Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-14
REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HUGHES: \
PROGRESSIvES TAKE ROOSEVELT
Supreme Court Justice Chosen Third Ballot Fourth Day Of Con.
venion and Resigns Benc-The Colonel Named by Accla
;A nation at Same Tme-Harmony Efforts Are Frliiess
4 Despite Eagerness to Patch Differences.

"
of the party machinery; each side was
insisting that 1t was voicing the sem
timent Of the party. It was conflict
one OF tho most memorable in our
political history-between men who
felt that the life of their party de-
pended on the success of their Efforts.
Each Side Afraid.
Each side was afraid that the other
side would kill the organization, tho
stand.patters by refusing to meet tho
needs of the hour, the Progressives by
Q surrender Of what Mr.. Taft's friends
called Republican conservatism.
This time the distinctions OF four
years ago disappeared, and there
seemed to be no material difference
between the programs of the two sides
so far as they relate to issues or plat
form phraseology.
The password this time was Hun
gry," and it opened any caucus door.
The politicians are hungry for the Of
fees from which they were separated
by the Democracy's return to power.
They are reinforced by the candidates
for the United States senate and con-
eress and for state and local Offices.
Harmony Demand Of Candidates.
These aspirants realized at the con-
vention that In q presidential year
much depends upon whether the tide
is with the party or against It.
The special interests also are hun
cry. For the first time in many, years
they have found the atmosphere at
Washington chilly and uninvit1ng.
1.-THE old home isn't what 1t used to
be-" The lobbyists who visit Wash.
ington now are as watchful as wild
ducks toward the end Of the shooting
season. The special interests are not
willing to take any chances; the can
didate who desires their support will
have to show them that he is avail
able. These two elements, tho hun
cry politicians and the representatives
of the hungry, favor-seeking corpora
tons. s1fted out the claims Of cand&-
dates shrewdly and announced their
choice eats.
There was q third factor which en-
tiers into the calculations here-name-
ly,the fact that the Progressives were
hungry also. They were responsible
for the overthrow Of the party's nomi-
nee four years ago, and they did not
want to assume responsibility for such
Z Democratic victory this year.
The Hughes Boom.
There were some Progressives who
steadily believed that Colonel Roose-
welt was the strongest man who could
be nominated, in spite Of the fact that
he had eliminated every outside ele-
ment to which the party could appeal,
as we'll as q large number within tho
party.
Early In the convention tho drift
went toward Hughes. His friends
said he would have more votes on the
first ballot than all of the favorite
sons combined. This claim, of course,
was not conceded by the other candi-
dates, but the number of the delegates
pledged to him seemed to grow In
spite Of the fact that he was soon 70
ceiving the attacks which are gener-
ally directed against growing candi-
date. Senator La Toilette was the
choice Of radical reformers, but there
were very few Of them in the conven-
ton.
At the opening Senator Cummins
had following among his neigh
bors. Senator Burton had q consid-
cradle personal following. Former
Vice President Fairbanks had an
earnest support, and Senator Weeks
workers were in evidence.
Senator Hardinq's Speech.
Senator Harding's speech as tenn
porary chairman was all that condi.
tons and circumstances would permit
The great Webster said: "Eloquence
exists in the man, in the subject and
In the occasion" Eloquence had only
one-third Of chance. It had
the man. Senator Harding is an
orator. The committee could not have
selected better man to open such a
convention. He Is both pleasing and
imposing in appearance. He has an
excellent voice and 4 splendid de-
livery, and he represented In his views
and hopes that element Of the party
which was dominant In the conveu-
ton. His speech possessed strength
and humor and his thoughts were
expressed In phrases that will be re.
peated by those who lack his skill in
rhetoric.
The speech satisfied the audience
for It was Just such an audience O.
would like that sort Of q speech. He
was greeted with enthusiasm on hia
appearance. his principal points were
applauded enthusiastically and hil
conclusion brought forth another burst
Of enthusiasm. He may feel that he
acquitted himself with credit and thu
convention found qualification In tina,
fact that It got what It wanted in thu
way Of speech.
But the subject and the occasion
were lacking. The subject was Q
restoration OF the Republican party
10 power and there is no 1nsptra,
ZION In such subject to bring forth
IN epoch-makins speech. The Repub.
Gcan party was put out Of power be.
cause It had been guilty of high crimes
and misdemeanors- It had converted
popular government into q predatory
oltgarchy; It had betrayed the people
and given them over to spoliation at
the hands Of the special interests. FL
, vor seeking corporations had been per
mitted to take control Of the instru
mentalities OF government and employ