The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11

/ National Committee this city aWOke
to the fact that this is a Presidential
year, and that from now on and until
the holding of the Republican and
Progressive National conventions next
June politics will hold the center of
the stage with the European war
For the first time since 1912, the
name of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
| as a Presidential possibility became
1.-the absorbing topic of conversation.
The fact that his secretary, John Nc
I Grath, is here with a large de1ega-
| ton of New York Progressives, to
take an active part in today's delib-
erations of the National committee, is
regarded as extremely significant and
as RELOCATING to the background the
/ Co1onePs. insistence that he is in no
sense a candidate for the nomination.
notwithstanding the Co1oneTs pro-
testations, every single Progressive
who came to town insisted-and Vo-
Iciferous1y at that-that Colonel Roose-
| welt was the only logical candidate,
mot alone of the Progressives, but also
| of the Republicans, and that unless
| the Republicans nominated him,
| woodrow Wilson would be reelected
hands down.
Progressive party leaders have made
reservations for 500 hotel rooms and
| have options on the Auditorium thea
| ire. Orch stra hall, and the F1oren-
the week Of June T..
This was disclosed in connection
| with the plan to hold the partys ma
tional convention simultaneously with
the Republican convention: The Pro-
gressive National committee will fix
the date definitely and authorize the
closing of-the/ options at its meeting
today at the Congress total.
1t is considered probable that the
Progressive convention will be held
at the Auditorium theatre. The Flor
kentine room will be used for auxiliary
meetings. Orchestra hall probably
will not be needed if the Auditorium
III eatre is selected for the convention.
One hundred and fifty Progressives
from all parts of the country will be
present at the committee meeting and
conference today Most OF tenn ar
rived yesterday.
The Twentieth Century Limited
looked like a Progressive speclal, pc
ing crowded with the delegates from
New york and other Eastern states.
The New York delegation was headed
nv George w. Perkins, chairman OF
the national committee. and was bac-
companied by John McGrath' pr1VaCe
secretary to Colonel >RooseVelth. II
was announced that Mr.. MeGrath
would act as secretary or the co1n-
i1aittee meeting.
Perkins Is NoncomInittaA
Mr. Perkins was conservative in his
statements, refusing to express any
opinion as to the time of the Progress
sive National convention, the place, OF
tie action regarding the Endorsement
of any possible candidate of any >other
party ,.
would it be possible Mr.. Perkins
was asked, 'ffor the Republicans to
nominate any man who is aeceptaole
to the Progressive party?
ssTaat is only another way of asking
if the Progressives will haye ticket
in the field" he countered. I have
already said many a time that the
Progressives will have a ticket
ssWill the Progressives have their
convention here at the same time as
the Republican convention" he was
asked.
the meeting of the national cornm1ttee'
That is what we are here for"
Mr.. Perkins admitted, however, that
he had found a good deal of sentiment
among the national committeeman
against holding the convention mere
when the Republicans meet; the op-
iectors believing that such action
would link the party up too closely
with the Republicans. At the same
time Mr. Perkins admitted that, II
it was decided to hold the convention
here at that time, the delegates would
Naturally, some of our members
have taken options on hotel rooms,
he said, ttand it is more than likely
that the F'Iorentine room of the Con
gress hotel is one of those on which
we have options
iT,be F1orentine room is familiar as
the headquarters of Colonel Roosevelt
in past conventions.
ssDo YOU bring a message from Col
onel Roosevelt to the National com
rnittee?'' Mr.. Perkins was asked.
mo, do not he replied.
NO Message From the Colonel.
Mr.. McGrath was then appealed to
with the same question.
colonel Roosevelt merely sent his
friendly regards to the committee
men, he said. There is no formal or
written message.
Asked what brought him to the
meeting, McGrath said he came out
Just to look over the situation and re-
port to his chief.
1.-The Colonel is at Oyster Bay he
said land plans to stay there for
some time. He will leave for the
West Indies Feb. 15. to be gone for
six weeks He is going because of
Mrs. Roosevelt's health. You know
she underwent an operation some time
ago, and it is thought she will recu-
perate faster If she is taken to the
warmer climate
Mr. McGrath said that Whetnef COL
oneI Roosevelt came to the Chicago
convention would depend upon the
circumstances at the time
However, Roosevelt for President
was the slogan of nearly all the prom
inent Progressiyes On all sides was
heard the statement that the Repub-
licans could best insure the return of
the ProgressiYes to the fold as well
as the defeat of President Wilson,
through the nomination of Colonel
Roosevelt.
The Progressive committee will
adopt resolutions ct teday's meeting.
They may not go SO far as to an
nounca that the ProgFessives will sup
port the Republican nominee and plat
form in case both are satisfactory. but
it will at least be possible to read this
between the lines,