New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-29
ROOT BOOMERS
OFFFOR CHICAGO
Still Say Nomination Will
Go to Ex-senator
or Hughes.
T. RS COHORTS WILL
FOLLOW TOMORROW
"Old Guard" Worried Over In
creasing Pressure of Roose.
welt Sentiment.

Stoutly maintaining their belief that
either Justice Hughes or ex-senator
Elihu Root would be the nominee Of
the Republican National Convention. at
Chicago, William Barnes and his "old
guard friends packed their trunks and
grips yesterday preparatory to an early
start for the convention city to-day.
Tomorrow the Roosevelt Non Partisan
League will move to the Windy City. 10
be followed closely by the Roosevelt
Republican Committee.
The headquarters of the Root candi-
dacy were removed TO Chicago last
week. along with number of others.
and it is expected that by Wednesday
the fight will be in full swing as a
somewhat fitting prelude to the meet
ing Of the Republican National Com
mittee on Thursday. This meeting of
the national committee will be devoid
OF the excitement which characterized
the meeting of that body four years
ago. when the contests for delegates
were numerous and had such trenen-
dous efect on the results OF the con-
ventlon. There are comparatively few
contests this year, and, because of the
uncertainty which hangs over the con-
vention, unimportant.
Think Hughes in the Lead.
. As viewed by the "old guard" leaders
mere, justice Hughes is in the lead as
the choice of the delegates. Their per
sonal choice is ex-senator Root. and
they hope that conditions will so shape
themselves that the nomination of the
former Senator can be accomplished.
railing IN this they will take Justice
Hughes, although frankly confessing
that they are quite sure the medicine
Will be hard to swallow. The "old
euardsmen" declare that Colonel Roose-
welt will not be nominated. but. strange
to say, the mention of the ColonePs
name seems to give them a chill. They
all agree that Mr.. Roosevelt is a fighter,
made of the kind Of stock that stirs en-
thusiasm wherever he goes. And they
are afraid of him-afraid that at some
psychological moment something will
happen that will kick to pieces their
well laid plans and bring forth the
44bAi4IabloH VI the 0OlOHtl.
As a matter of fact, the cold guard"
support of the candidacy of ex-senator
Root is sort of safety first" prop
osition, for, notwithstanding the hints
and reports that have drifted forth that
Justice Hughes will accept the nomina-
ton, the "old guardsmen" want 20 be
IN position TO have another candidate
ready-to defeat the Colonel-should
the justice forbid the use of his name.
With Hughes out of the race many OF
his supporters in this state would turn
to the ex-senator.
There will also be a number that will
go 10 the support OF Mr.. Roosevelt, but
1t is fair presumption that under
those circumstances a large majority OF
the Empire State delegates will line Up
with Mr.. Root. Both the Hughes and
the Root men claim a majority of the
delegation now, the probabilities being
that Mr.. Root will have majority on
the first ballot.
Big Fight to Block Roosevelt.
The "old guardsmen" admit, how
ever that their big fight is 10 prevent
Colonel Roosevelt from running off
with the nomination; they have really
given more time to this subject in their
conferences than TO agreement on can
didates. All of their carefully laid
plans had this contingency as the I'M
DERIVING principle, and while they are
reasonably sure that the agreement is
iron bound the old veterans are never
theless worried.
That is the principal reason why the
"old cuardsmen" are talking Of Justice
Hughes as the probable nominee. They
want ex-senator Root, but fear that
they can't nominate him; consequently
they will take the justice as the next
best thing to defeat the Colonel.
Various estimates made of the
strength Of the various candidates yes
terday placed Hughes, Roosevelt and
Root in the lead in the order named.
The first ballot will simply be com
plimentsry vote for favorite sons. On
the second ballot, however, political
sharks place the strength OF Justice
Hughes at between $50 and 430 votes,
with the support for Colonel Roosevelt
between $50 and 200. To bring about a
choice 493 votes are necessary.