The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-24
.NARROWS DOWN
TO ROOSEVELT
VERSUS HUGHES
FayOrite Sons Are Losing Hopes
of Nomination.
Weeks, Sherman and Cummins
Dropping by Wayside.
ACCEPT 7. R. AS REPUBLICAN
Supreme Court Milestone
4 Around Neck of Justice.
Hughes Won't Declare Attitude
4 Toward National Questions.
Weeks, Sherman and Cummins
Dropping by Wayside.
ACCEPT 7. R. AS REPUBLICAN
Supreme Court Milestone
Around Neck of Justice.
Hughes Won't Declare Attitude
Toward National Questions.

Washington, May 24.-The most i'm
: pprtant development of the day in pol
tiles at the capital was the evidence
OF marked disbursement in the
camps of the favorite sons. They were
declared to be convinced that the Re
: publican nomination for president will
go to either Colonel Roosevelt or Jus
Z tice Charles E. Hughes.
Senator Weeks was reported as adj
hitting that only Roosevelt and
r. Hughes are in the race and Senator
Sherman was said to have abandoned
the hope of winning the nomination.
Senator Cummins was reported to have
telegraphed his supporters in Wash
ington that in his opinion Hughes will
Z be selected by the Chicago convention.
J ! Political opinion among prominent
1Republicans in Washington has I'M
Sdergone a distinct change within the
past two days. This is attributed in
part to Justice Hughes declaration
that Roosevelt in his opinion would be
the nominee, and in part by the state
ment made by Colonel Roosevelt to
the committee of regular Republicans
which was organized to promote his
candidacy at the Republican conven-
= tion.
1t is said here among Colonel Roose-
( velt's closest friends that if before the
: convention meets he declares he is a
( Republican and intends to make the
/. fight for the nomination as a Repub-
: lican, he will remove a formidable
barrier to permanent and final sue
cess. They declare the ex-president
I should make his attitude toward the
party plain.
T. r. a Republican.
Some were inclined to interpret
Colonel Roosevelt's acceptance of the
support of regular Republicans as a
I virtual announcement that he is full
/ Pledged Republican and will conduct
I his campaign as such.
! Justice Hughes, these critics de-
clare, will! answer Roosevelt's chal-
lenGe, even though, as some of his
friends limited, it might mean that he
otherwise would not have the support
of Colonel Roosevelt should the JUS
: tice be nominated.
. Some of the Republicans who 4 few
= days ago were enthusiastic for
: Hughes's nomination appeared more
doubtful about it today. They said
the fact that he is a member of the
supreme court is a milestone about his
..owr. neck and about the necks of his
supporters as well. The party would
hesitate. they declared, before going
ito the supreme court for candidate.
Need Hughes on Bench.
One reason why it was said to be
undesirable to select Justice Hughes
tto head the ticket was the fact that
-the nomination would mean the loss
ITO the party of one member of the
lsupreme court. 1t was pointed out
THAT a Democrat would be named as
shis successor and that already the
number of Democrats on the supreme
bench is discomforting to the Repub-
.licans.
There have been times in the his
story of the country. it was said, when
sthe supreme court was regarded as
sbeing of more importance even than
sthe presidency. The south, it was de-
fclared for a long period before the
Civil war, was content to let the presi-
dency go the north provided it could
scontrol the supreme court.
Don't Know Attitude.
Supporters of Justice Hughes have
abeen embarrassed also by their in
sability to state the Justices views on
sany of the big questions before the
scountry. They are unable to tell the
7country or the convention what JUS
stice Hughes's attitude is toward pre-
sparedness, the tariff, the trusts, Mex
Sico or any of the problems arising
from the European war Their en-
Ebarrassment has been notably in
-creased by Colonel Roosevelts demand
that the Justice define his position on
tpublic issues.
1t was stated today, but unauthori-
ttatively. that Colonel Roosevelt will
mot visit Chicago during the Republi-
-can and Progressive conventions, but
will keep in constant Geographic and
Telephone communication with his
tlieutenants on the scene.