New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-23
FEAR THEIR MEN
WON'T STAND FIRM
Regulars Turning to Hughes
Again as the Only Man with
Whom to Beat T. R.
Nv STANLEY FROST.

I question when STANDS OUT 'V-"4s"' "
the KEY to the political situation, after
sorting over the big grist of rumors'
facts and fancies about politics which
have flooded Washington to-day. Inc
Roosevelt Republican committee IN New
York and the effect of his Detroit
speech have again made the Colonel
the dominating factor in the situation
/ The Roosevelt wave is admitted on
all sides. Some Of the most conserva-
/ tive politicians even admit that they
expected it and have prepared the con-
/ vention to resist just this kind OF a
development Of popular sentiment But
I its size and force have astonished even
these men. Evidences Of detection IN
their hand-picked delegations are in
creasing, and as a result to-day pollu-
clans who a week ago were confident
{ that Hughes's nomination was certain
are now doubtful, and those who had
turned their attention TO killing the
uuobes boom are swinging TO the JUS
tice again as the only means OF beating
the Colonel.
The situation was complicated to-day
nv a flock Of reports, all bearing some
marks OF probability, all more or less
sincerely denied, but all, apparently
with q little more than mere sound 10
them. The most important OF these
were
That Hughes would take himself un-
mistakably out Of the race il it became
clear that Roosevelt would win.
That men interested in "war baby
stocks had raised a big siush fund to
heat Roosevelt. in fear that If elected
he might actually end the European
war. az he did the Russo-Japanese con-
Aict. thus ending their profits, and that
they were working under the Root BAN
ner. : 1865
That several Of the favorlte sons
rotablv Burton, Weeks and Cummins,
had given UP hope and would soon
withdraw from the race.
Leaders All in the Air.
As result of all these reports. the
political leaders are fully as much IN
the air as TO the nomination as they
have ever been, and there is not one OF
them who can say with any degree OF
confidence what will happen at the con
,entjon. The cold guard" is divided,
the Progressive Republicans are uncer-
4 tain. and even the Roosevelt men not
quite sure what strength they really
have.
The regulars are basing their hopes
| on the careful work done IN picking the
delegates, and they maintain to-day
/ that Roosevelt cannot stampede tne
convention or bring enough influence
10 bear to force the consent OF the
leaders to his nomination.
There is no doubt that the majority
in the convention will be composed of
men carefully chosen to stand without
lbitching, and to back the "old guards
plans. The leaders had been counting
on being able to decide after the con
vention meets and put through their
ticket, so loEg as they picked some man
who seemed able TO win
Divided on Roosevelt Tactics.
MANY politicians believe that the re-
cent Roosevelt tactics have been in
tended TO show that he could win, and
thus TO get the nomination without q
fight through the consent OF the lead
ers They point out that he has all
along refrained from trying to make (.
direct issue, or doing anything when
might lead 70 battle and bitterness,
such as resulted in the 1912 split.
others believe that the Colonel Is
not aiming at the nomination for him,
self. but is merely collecting power and
Influence to be brought TO bear at the
critical time They say that he thinks
the platform more important than the
nomination, and that he will be salts
fed if he can hold veto power over
the nomination.
Back of all this, and far more sig
nifcant, is the fact that the most care
fully picked of the delegations are
honeycombed with Roosevelt men. Inc
leaders have not admitted this yet, ano
there has so far been little effort made
by the Roosevelt men to gather TINS
scattered strength into fighting body
hut il is there. and there are still over
two weeks before the convention
These Roosevelt men, if they may be
called so, are passively rather than
actively for him. They have not de-
cided to fight for him, but are perfectly
willing. some Of them eager, TO vote
for him. They are in stampedable
frame of mind.
Hughes Has Nothing to Say"
The report this morning that Hughe.
would take himself out of the race II
Roosevelt could win was met by the
following statement from the justices
secretary:
Justice Hughes has nothing 20 say
He does not wish TO notice lrrespon-
sible rumors and neither admits nor
denies them"
II has become known, however, that
the Justice is less and less willing TO
accept the domination as time goes on.
He has fel,, and still feels, that It may
become patriotic duty TO take the
/ nomination, but he would much prefer
close friends say, that some other man
should make the fight for the princi-
ples which he believes should be tho
issue. He is in almost complete agree
ment with Mr.. Roosevelt, and, while 1t
is not likely that he will make any
definite statement. it is known that he
would not yrieve il left alone.
The stories Of the use Of a slush
fund 10 get Root delegates received
the more attention because of con-
current rumors from the country of
a lavish use Of money. Senator Wads-
worth, who has been closely identified
with the Root boom, denied the re-
ports emphstically.
Reports Of the Withdrawals Of favor
/ tie sons were all promptly denied by
( the friends Of those involved. How
ever. the favorite sons have given up
/ hone. The Burton men are now try
I ing 70 arrange for his nomination for
the Vice Presidency, and 1t is ad-
mitted that several other candidates