The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-17
ROOT HACKERS CALL
HUGHES ONLY RIVAL
Each Side Il Hoping for n De-
cisive Break in the Con-
vCntiOn.
WESTERN VOICE FOR T. II.

Charles NJ. Pepper. who Is in active
charge Of Root headquarters In this city,
returned yesterday from one Of his fire.
uuent trips to Washington. where he
goes to confer with Senator Wadsworth
and others who are working for Root
there. He also talked with many Con-
sressmen, who are busy these days look
Ing after the political situation In their
respective States. Out OF a mass OF
varying information the Root advocates
are drawing the inference that az the
matter now stands there are but two
candidates in the field for the Republican
domination. .
4 These candidates are E1ihu Root and
Justice Hughes. with the tendency un-
Aoubtedly running strongly In favor or
The Justice. THIS does not discourage
the Root followers, however. because
they feel that within the next two weeks
What has happened in New YORK state
heill happen In other states. That is
10 say, there will he a standoff. In
fhM state Mr.. Root has - majority
pf the delegates now. In other states.
where the delegates are likewise UNI
pledged, II IL conceded that Justice
Hughes will fnd the majority In his
favor. To hold their own. FOR the
present. Is about all the respective back
ers OF these two men hope to do.
Each side liz figuring on what VIII
happen In tho convention. Tho Root
men believe that when the break comes
n will be In their direction. The Hughes
men believe that It will he In the direc-
tion OF their candidate. Admittedly much
depends upon the attitude of tho middle
West and Western States. II Mr. Root
should show strength now not conceded
to him by Hughes men here It is believed
that his majority Of the New York dele
cation will be Increased, and even the
Hughes men confess that without strong
backing from his own state the Justice
would not hold the Western delegates.
Leaving Out h Colonel.
These representations do not take
Col. Roosevelt into account. and many
Republicans believe that he must be
reckoned with more seriously than the
ardent Root and Hughes men will rom
cede. One of the tabulation. OF dele
gates made here yesterday gave JUS
tice Hughes nearly 100 votes. Mr.. Roose.
welt something more than zoo. with only
about so for senator Root. Hughes men
didn't like that sort Of figuring, he
cause to give col. Roosevelt az many
as 200 votes in the early stages of the
convention misht mean that the believ-
ers in n stampede would he encouraged.
Extra precautions have been taken 70
obtain material for this convention hat
can't he statuoeded. but even the most
confident OF the old guard leaders don't
care to take any chances.
The Rev. pr. Mark 4. Matthews. pas
tor Of the First Presbyterian church of
Seattle. Wash, the largest Protestant
congregation in tho United States. told
inQuirers who met him At the Waldorf
yesterday tina col. Roosevelt was very
strong out his way. lie said that while
Washington fourteen delegates were
uninstructed there wasn't any doubt that
q Presidential preference vote would
have resulted Overwhelmingly in favor
u the Colonel
Everybody is talking politics out in
Washington ne said. land my ohs.r-
walton is that Col. Roosevelt II, ex-
tremely strong viii the voters. wash
ington Is normally Republican by about
rs. 900. hut I'm sure tNtt II Roosevelt
we're nominated he would sweep the
state ny 1oo,Ooo. They like his person
Atty. his WAY If doing things. and from
what | can gather those Republicans
who desire a clean cut issu, ON which
to GO to the polls with the Democrats
believe they viii get II Il the Colonel
10 nominated 10y the Republican con-
vention.