The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-04

y
possible among us, and its much the
same with most Of the primary-cbosen
delegations In our part OF the country"
That explains why there are no lead
the primary system every man Ia his
own leader. lie gets In by his own de-
vices. and then acts by the same rule.
In an old-fashioned convention a wise
politician would know what man or lit
tie group of men could handle each dele
cation. A good-sized bedroom in q
headquarters hotel would be plenty big
enough to hold the crowd of Warwicks
that would finally decide what the con-
ventton was to do.
But II isn't that way with primaries:
u never will be: unless the primary ia
further developed with the special view
to establishing State unity. which has
not been done very generally as yet. ex-
cept as to first choice preference. I
looks as IL the primary system would
have to be a good deal perfected or else
there Will be reaction against II in
the next four years. On every hand one
hears men speaking right out against ii:
men who four years ago would have
regarded II Is political suicide to in
dulge such sentiment.
Puzzle to Count Votes.
Go out and try to make a tabulation
Of the first ballot strength of the diff
ferent candidates. and one finds at once
what this condition means. You may
approximate the first ballot forces II
you work long enough: but after that, II
you would compute possibilities on sub
sequent ballots you will require a corps
OF double entry bookkeepers. a battery
OF cash registers and a Taylor efficiency
system in charge Of a faculty of Ger
man scientists. There will be about 800
leaders" in this convention Of less than
a thousand delegates.
Just for the very reason that nobody
can tell which way all the cats viii
good. there seems likely to be some
delay In starting the Jumping. II
had to make guess what this conven-
ton would do. would guess that It
would take more ballots than most folks
think Will be necessary.
They are commonly talking about a
nomination on the third ballot. guess
1t will take five or more.
And thep, who'll they nominate7
With the understanding that this guess
Is absolutely voluntary. Is made with
full realization that ones awfully silly
TO predict about such matters. ana with
the reservation that it's freely subject
TO revision tomorrow or at any SUISSE
quent ume-especially after the last
ballot Is announced-I guess that the
Roosevelt, or a favorite son OF pro-
gressive leanings.
Hand of Big Business.
Hughes has the best chance now. But
big business Is frankly out for Roose-
welt, and big business 10 widely sus-
pected Of uncanny influence with big
politics. There are signs that the big
business manifestation has greatly mol
lifted some of the antagonism of big
politics toward the Colonel. Big politi-
clans Of the old guard persuasion don't
like T. r., but many of them opine that
between him and Hughes maybe 1t
would be better to take Roosevelt he's
better organization man.
But when they get that far a new
question looms up. Which would have
the better chance OF election? That's
little detail that politicians never en-
tfrely overlook, except those funny ones
that nominate ''Mr. Hughes, because he
hasn't offended the German vote. and
T. r. has" proclaimed an old guarder.
'fBosh." retorts a Middle West dele
gate. there are 1000 German-Americans
In my county. and as between Wilson
and Roosevelt they would all be for
Roosevelt"
1t seems to be a fact. too. One hears
the same sort OF thing from all the
German communities. The Germans
proclaimed themselves so early. so
vocally. and so unequivocally against
Wilson that they stand to lose a good
deal OF the terror they might have had
here. Not that they love Roosevelt
more, but Wilson less