The Washington herald., 1908-04-07
NO TAFT INSTRUCTION
New Hampshire Delegation
to Go Free to Chicago.
FOLLOWS AN OLD PRECEDENT
Promise to Deliver Granite states
Representatives TO secretary of
War VIII Not BE Kept-Ex~GOv.
John MeLane's Appointment as
Chairman Indicates Defeat of Plan.


Chairman Indicates Defeat of Plan.
Concord, \. H.. April 6--The Granite
State was the first in New England to
receive the impact of the boom for In
structions to delegates to the Republican
national convention in favor of any one
aspirant. The impact has been stubborniy
repelled
It can now be predicted with the assur-
ance Of certainty that the New Hamp-
shire delegates win be sent to Chicago
unbound by Instructions, free to vote in
dividuaHy or as a unit for the candidates
and the principles that will eonduce most
strongly to party success.
The party IN this State has never in
structed its delegates to a natiopal con-
vention, except in the case of a President
whose administration appealed as war
rant for his denomination. Even the lat
ter has not been an invariable practice.
for New Hampshire Republicans did not
instruct their delegates for the renomina-
ton Of Presidents Harrison or Mckinley.
Precedent II Maintained.
It had been assumed generally through
out this State that there would be no
departure from this precedent in the pres
ent year There was no distinctly New
England aspirant for the nomination and
the self-denying announcement Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt was accepted at its full
value.
Hence there was apparent no other pur-
pose than 10 send 10 the national conven-
tion delegation entirely free and un-
hampered either by instructions or by the
expression OF any preference. Not until
the end of last year was this spirit of
placidity shattered.
When Secretary Taft visited Boston to
address the Merchants Association Of
that city he received a visit from New
Hampshire Republicans, sometimes styled
locally the big Six" Ex-Goy. Rollins,
National Committeeman Streeter. r. ".
Pillsbury, a candidate for the nomina-
ton for governor; Sumner Wallace,
manufacturer Robert p. Bass. and Win
ston Churchill.
The announcement that these men. as
suming 20 represent the Republicans OF
New Hampshire. had called upon Secre-
tary Taft IN Boston on December 80 last
and had then and there pledged to him
the support Of the New Hampshire dele
cation 10 the national convention. caused
.commotion in the Granite State.
Taft Association Formed.
The call Of this voluntary delegation
upon the Secretary OF War was followed
Immediately by TWO phenomena. One
was the organization OF a Taft Associa-
ton in New Hampshire. on January 3,
with headquarters at Concord; the other
was prompt attack upon that movement
as one designed not sincerely and solely
for the nomination Of Taft. but covertly
for the promotion Of the individual po-
lltical. aspirations OF its organizers, in-
cuding the desire oy Streeter TO succeed
Gallinger in the United States Senate.
These assertions were vigorously denied
al the meeting called 10 organize the TAFT
Association. In the face OF the meager
attendance. this gathering found il ex-
pedient 10 adopt a resolution pronouncing
against the instruction of delegates.
Accordingly arrangements are now we'll
under way for the meeting OF the State
convention at Concord on April q. In
accordance with established practice, the
state committee recently met TO map out
the organization Of the convention.
The Taft adherents in the committee
wished the selection Of Gen. George
II. Adams as chairman OF the convention.
They were defeated, largely through the
efforts of Editor George Il Moses, by
the choice of ex-Gov. John McLane
Delegates Not to Be BOuRd.
II is now assumed that all delegates-at-
large be chosen by the State convention,
and four delegates from the two Con-
gressional districts, 10 be chosen by dis
triet conventions. viii be sent to Chicago
without any instructions whatever.
II would appear. at least at present,
that the overzealous friends of Mr.. Taft
have mismanaged his campaign in this
State. At this juncture the attitude and
policy Of the local Taft advocates cannot
be described as concillatory.
Gossip describes Mr., Churchill for ex-
ample, as calling individual Republicans
into mysterious conferences and exhibit
ing confidential documents, said to be
from high quarters In Washington,
favoring the nomination Of raft. These
maneuvers have aroused some irritation,
perhaps temporary among the old war
horses who are aware that the rock-Tib-
bed Republicans of New Hampshire will
not brook tTihing.
II is now understood that the State con-
vention Will name as the four delegates
at-large Senator Gallnger, Attorney Cen
eral Eastman, ex-Gov Jordan, and Edwin
F. Jones. OF these, Senator Gallinger has
declared formally no preference for the
nomination. and both Jordan and East
man are unpleGged.
Jones is counsel for a great manufac-
turing corporation, the Amoskeag Com
pany, OF which Postmaster General Meyer
is a director The inference as to the per-
sonal preference Of Jones Is obvious. But
not one of these delegates-at-large will
be elected IN any spirit Of hostility TO Taft.
or to any other candidate.
District Conventions.
The convention of the First Con-
gressional district will be held at Man
chester. April %. No opposition has de-
veloped to the election or the two an
nounced candidates, William F. Harring-
ton. of Manchester, and A f. Howard, Of
Portsmouth
The convention of the Second Congress
sional district will be held in Concord
April p, Immediately after the adjourn