The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-06
OLdGuurd H0ldSFOrth
Olive Branch TO Moose
Scars and Coax Back Progressives With Soft
Words and Liberaty of Action.
By PERRY ARNOLD.

CHICAGO, June 6.-Coincident with
the rending Of Hughes veil of silence In
a speech ut Washington yesterday, came
c plan today by the Old Guard for
public and formal scrapping OF the
steam-roller. The organization wants
to emphasize it's argument since the
FIRST delegates arrived-that the conven-
ton 10 to be free and untrammeled In
ell its action.
The organization Is absolutely sure OF
its control. It has the votes to put
over any candidate 1t chooses. The
most radical Progressive scarcely dis
puted this today. The two things on
which tho interests OF the Old Guard
centers are the selection OF q candidate
who CAN WIN, and the C. mplete res
toration Of those parts of the party ma
chine which were torn loose four years
ago.
FIRST Importance. Every effort il to be
made TO erase the tracks made by the
1912 steam-roller.
To Solve Old Scars.
Talk Of the probable nominee buzzes
through the hotel Hobbies. but It isn't
engrossing much of the time Of the con-
ferees in the inner circle.
Here all thought and effort is bent on
salving over old scars. spreading tempt
ing viands before returning political
prodigals and to whiting down to a
minimum that faction OF the Progress
sive. party which II Is recognized can
never be coaxed back into the fold.
The lower the point to which this nom
conformist force can be recuced ana
hence the smaller the inroad into the
normal Republican majority attribu-
table to internal dissension, the greater
will be the latitude left to the party
leaders In the selection of a candidate.
The organization is out to exterminate
sore thea dedness and to heal every pos
sible liberation OF political feelings re-
sulting from 1912.
Would Bury Hatchst.
This determination explains Senator
Shoots insistence upon full publicity
for all contests before the national COM
mittee; why he protested against re-
ferring these contests to subcommittee
as something which while entirely regu-
lar. might give even the smallest ex-
cuse for the charge that the committee
wasn't playing fair. II explains why In
every contest case. the committee has
exceeded the time limit in hearings. II
explains the superabundance OF Judi
cial temperament" exercised by the
committee in deciding contests so as to
cause the least possible friction. .,
THE campaign OF attrltlon Delnt
directed against the Progressivei
through soft words and soft actions
further explains the day by day popu
larity OF the favorite sons. each Of
whom Is In town being pushed forward
for a day of popularity and public in
| spection, and incidentally to see II any
one of them receives any particular
wave of enthusiasm.
1t Is reflected even more emphatically
| In the unheard OF liberality of actor
accorded by the suggestion that tho
resolution committee hear arguments
for platform planks in open session-ar
| invitation for any person TO come VI
| and speak his mind on any subject.
1t will be urged along tomorrow wher
! the convention opens After all thi'
| nberality OF action and desire to bury
| the Ratchet of four years the organiza
| ton hopes to pick a candidate who car
command a reunited party None Of
| the old Republican leaders think al
of the Progressives can be brough
| back into the fold, but they figure OF
| conxing back enough to prevent WI
son again being elected by minorlt.
| vote.
! BY tomorrow Chicago expects to Sc,
the biggest convention crowds in II.
history. Practically all OF tho dele