The Washington herald., 1916-05-01
COLONEL STILL
in front RANK
Political Writer Sees Only
Hughes as Strong Con-
tender at Present.
DARK HORSES" FACTORS
Many Hold View that Party Leaders
Have Cards to Play at Convention
that May Upset Dope"

\ pOlluCal writer IN Ine Ne" iOiN
Herald In analyzing Republican conVen-
tion prospects. apparently takes the view
that Roosevelt, on surface indications
available at present. has the best chance
Of landing the nomination, with Justice
Hughes as his strongest opponent, pro-
yiding he decides to make the race. The
chances OF some unexpected coup by
party leaders that will throw the nomi-
nation to one Of the many potential can
didates, also is considered by the writer,
who says:
In a situation where everything is
chaos anything is likely to happen. l
asked one OF the most astute members
5f the party a few days ago II he would
make any prophecy concerning the out
come Of the Chicago convention and he
said:
THE only things which seem reason
ably certain to me are that II the dele
gates learn early enough that Justice
Hughes will take the nomination he will
likely get 1t, and that the party leaders
intend to beat Theodore Roosevelt II
they do nothing else, and they believe
they can control enough delegates to do
It."
In view Of the remarkable uncertain !
ties Of the outlook that was a rather
daring forecast. Many persons believe
the old Guard has card up its sleeve
which II will play at the critical moment
But the "OId Guard" hasn't. The "Old
=
ing the outcome to the convention as
Eny one else.
2TT Delegates Instructed.
or the 7lS delegates elected to date
only ri are instructed. and it Is well Un-
deTstOod that some Of the instructions are
only temporary. The secret Of the puz-
zle, Of course, is TO be found in the Al
uninstructed party emissaries who have
already been chosen. This number is
hka1y n he aI to Lac
man has been designated. The total num-
Der Of instructed delegates will approx |
mate $40. No one candidate is likely to
have more than 100 and probably not
that many.
Many of the delegates have no idea
for whom they will vote If the grand
crash which some folk expect develops
Twenty-three of the thiTty-five States
which have already chosen delegates
show Hughes and Roosevelt sentiment in
the delegations. This is not to be taken
as meaning that there is no sentiment
for any one else. On the contrary, there
Is in many of the same States sentiment
for Senator Weeks, Elihu Root, Mr.. !
Burton, Gov. Mccall, Senator Sherman,
Senator Cummins and some other cand-
dates. But the agitation for these men
is so slight compared with that for
hessrs. Hughes and Roosevelt that it
was not deemed necessary at this time |
10 classify it by States.
Among the delegates from the twenty /
three States 24 are said to favor the |
nomination Of Justice Hughes, provided !
he is available and certain favorite sons |
are eliminated. In the same group of |
States 15O delegates favor Theodore /
Roosevelt. Politicians will doubtless find |,
much significance in these figures.
Roosevelt Feeling in Illinois.
Illinois seems to have more feeling for
Mr.. Roosevelt than for Justice Hughes. !
It will stand first for its favorite son. for
whom it has some expectations. Mime /
sofa has small hope for Senator Cum |
Minis, but will vote for him until he is
eliminated and then will likely step into |
the Roosevelt column, twenty-four |
abreast. New York is wobbling, but at
least fifty of the eighty-seven delegates |
would, it Is expected, be for Justice !
Hughes If there were the slightest chance /
Of getting him to take the nomination. !
New England contains much Hughes SEN !
timent. Far Western States express |
high regard for him.
In view Of the fact that the fire of .
others has been trained upon him and !
that many persons do not think he would !
accept a nomination anyhow, the de- |
velOpment Of sentiment for Justice |
Hughes has convinced the leaders that !
the Hughes boom is one Of the most !
real things they have had to deal with |
in many years Their inclinat ton is to |
nominate a Republican who will be an |
organization President, who will reward !
his party for victory-to nominate the !
party itself, so to speak, instead Of
naming an individual who would subor- |
dinate the party. But the gorwth of the !
Hughes boom and the undoubted popu-
Iarity Of Mr.. Roosevelt have, tentatively |
at least, set them thinking
The Roosevelt boom has suffered some |
recent setbacks. In Nebraska II received !
In
noticeable one. The Bay State had its |
primary election on Tuesday Of last week |
and the delegates who sought election |
on the ground that they would vote for |
the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt |
were defeated except in two districts !
Thirty-two of the thirty-sx Massachu- !
setts delegation will go to Chicago un-
pledged. There is some Hughes senti- |
ment among them. There Is more Roose- |
welt leaning. But the Bay State has two
sons in whom it has great hopes-Gov. |
Mccall and Senator Weeks-and Massa- |
chusetts is likely to be found fighting for
one of them right up to the finish.
Two Views on Massachusetts.
The Roosevelt managers made light of
the Massachusetts, defeat The "Old |
Guard" leaders said it spelled the doom |
Of the Roosevelt nomination. All the |
"Old Guard" leaders Joined forces to de-
feat the Roosevelt men On the other !
hand, Massachusetts, was one Of the |
great stamping grounds for the Bull |
Moose, and 1t was expected that there |
above all other places, would be |
a strong showing for the. Roosevelt dele
gates
Despite the MASSACHUSETTS blow and the |
assertion Of the party leaders-or some |
Of then-that there Is no possibility now
for Mr.. Roosevelt to get the Republican |
nomination, a survey of conditions |
throughout the country would not bear
out this view OF things. The Republican |
'bOsses" declare that Mr.. Roosevelt will |
start out with no more than l25 delegates |
They add that he cannot muster more |
than l75. But the fact remains, as shown /
by the Herald's canvass, that in many (
States there is a spread Of Roosevelt
sentiment which 1t would appear might
force the delegates to vote for the man
whom the leaders are so eager to defeat