that any of the so-called
managing politicians in New York will
be able to use his name to help their
own purposes no one believes. Mr.. Root
knows the ways Of politicians.
recurs is whether Mr.. Root is a recep
tive candidate. The answer / have
heard is that it depends on the response
of the country at large and not simply
on the response here in his home state.
Some of those who in the past have re-
GREETED that the prejudice alleged TO
exist against him would prevent his
getting a large vote in certain states
have changed their mind and insist
that there is no longer any prejudice
against Root.
It is certain, in their view, that re-
publicans all over the country VIII
now begin to think of him as candi-
date. and that local sentiment can be
felt out, but no one with whom I have
talked here believes that there Will
be any concerted effort to elect Root
delegates, although William Barnes Is
reported to be planning western trip
intention of giving definite direction
to the Root movement. Mr.. Root in
the past has not depended on Mr.
Barnes to represent him. ana thefe are
a good many Missourians who will
want to be shown his attitude has
changed
Puts Check on Roosevelt.
The most common comment on Mr..
Roots speech is that he checked Col.
Roosevelt as the prospective bene-
ficiary of bewildered republican dele
gates to Chicago, but that Justice
Hughes is still a possibility. This
means that though number Of poll
ticians set out to develop Hughes
sentiment, the movement has got away
from them, and has enough popular
support TO result in the election or
delegates who favor Hughes, no mat
ter what efforts the justice himself
may make to prevent their election. SO
for &C have been able to learn. there
is no antagonism between the genuine
Root men and the genuine Hughes
men Both classes are groplnE IN order
to find the strongest condldate ior
November. and both nave IN mlhu tne
big electoral vote which New YORK
will cast. r,,..
There is, of course, the usual family
row. That occupies a good deal OF
space in the newspapers ana much is
heard of it in private talk, but no one
seems to regard it as likely to split the
party on the national ticket when No
vember comes. The lines are drawn
betwe cen the Whitman ana ant-W MT
man factions.
William Barnes is the anti Whitman
A political syndicate, of which
Rochester is the headquarters. is the
whitman faction. The masses of re-
publican voters are not greatly con-
cerned although almost mechanically
they line up with one or the other fac
tion.
Has Shown Fighting Qualities.
Gov. whitman himself does not seem
to have developed as a leader of COM
manding Importance, but he has shown
some very good fighting qualities when
his administration of state affairs is
attacked His movement was to be
looked after by Mr.. Aldridge and 9TH
ers of the Rochester group VINO have
had as much experience in practical
politics as Mr. Barnes has had They
did not have their way at the Carnegie
Hall convention. but they were not en-
tirely bowled out.
The point made by his enemies is
that Gov. Whitman, while indorsed as
a delegate at large. was not put on the
list in a way to make him the chairman
of the delegation who would rise in