Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1916 — G. O. P. CONFIDENT ON CONVENTION EVE [ARTICLE]

G. O. P. CONFIDENT ON CONVENTION EVE

Republicans Feel Assured That Winner Will Be Chosen From List of Possibilities.

Chicago, June 5, 1916.—Vast crowds of republicans are clustered in the lobbies, dining rooms, parlors, the gold room and the various headquarters of the different candidates at the Congress hotel this evening. Most of those who are gathered are wearing badges of their favorite candidates but there is on the part of each one apparently a desire to nominate the strongest candidate and the belief seems unanimous that the candidate named will win. It is a marvelously good natured crowd that is jqstled about-by bands and marching delegations that occasionally enter the hotel and proceed about the main lobby, down the 'long halls and whereever there is marching room. Just across the street from the Congress hotel is the auditorium, where the progressives have their headquarters. A frayed streamer bearing the words “Progressive headquarters” is over the main entrance but there is no effort at display and to all appearances the delegates to that convention have only the mission of proposing Roosevelt to the republican convention and when he is declined, as iit is certain he will be, then to approve or disapprove whoever the republicans name. The progressive delegates wearing Rcosevelt badges of one kind or another have been mingling with the republican delegates and for the most part the utmost good nature has prevailed, although there have 'been a number of spirited arguments and clusters gathered about to hear the sharp repartee that ensued. The Fairbanks boosters have been making a good showing. They began arriving last Saturday and have 'been arriving ever since. A special train from Indianapolis brought upwards of 300 and another from Evansville brought that many more. The Indianapolis train arrived first and after marching behind its band to the Congress hotel marched back to the Polk street depot to meet the boosters from Evansville and all marched back to the hotdl. There was apparent everywhere a warm feeling for Mr. Fairbanks, who is considered in all respects a safe man to handle the many trying issues, that will confront the next president.

Generally it has been considered that Justice Hugehs had the best chance of receiving the nomination but the impression prevails that he has lost ground because he has failed to define his position on issues before the public. It was printed in .the afternoon papers that the progressives had issued an ultimatum to Hughes to define where he stands in the matter of preparedness and his foreign policy and that he has again refused to speak and that this will mean that he will not be acceptable to the progressives. Should this prove to be the case it might affect the candidacy of Mr. Fairbanks very favorably, for he long ago defined himself in these particulars, saying in a speech at Louisville, Ky., Oct. 22nd, ast year, when sentiment was divided, that “Our national life and markets of the world are going to be profoundly affected by the European war. We must meet this with a constructive pro-American program, first adequate protection for national defense; second, restoration, of the protective tariff; third, restoration of the flag to the oceans; fourth, organization for world markets.” Again in Kentucky last fall he said: “Military invasion is a possibility; commercial invasion is a deadly certanty after the war. We must prepare for both.”

There is a constant roar as I write. Thfee bands, each followed by large marching delegations for Lawrence Y. Sherman, have paraded the hotel. When the-'band stopped playing, the marchers shouted: “One, two, three, four; who are we for?” And then m loud voices shouted “Sherman.” One delegation was all composed of negroes, band and all. Occasionally sortie ardent Roosevelt man shouts “Hurrah for Teddy,” and some times it inspires others to take up the shout, 'but it does not last long nor sound inspiring and apparently lacks the confidence of those responsible for Conventions bring old friends together in a surprising way. I had scarcely stepped into the Congress hotel this evening until I met Oscar J. Ricketts, whose acquaintance I valued highly when I was in Washington., D. C. He pointed out another friend, “Whitey” Lawson, whom I also knew very well. It proved a real, reunion. ' ~ Among -the Indianapolis delegation was Paul Miller, the Rensselaer youth who is attending dental college in In-

dianapolis and who is incidentally m the political game clear up to his neck. Paul was as happy as a clam and no one is making more Fairbanks noise than he. Lawrence Lyons, of Brook, the tenth district chairman, is on the job with his customary promtness and enthusiasm and is contributing his labors in the interest of Indiana s favorite son.

Before this is printed the convention will be quite well on its way. Contests have already (been decided, states have selected their national committeemen and their members of the various committees and tomorrow they will meet and set the machinery in motion that will name the next president. Certainly any person who likes numbers and noise and lots of bands, glee clubs, spirited championing of candidates and the active scenes of a convention could get much enjoyment from this monstrous gathering. | Tomorrow, possibly, there will be something more to report. Something seems not only liable hut certain to happen at any moment. It will be disappointing to every person ,f something don’t happen. Probably nothing is quite so certain of happening as an effort on the part of th< progressives to decide what one ■o. the republican candidates they want. Their decision on Hus point will doubtless have a hearing on the work of naming the candidate.

GEORGE H. HEALEY.