AMERICAN POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17192, 12 June 1916, Page 6

AMERICAN POLITICS.

The outstanding fact in tho American political news to-day is not the decision of the Republican National Convention to nominate Mr Justice Hughes, but tho announcement that Mr Roosevelt, after tho failure of his candidature for tho regular Republican ticket, declined to accept nomination at tho hands of tho Progressive Convention. The earlier reports regarding the intentions of the forceful ex-President wore rather contradictory. His supporters were known to bo in negotiation with those of Mr Root and it was commonly believed that they had arrived at an agreement to join forces in pushing the nomination of whichever should prove to bo the stronger when the trial came. Thus far it might have been assumed, and was assumed in some quarters, that Mr Roosevelt intended to accept the decision of his old party and would thus prevent a split on the big issue. But as the Progressives had declared their determination to proceed with their own convention tho position was not at all simple, and it was obvious that if Mr Roosevelt cared to accept an independent nomination he could have it for tho asking. With the Republican party split the re-election of Mr Wilson would be a foregone conclusion, and it is obvious that Mr Roosevelt holds a particularly strong 'baud in regard to the shaping of the Republican policy. The first report we had, making the bar© statement of his refusal to accept nomination, suggested that the conferences between the Republican and Progressive committees during the past week had borne fruit, but early this morning wo learn that Mr Roosevelt's refusal is conditional, and that in the meantime tho nomination is to be held by tho Progressive machine until satisfactory guarantees aro obtained regarding tho official Republican policy. Mr Hughes seems to have had a very easy victory. Ho is a strong party man and also a strong popular man. His two terms of office as Governor of New York showed that he had ample .courage, marked tact, tho faculty of managing men and an engaging personality. His record is widely known, and consequently his campaigning will have to do with politics rather than personalitiesno small gain in such a contest. The policy outlined in the cable messages is on the usual vague and safe lines, but one may find some of the details filled in by Mr Root in the courso of a recent article in the "National Review." Full and adequate preparation for the national defence, a frank and fearless foreign policy, moderate but adequate protection for industries after the war —these are the. commonplaces of party policies. What will count with the American people is not the protestation oP faith hut tho evidence of driving forco behind it, and consequently Mr Hughes's speeches aro likely to weigh a good deal moro in the coming campaign than speeches commonly do. As it happens the Republican candidate is a good orator, so that the party has chosen well in that important respect. Tho Democratic National Convention, according to rcceut reports, will meet during this week, but it is taken for granted that the nomination of President Wilson will bo virtually unopposed. From the outsider's point of view chief interest now attaches to Mr Roosevelt's action, and that energetic statesman's course, it seems, will be dictated mainly by the shaping of the Republican policy in regard to the European war.