Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-07
CHICAGO TO THE FORE
Windy City Pulls Up Ahead of Kansas
City in Race for Convention.
MIssOUR1ANs FIGHTING HARD
Still Have a Show to Land the Big
Republican Gathering.
PRIMARY LAWS ARE A PROBLEM
Victor ROsewater Presents Necessity
Of Modifying Form of Call.
COMMITTEE IS INCLINED TO BALK
HolaS TO View state Law Cannot Die
tate Form of Party Organization,
but indications Are Condi-
tiOns VIII he Met.
Still Have a Show to Land the Bic
Republican Gathering.
PRIMARY LAWS ARE A PROBLEM
COMMITTEE IS INCLINED no BALI
lrrom q Sad correnpondont.

CFrom a Staff Correspondent)
WASHINGTON. Dec. 6.-Cspecial Tele-
gram.)-It looks tonight as II the national
republican convention would go TO Chicago,
notwithstanding Kansas City is putting up
the gamest possible fight Combinations
were made today Of such a substantial
character that Kansas City began to take
notice and instead of being the leader in
the race dropped back to second place, the
administration interests having quietly in
timated that Chicago was as acceptable as
Kansas City.
After the appointment of committee, Mr..
Victor Rosewater, holding the proxy of
Mr.. Morrill,. appeared before the COMMITTEES
to draft the form OF the call, consisting OF
Messrs. Yerkes OF Kentucky, streeter of
Vermont and Kellogg OF Minnesota, rela-
tive to an unusual situation IN his state.
He represented that the new Nebraska
primary law would make II necessary to
modify the call as usually formulated TO
permit OF tho selection OF delegates accord
ing to the method prescribed by Nebraska
law, which has vested the authority to call
both state and congressional conventions
In the state committee. Tho national call
heretofore has provided for district dele
gates to he chosen in the same way as
candidates for congress which. with the
nomination of congressman by direct vote,
would conflict with the requirement of
the Nebraska law, that delegates be chosen
by a convention.
The committee listened attentively to Mr..
Rosewatcr's presentation of the Nebraska
situation and asked him whether he had
any suggestions TO make on other compli-
cations arising under the new primary
laws in the various states, some of which
are at complete variance with the practice
and procedure in republican conventions,
Committee Inclined to BRIk.
The member Of the committee intimated
that in their view the national committee
Of each party is supreme and that the
form Of party organization in the nation
cannot be legally modified or embarrassed
by any state legislation. otherwise forty
six different legislatures might prescribe
forty-si xdiffefeEt methods OF choosing
delegates. prescribing qualifications and
even fixing their number to the practical
destruction of the party organization.
TO these suggestions Mr.. Rosewater re-
piled that Il was not question whether
the legislature OF Nebraska could eKer-
else authority over the national commit
tee, but that its authority over the state
committee was undisputed SO far as the
Nebraska law, said Mr. Rosewater. is con
oerned, It could easily be complied with.
and Il was the duty OF the national com
mittee TO make II possible for the state
committee to observe the law II Il could
be done without interfering with proper
representation of the state in the ma
tional convention
The Nebraska primary law. Mr.. Rose
water explained. was party measure,
enacted by a republican legislature, and
ka 70 IA o.
publican Organization to disregard a re-
publican platform measure.
Mr. Kellogg OF Minnesota declared that
in his opinion. the national committee had
a right to ignore state laws attempting
10 govern or regulate the choice of ma
honal convention delegates. but he doubt sd
whether Il was good policy to do so ex-
cept where IT. was absolutely impossible
20 reconcile these laws with republican
practice.
The subcommittee took the whole sub
ject under advlsement and promised 10
take care Of the Nebraska 1ifhculty
which Mr.. streeter Of Vermont declared
was the least obnoxious OF the laws
brought to their attention.
DInes with Secretary straus.
Victor Rosewater was the guest of SEQ
retary straus at luncheon today and OF
ulnneE with ECHHANE DfONA anu AAAAAAg NJ
the Portland tonight During the course
Of the luncheon with Mr.. straus the seore-
tary seemed most elated over the devol-
opment OF commercial bodies throughout
the country which he regarded as a splen-
aid sign OF business interests.
Schneider Cannot Remember.
r. b. Schneider OF Fremont member Of
the executive committee OF the republican
a-1aF a.,
time TO Join the national committee in
calling upon tho president and having his
picture taken IN front OF the white House.
Mr.. Schneider has been brought into prom
inence IN the fight over the convention
city by telegram from Chicago stating that
he as treasurer OF the national commit
tee In is0i. knew how much Chicago put up
for the care Of the republican convention.
When asked by The Bee correspondent
tonight as to how much Chicago put up
fn le04. Mr.. Schneider vaguely replied:
~They paid all the expenses OF the oonven-
ton and every check 1 drew against an
, amount depoHitud IN a certain bank In
lChicago was paid. I have no idea as to
the amount"
Those who are connected with the inner
circles Of republican politics say the
amount raised by Chicago was $1,000. Be
that as Il may the combination believes
the. that amount is suncient 70 again in
vite the national republican convention
to the Windy City.
Minor Matters at Capital.
T. II. Weiss OF South Omaha Is IN wash
lngton He has secured several contracts
for constructing public buildings and comes
10 washington 20 consult the supervising
architect regarding these contracts.
The general land once has approved the
selection OF tho state OF south Dakota as
schol land indemnity, lands embraced with
10 its lists number II, Pierre land dis
trict, aggregating n,I9S acres, and No. IS
Rapid City district, aggregating go acres
Eleetrieity Versus steam.
CLAYTON, n. J., Dec. GA Pennsyl-
vania electric locomotive wiu be tested
lnr .r.na hnr. Lnlnu In IN L.. n. -.