The Benson signal., 1916-06-17

ton was out of the way, conferences
were begun to fix upon the running
mate of the Supreme court justice.
Roosevelt Offers Lodge.
The Roosevelt proposal to select
his friend, Henry Cabot Lodge, as
compromise candidate was never TAX
en- seriously by the Republicans.
Lodges name was not even for
mally placed in nomination before the
Republican convention.
The report of the peace confer
ence committees showing that the
Progressive peace committee" had
agreed to put the name of Hughes
before that convention hardly caused
stir, nor did the news that came
few minutes later that the report had
been tabled by the PrOgressives.
Meanwhile Hughes was In the air,
on every tongue Delegates were I'M
patient to get to balloting. The feel
ing was everywhere that the third pal
lot of the convention for president
would be the last-and it was.
Harding Is Chairman.
The Republican convention opened
at the Coliseum at II a. M, June I.
Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio
was elected temporary chairman, and
he delivered a speech setting forth
conservative Republican principles.
Following this the regular committees
were appointed and organized and rou-
tine convention business went for
ward. There was only moderate ex-
preston of enthusiasm at any time.
With the hope of agreeing an pres1-
Dental candidate whom both parties
might support, the Progress1ves, in
convention at the Auditorium, and the
Republicans appointed a joint confer
ence committee Thursday, and this
committee met at the Chicago club.
Shortly after midnight it was an
nounced that no progress had been
made toward fusion of the two parties.
The Republican members Of this
committee were Senator Reed Smoot
of Utah, w. Murray Crane, ex-senator
from Massachusetts; Senator William
E. Borah of Idaho, Nicholas Murray
Butler of New York, president of Co
lumbia university; A. r. Johnson OF
Ohio, former congressman. The Pro-
gressive members were Gov. Hiram
Johnson of California, Horace S. Will
kinson of New York, Charles ]. Bona
parte of Maryland, former attorney
general, John M Parker Of Louisiana,
George w. Perkins of New York.
Nominating speeches began in the
Republican convention about three
o'clock Friday afternoon, and nomina-
tions were closed before eight o'clock.
Balloting began at once. Two ballots
were taken before adjournment for the
night.
Proqressives in Session.
The Progressive convention opened
at exactly the same time the Republi-
cans started their meeting. Tempo
rary Chairman Raymond Robins deliv-
cred the Progressive policy speech.
Routine business followed-but it
wasn't routine in the same way as the
Republican session was. The Progress
sives, with such men as William Allen
White, Victor Murdock and Hiram
Johnson, were loudly enthusiastic.
This convention was really an explo-
sive affair-cheers, table pounding,
radical talk and all that.
1t is said that George w. Perkins
and some others of the Progressive
group had a hard time keeping the
radical element from nominating
Colonel Roosevelt shortly after the
show started. The conservatives lived
in the hope of fusion with the Re-
publicans. The radicals said they
didn't care what the Republicans did.
They wanted "Teddy," and they want
ed him quick. There was no dicker
ing spirit in these fellows.
Most Of the entertainment during
the week vas furnished by favorite
sons delegations and boomlets around
the hotel lobbies and on the streets.