The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
WICKERSHAM SAYS
ROOT CANNOT WIN
FIX Attorney General An
nOunccs His Decision to
support Hughes.
MAKES LEADERS WONDER

George ". Wickersham, WHO was A.
torney-tieHcral n the Cabinet % FRESH
den. Taft. announced yesterday that h
believed Elihu Root could not be elected
President. although he Is concedcdly the
ablcs man in the party. and that he had,
therefore, decided TO support the candi-
dacy Of Justice Hughes. Mr.. Wicker
sham's declaration made n profound i'm
preston on politicians here. I. set them
wondering Whether the astute lawyer
was IN possession o. information that
tn" formal -nrounccmeG, OF Justice
Hughes's candidacy by him is imminent.
No comment ~ the ar0oGrrcment vas
forthcoming from the headquarters o'
Mr.. Root at the Hotel Manhattan. There
was no concca,meut cf :hc d~!Sappoirt-
m.nt fcl, there. however. ard e was re-
GREETED that Mr.. Wickersham had seen
lit to differ with his former chief on the
subject OF Presidential possibilities. A
similar feeling Of disappointment was
evidenced in the Progressive camp.
Il am convinced that MIR Root can.
not he nominated" laid Mr.. Wicker
sham. land probably. II nominated. he
would not he elected. lie IL unquestion-
ably the ablcst public man in America
to-day. but | think the fact is that he
does NOV possess tho confidence OF a very
large section Of the party.
II did not unite with the seventy-hve
Republicans IN signing the statement de-
claring In favor ~ MIR. Root. II. by my
signature. | could make him President
I would do So. But | was convinced then.
and ON subsequent reflection. that Mr..
Root canno, he nominated and probably
II nominated would not be elected.
1.-THE Republican party at Chicago
mus, nominate n man who will unite all
factions OF tn" party and VINO can ce--
tainly 10 elected. see but one such
man and that is Justice Hughes.
,.cprccate. as do many others, the ncces
sty of going to the supreme Court for
"A candidate. but Mr.. Hughes ~ not the
,.u,iliat. os Il party crganiZatlcn-h'
g.. tn. candidate OF the people compos'
ing the party. He HAS not sought the
nomination. Or the contrary. n. ha.
lone everything he could do with pro
Iricty 20 prevent II.
"Bu, the demand for his selection Is
more and more insistent. The people
recall the Vigor Of his administration a.
Governor, the direc'ncss and viri)i,y n
Us public statements, the absence n
any vabbl.ng or any uncertainty In th'
expression Of his yiows on public qu"s
: tons, ana me 'onnu'f'' Nil'n MS az
. m~,nistratiou gave 10 tn" pcopl" mat III
was actuatcd by hut II motive. namely
a devotion to the interests of the people
lie has been out OF political life. and
therefore,. l- has not been a party to an,
flrtional differences which have un
haprily arisen in the party during TIL
last six years.
"If the nomination is rendered to hin
in chicago I do not see how he coul'
possibly refuse Il. His attitu,ic VI 4
the present time mas been scrupulousl!
correct. A Justice of the supreme Cour
cannot be a candidate n cannot ap
pear 10 he a candidate. hut neither
| Judge Of the supreme Court nor an!
other citizen can say that II In n grea
tho people call to him to N
their standard bearer he will not hee,
the call"