The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-14
OFFICE HOLDERS TOO ACTIVE.
INVESTIGATION OF ALABAMA PAR.
TISANS Is WANTED.

Republican National Committee RE-
fused to Seat All but One of Seven
Contesting Delegations From Ala
bama-Payne\ Introduced Resolu-
tion Asking President to Inyesti-
gate of Improper Actions of Ala
bama OfHciaIs.
Philadelphia, June 1S.-The Republican
Walton at noon to-day and Immediately
began the investigation of contest cases
preparatory to the formation of the tenn
porary roll for the national convention.
Chairman Hanna was not present when
the committee was convened, and Henry
c. Payne, member from Wisconsin, was
chosen 10 preside in his place. Senator
Hanna came in from Washington about
half past one o'clock. but he did not as
sumo the duties Of the chair during the
afternoon.
The afternoon. session was devoted to
hearing the recital of testimony, and to
arguments in the contest from the state
of Alabama. There were seven contests
from this state, including those over the
representation from the, state at large,
and those from the Second, Third, Fourth
Fifth, Seventh and Ninth Districts. Half
an hour on each side was given to the
contestants on the state delegation ard
fifteen minutes to each side in the dis
trict cases.
The hearing in the main consisted of
recitals Of petty acts and of intimidation
from both sides of the controversy and
in some cases afidavits were read in
which the witness had testified on both
sides bf the case giving absolutely con-
trajectory testimony.
The principal development of the day.
however, consisted in bringing out the
fact that the federal office-holders in Ala
bama aud some of those from the state
who are employed in Washington. had
been extremely active in shaping the re-
suit of contests for delegates.
Vaughan VS.. Wickersham.
In the state contest there were two fac
tons, one of which was known as
tie Vaughan faction. represented By
District Attorney Vaughan, and the 9TH
er headed by District Attorney Wicks r
sham. The technical grounds of the con-
test had reference to the regularity end
irregularity of the two delegations. Mr.
Vaughan is now chairman of the State
Central Committee and is a candidate fer
reelection. The controversy grew out CT
his renewed aspirations. He appeared be-
fore the committee in support of his dsle-
cation, al NJ. Wickersham did in the
interest of his followers.
1t developed during the hearing that PIE
vious to the beginning OF the campaign
for the election of delegates a number
of office-holders met ia Washington and
resolved that as 1t was the wish of the
President Of the United States that no
federal office-holders should participa' Q
in the selection of delegates, they would
refrain from taking any part in either
t-the primaries or in the State -CenVen-
ton"
The further fact was developed that
notwithstanding this action on their part.
most of the participants in this meeting
hurried to their homes and Immediately
started campaigns in behalf of their fa-
vorites with a Visw of controlling the
state dele cation and federal patronage.
Commit eeman Joseph Manley of Maine
offered the following resolution as the
sense of the committee:
"ResolVed-That the committee declines
to place on the temporary roll any con-
TESTING delegates or alternates from
district, an9 in that A. d. Winds and j.
D. Hughes and their alternates be placed
upon the temporary roll.
Wants an Investigation.
This resolution was speedily adopted and
it was hardly disposed of when Commit
teeman Payne, who had been acting as
temporary chairman, introduced the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved. That this committee requests
the President of the United States TO di-
rect The proper offcerS to cause an inves-
tigation into the facts and doings of GER
tain federal ofnceholders in the state of
Alabama in connection with the election
of delegates TO the primary conventions
and to the State and District Conventions
held in said state to elect delegates TO the
National Convention to be held in Philadel-
phia on the 18th instant, and il the facts
as stated in the hearing held before said
committee regarding the contest in said
districts and state be true, this commit
tee asks, not in the interest of the Repub-
lican party. but of the country that such
octiou shall be taken as the good of the
public interest requires"
In presenting the resolution Mr.. Payne
said that he introduced it because of the
evident pernicious activity of the Office
holders in the campaign and said that
he believed il would be a very serious
mistake for the committee to fail 40 ask
that official recognition be taken of this
infraction Of the laws of the country.
The committee had. however agreed to
take a recess after the disposal of the
Alabama cases and Mr.. Payne requested
that action be postponed until tomorrow.
The Delaware Contest.
The Delaware contest was taken up at
the evening session and considered until
,2:15. when a decision was reached to re-
fer it to a committee with instructions TO
harmonize the differences of the two par
ties. II possible. The committee consists
of Payne of Wisconsin, Cummins of Iowa
Saunders of Colorado and Leland OF Kan
sas.
The committee then adjourned until II
O'clock tomorrow.