Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-17
Action of New York Governor
Puts New Phase on Move
Favoring Former Senator.
NAMES JUSTICE HUGHES
AS CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT
Republicans in Congress Intensely
Interested in Situation Due to
New York Convention.

Republicans in Congress were in
tensely interested today in the situ-
alton growing out of the attempted In
dorsement for the presidency of Elihu
Root by the New York republican con-
vention, and the subsequent proposal,
which appears to be hanging fire. to
have him indorsed by three of the four
delegates at large to the national con-
vention.
Gov. Whitman has. temporarily at
least. blocked the latter proposition.
and the whole Root propaganda is ap-
parently up in the air. for the time
being. If Gov. Whitman maintains his
present stand New York republicans
of the Endorsement of Root may be a
flash In the pan.
The first move in the game was made
the state convention. when it was pro-
posed to have the convention fndorse
Mr.. Root for the presidential nomina-
ton. This effort was blocked by the
friends of Gov. Whitman, of Mr.. Justice
Hughes and of Col Roosevelt.
The convention chose as delegates at
United states Senator wadsworth,
Judge Elon R. Brown, Frederick c.
to accounts of the proceedings. the
three first named delegates at large
| met at the Republican Club in New
York yesterday and decided to issue a
statement expressing their Endorsement
| of Mr.. Root.
Conference With Governor Planned.
In the absence of Gov. Whitman. who
| was in Albany, it was decided. how
| ever to postpone issuing the statement
| until a conference could be had with
Gov. Whitman.
| A dispatch, quoting Gov: Whitman
| from Albany to the New York Times
published this morning, says:
Say for me that 1 shall go to Chi
| cago in favor of nominating Justice
Hughes for the presidency. l was con-
vinced long ago that he was the choice
party. and 1 have had no reason to
| change my mind about 1t. He Is the
man to beat Wilson.
| 'If Mr.. Tanner has written me ask
be glad to meet him and the Other
gentlemen designated as delegates al
large, either in Albany or New York.
Puts New Phase on Move.
This baking by Gov. Whitman, in
the opinion of New Workers here. puts
an entirely new phase upon the move
ment to indorse Mr.. Root. AS it is
| understood here. the object in indors-
| ing Mr.. Root was to stimulate interest
J in his behalf in the states which will
soon hold primary conventions for the
selection of delegates to the national
| convention, and also to kill off senti-
ment in New York state for Roosevelt,
| Hughes and Whitman.
1t is generally thought by republi-
cans here that such a move would have
| had the desired effect to no inconsider-
able degree and would have resulted
| in very formidable Root presidential
boom.
| If. however. Gov. Whitman persists
in his refusal to join his three col
leagues in the delegation at large in
indorsing Mr.. Root, and continues to
threaten to precipitate a row on the
floor of the convention. a big question
| is raised as to the effectiveness of the
effort to bring pressure to bear upon
the primaries in favor of Mr.. Root.
The action of Gov. Whitman in hold
ing back from Joining his colleagues
in the proposed Root Endorsement is
explained to be his resentment of Will
liam Barnes part in attempting to hui
| initiate him by pledging the delegates
at large instead of leaving them un-
| instructed or unpledged, thus afford
ing a fair field at Chiago for him.
slf or for Justice Hughes.