Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-29
Presidential Politics
Hughes, Popularity Tests.


Sioux City Journal: 1t is certain pro-Roose
welt republicans will do what they can to pre-
vent the nomination OF Justice Hughes. II IS
likely the so-called old guard leaders would pre-
fer TO nominate some other candidate. Never
thcless the probability increases that political
logic will be so plain by convention time that
both elements will join in rendering the nomina-
tion 70 Hughes, who will accept in the continued
absence OF now unforeseen complications.
At the outset the strongest influences in
Hughes favor were negative ones Admittedly
strong man OF presidential caliber, Hughes
had taken part in the party warfare OF 1912
and 1914 Respected alike by conservatives and
radicals he had not been identified with the
politics Of either faction. Hughes had established
himself in the affections OF the west by his
campaign work for Taft in the 1908 campaign
Ii was natural enough that in the early days
Of their tusslc with the problem Of 1916 the re-
publican leaders should look to Hughes as the
man most likely 10 reunite the party They
looked to him because Of his unobieetionabiity,
and they kept on looking to him after il became
apparent that he would not seek the nomination
Until recently the Hughes possibility has
been considered IN connection with two ques.
tion marks. The first question 10 be answered
was whether Hughes would accept the nomna-
tion All along II seemed that he could not re-
fuse a nomination that carried real mandate
from the republican party. There is no longer
any doubt Of his acceptance should the nomna-
ton be rendered on clean plate, The other
and the more important question was whether
the republican rank and fe-he plain people
east and west--would warm up" 10 him. AS
10 that his ability to hold his own in two New
York state campaigns and his record as cam
paigncr in the west offered the only testimony.
Now that question, too, has been answered in
conclusive style.
The first impression OF Hughes strength
with the rank and file was given in Nebraska,
where on primary day. after Hughes had in
sisted on having his name removed from the
ballot, some $4,000 voters took the trouble 10
write in his name TO indicate their preference for
president An even more emphatic example OF
Hughes popularity was given out in Oregon
the other day. when the courts refused TO let
his wishes govern and ordered his name printed
on the ballot. There, in competition with two
active candidates who were touring the state
in their own interest, Hughes not only passive
but an unwilling candidate poed some 10000
votes more than both Of his active competitors
and registered a plurality Of $4,000 over the one
who took second place With the middle west
and far west thus accounted for it was inn
portant to hear from the plain people in the
east The voice OF the east was raised in Yer
mont last Tuesday. There the names Of candi-
dates were not printed on the ballot and all had
an equal chance in the writngn process.
Hughes had an overwhelming majority Of those
their preference, polling 480 votes to ,83l votes
for Roosevelt, while only scattering votes were
cast for other candidates.
II may be that Hughes was first pushed for
ward by practical politicians who wanted TO get
away from Roosevelt. II is plain that the argu-
mcnts that appealed to the leaders have also ap-
pcaed to the rank and file and that they have
fallen behind the Hughes candidacy, east and
west.