Evening star., 1916-05-07
Having Stopped" Roosevelt,
They Now Aim to Prevent
Stampede to Justice.
PLAN TO ACT IN CONCERT
AT CHICAGO CONVENTION
Expect to Hold Delegates in Line
Until Strongest Man Has
Been Singled Out.

Information reaches Washington from
| New York, where some interesting
| political conferences were in progress
| last week to the effect that some of the
political leaders having in their belief
stopped" Roosevelt. are now devoting
their thoughts to preventing stampede
to Hughes in the republican national
convention.
The opinion is said to be firmly
grounded that Roosevelt's nomination
is entirely unlikely. They say he
hasn't the delegates. and that's all
there is to it" The action of California
is said to have clinched this conviction
when that state. the backbone of
Rooseveltism. was carried by the regu-
lar republicans.
AS to the movement to retard the ef-
forts of the men who are booming
Mr.. Hughes. it is said that without an
actual agreement to do so it will be
found that other candidates will be in
effect acting in concert to hold their
ranks intact through several ballots.
the combined opposition being sufficient
to withhold majority from Mr..
Hughes.
New York Estimate.
An estimate which was made in New
!
ences figures the lineup on the first
ballot in round numbers as follows:
Fairbanks, 145: Burton, 40; Weeks.
100; Roosevelt, 65; Sherman, 80; Root.
l2O; Cummins. SIS: Knox. 6b: Hughes.
80: La Toilette, rs, Ford. 80. and du
Pont. s.
This was the New York estimate"
admittedly tentative and broad 1t does
not agree with s2me of the estimates
Cummins only SIS. while the Cummins
men figure that he Will have about 20.
Washington estimates do not give FAR
banks 145. and certainly do not figure
Hughes as low as 80.
However, whether one shifts the hgures
from Burton to Fairbanks or Cummlns, or
casts them in other columns. the point is
said to be that these favored sons and
which, if exerted. will keep Mr.. Hughes
not only from getting a majority on first
ballot but prevent him from showing a
strong lead.
The effort now under consideration is
said to be to hold the columns intact on
the second and many succeeding bal
lots possible, until some definite trend
of opinion among leaders and leading
state delegations can be ascertained.
States Of Large influence.
New York, Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana
and Illinois. the states essential to re-
publican victory at the polls. will. it is
said, probably sway and influence the re-
suit of the balloting for candidates. Some
of the men in last weeks conferences
were in favor of reaching an understand
ing in advance Of the convention. but
the weight Of opinion was that this il
impracticable. in view Of the large num-
Der of uninstructed delegates, and that
the decision will have to be made in
Chicago. Details of the convention are
now being discussed. one of them being
a proposition to limit nomination speeches
to ten minutes
The latest information from the pro-
gressive leaders. who will hold their con-
vention simultaneously with the regulars.
is that they have abandoned the idea of
nominating Roosevelt on the first day OF
the meeting and saying to the regular re-
publicans. Here is your candidate" The
colonel is said to have put down his foot
on this plan.
Claims Made for Weeks.
| The convention is less than hve
weeks away. and the candidates are
| warming up to their work, while
ming to appear. c. E. Weller of Mary
land, manager of Senator Weeks cam
paign, gave out this yesterday:
| Important political developments OF
the past month have had a very favor.
able bearing upon the candidacy OF
Senator Weeks for the presidency. Ir
the senator's own state of Massachu
setts he and the other delegates a
large won out after spectacular
lcided effect in solidifying Weeks senti
lment throughout the country
In the recent primaries and conven
tions, in no less than half dozen O.
lsk efotn Ftsl
Montana and the state of Washington
an impressive number of personal an<
political friends OF Senator Week
have been elected as delegates to Chi
delegates are under frst-choice in
structions for other candidates, bu
when the hnal readjustment sets IL
Senator Weeks will increase. rathe
and we confidently believe that ina
choice will rest between him and an
other candidate. 1t is then that tn
, universal high esteem and admiration
.. In the convention will make itself
strong factor. and We believe he will
be nominated.
How Sherman Men Sec It.
Senator Sherman's friends have bee
exceedingly active of late. and. althoug
no contests were waged for instructe
delegates for him outside Of his ow
state. the missionary work since tn
greater number Of primaries and CONVEX
tions have taken place is claimed to hav
resulted in the accumulation Of consid
erabIe strength beyond the borders c
| Illinois.
Reports from the Sherman headquarter
y In Chicago are to the effect that the Ill
r nois delegation will maintain a solid fror
until the members are released by tn
| senator himself. and emphatic denial
. made of the story declared to have emf
: mated from a democratic source tht
n twenty-six of the Illinois delegates wOul
@ break TO Roosevelt as soon as they coul
= in the light of their instructions.
= There is the best of authority for sta
g ing, say the Sherman men, that at tn
!, most no more than eight of the 1llino
a delegates would go to Roosevelt in an
r circumstances. in the event that the
were released from their instructions II
a sherman managers say that the elimin'
ton Of Roosevelt from consideration ar
the possible elimination of Hughes WI
tend to send the nomination to the mi,
die west and they now are claiming She
oh. fp 10 the hest