Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-10
CONVENTIONS FACE
CHAOTIC SITUATION
Conference of Harmony Committees
Lasts Two Hours Without
Definite Results.
SECOND MEETING IS PROBABLE

OGOVNU M6GA4NV Al 4AsV0AA~
Chicago, June 9.-Delegates to the
republican and progressive national
conventions assembled at the Coli
scum and the Auditorium here this
morning, facing chaotic situation
unprecedented in American political
history. The progressives met at 10
o'clock and the republi ans at II
o'clock. ,
Uncertainty as thick and obdurate
IS the murky weather that has hung
over Chicago for three days, pre-
vailed, and all eyes were strained to
catch the first possible clearing Of
the political clouds or to anticipate
the deeper black o. the renewed
party antagonism.
The day was ushcred in by mid
night conference, that will become
historic, of peace committees" from
the progressives and the republicans,
which took place al the Chicago club
on Michigan boulevard The confer
ence adjourned before o'clock with
out definite results, it was said, and
details of its deliberations were with
held. 1t may meet again this after
noon or tonight, or It may not, only
the developments of the day can de-
termine that.
Make Remarkable Picture.
1t was a remarkable picture formed
by the men seated about the confer
ence board in whose hands rested the
destinies of the republican and pro-
gressive parties
The republican committee was COM
posed. of Senator Reed Smoot of
Utah, chairman; former Senator w.
Murray Crane Of Massachusetts,, Sem
ator William E. Borah of Idaho,
Nicolas Murray Butler of New York
and A. r. Johnson of Ohio.
The progressive committee had
George w. Perkins of New York for
chairman, and the other members
we're Governor Hiram w. Johnson of
California, Horace b. Wilkinson of
New York, Charles J. Bonaparte of
Maryland and John M. Parker of
New Orleans. A..
For more than two hours the con-
ferees discussed the points at issue
between the progressives and the re-
publicans and took up details of the
peace plans projected earlier in the
day by the two conventions when the
conference committees on harmony
had been appointed. When adjourn
ment came it was announced that eve
report progress" and the statement
was made that the members Of the
two committees would not get to-
gether again until after the sessions
Of the conventions today. They pre-
pared reports which are being pre-
sented to their respective conven-
tons. = ~ .,' .
at is understood" said Senator
Borah, after last nights conference,
that while nominating speeches will
be made in each convention today, no
nominations will be made
And" said another member of the
committee, I'VE will resume negotia-
tons in the afternoon or evening"
Some o. the progressives hoped
that Colo Il Roosevelt at Oyster
Bay would lend message to the har-
mony conferees, or to the progressive
convention, that would have bearing
on the situation.
The men advocating the nomination
by the republican convention of JUS
tice Charles E. Hughes of the su-
preme court declared this morning
they believed their candidate could
be nominated today and prepared to
press for action on q nomination
without delay.
Managers for-the various "favorite
son" candidates insisted the harmony
conference program had greatly i'm
proved the chances for their men.
But in the absence of any definite
report of what happened at the
peace" conference at the Chicago
club, few we're sanguine of definite
results. A majority seemed to think
the two conventions will go ahead
regardless of each other, make their
nominations and adjourn.
In this connection one of the men,
bers of last nights conference de-
clared:
THE conference has not changed
the situation in respect to the prob
able nomination of Justice Hughes by
the republican convention. A situa,
ton has been created by which the
progressives will probably be willing
to postpone the desire of the radical
delegates to rush into nomination o.
Colonel Roosevelt for the sole pur-
pose of putting ticket in the field.
believe the influence of the conference
is for good feeling, regardless Of
whether we accomplished the main
purpose of coming together or not"
Pi11 nnuntrusidn