New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-16
Danger of Its Losing Con-
troll of Convention In
creaSing Steadily.
SEEKS TO REVIVE
FAVORITE SON GAME
Its Leaders Not Agreed on Any
Candidate, but Many of
Them Favor Root.

Washington, May i'' 'HN Ne
strength of Roosevelt and Hughes, even
among the most carefully handpicked
delegations, and the danger that the
two forces may unite at any moment
and take the national convention out
Of the hands Of the headers" have at
last forced the Republican machine
into an open attempt to revive the
favorite son, horse swapping game.
This was abandoned last winter in
favor Of sending uninstructed delega-
tons which the leaders thought they
could control, and the favorite sons
since have been going along on their
own steam. Now. with the convention
only three weeks away, the danger Of
the machine losing control has become
so great that a switch in tactics Is
under way.
For months the talk of the leaders
has been that "the convention will
choose"-now they are afraid that this
actually will happen, despite all that
the hotel bedroom conferences can do.
Their plan has been from the first to
let these conferences settle the nom
nation by the usual log rolling pro-
cess. and they had hoped that it could
be accomplished through the unin-
structed delegates with less public OPP
probrium than if the open bargain and
sale favorite son plan were used.
Machine Men in Bad Way
1t must not be understood that all
the Republican leaders are in the pres
ent move. Many Of the best Of them,
including several who have been count
ed in the "old guard" believe that the
convention really should decide, and
there are, of course, some followers OF
favorite sons who really believe in
their mer. Backers of the new tactics
are chiefly those who have depended
most largely on machine politics and
machine methods, and who are interest
ed more in the machine than in party
success or party principles.
1--WE are in a bad hole" one politi-
clan said recently. Owe can take
Roosevelt or Hughes and save the cleo
ton, but smash up the party ma
chimes; or we can nominate some one
else and lose the election, but save
the machine. And we don't know
whether. if we did that, the machine
would be worth a picayune four years
hence"
II is chiefly the men who want TO
"save the machine" who are fighting
the Roosevelt and Hughes booms so
o.
Hughes principally, since they believe
that the justice has the best chance
of nomination. With them are a con-
siderable number who feel that the
party can win if il polls merely its reg
ular strength, and who are opposed Wig
orously TO having it raise any serious
issue, ATericanism, preparedness or an
international policy, which might dis
turb any of the regulars. These are
mostly men from hyphensted or paci-
fist sections, who do not relish the
prospect of a real fight.
Along with this mannuvring has
gone & concerted effort to stop"
Hughes. The machine leaders have
been saving FOR ten days that they had
Roosevelt stopped" and the launching
of the Root boom two weeks ago was
the first symptom Of the new move
ment, though there are many men IN
that movement who seriously believe
that Root could be elected. Reports
D from the country indicate that the
/ Hughes boom has not suffered seri-
/ ously so far, though some Of the lead
ers make contradictory claims.
But there has developed also the
/ fact that when any success was scored
against Hughes, the beneficiary has
been Roosevelt Evidence of a grow
/ ing demand for him has again raised
/ the spectre which has haunted the
regulars all winter. They have de-
/ cided to 20 through with their present
plans, figuring that they can switch to
/ Hughes at the last moment II il should
seem wise. and that in the meantime
/ this gives them their one chance to re-
main at the head of affairs.
Not Agreed on Leader.
The machine leaders are far from
being agreed as 10 choice for nomi-
nee. Most of them would prefer Root,
/ though many feel that he could not be
elected. and some Of the "pussy-foot-
I ers" oppose him as being almost as
obnoxious. and presenting as real is
/ sues. as Roosevelt. Their plan now IS
| TO split up the delegates so as to dead
/ lock the convention. and then TO nomi-
nate some one. probably neither Roose-
welt, Hughes or Root.
! Many of the ablest politicians here
believe that the Hughes boom has gone
/ too far TO be stopped, and that he will
/ be nominated on the second ballot II
/ is plain. however, after seeing men OF
all factionse, that the nomination IS
not vet determined by a wide margin,
and that much may be changed by the