New-York tribune., 1908-05-13
EXPECTS Is CONTESTS
n. S. NEW ON STU 4TION.
Chairman Lays Plans for Calling
National Committee.
rr-or, The Tribune Bu-eau.l

estimates that the committee will be called upon
~ hear and decide not less thsh seventy "
contests AT its meeting preceding the nauohai
,,,,-e,,ion called for June 10 The Assumption
- ,,aa, exnressed in various quarters that as
- bacar,e increasingly evident that the nomlna-
ton of Secretary Taft was assured on the ils'
ballot numerous contests would ne oioppeu' ioi
the reason that however they might he decioeo
they could not affect the ultimate result ana
the suggestion has even been made that certain
contestants would seek to acquire places on the
winning band wagon and give an imitation OF
having been there from the beginning OF the
campaign.
chairman New regards these assumptions ana
suggestions as unfounded, and presents eXcei-
lent reasons for his belief He maintains that
where contests have actually been lhslltuteo
there WILL generally speaking, be no WITHDRAWAL
of the contestants until after a decision by the
national committee. This is due to the fact that
local issues of vital Importance to the politicians
involved are bound up IN almost every contest
and especially is this true of those in the South
e-n states For instance in Tennessee there Is
no opposition TO Secretary Taft but there IS IN
tense bitterness between the Brownlow and the
sanders factions. and the decision Of the ma
,ior7al committee viii determine which faction
shall name the national committeeman Tor the
e,,s,,ine four wears In practically every m
stance Of a state contest the selection OF lhe
national committeeman is involved, ana as the
local Republican organization, with the nauollal
committeeman as referee, is the dispenser OF
patronage it is OF vital Importance to each FAC
lion To obtain victory
So 100 in a less degree. with the district con-
tests The winners viii. presumably, nave the
earof the administration and OF the Congress
DELEGATION fer four years. and il is hardly TO be
eypected that any delegation will acknowledge
itself defeated and out of the running uhtl
compelled TO do 50 by the decree of the national
organization. Cf course, there are some IN
stances where the opposition to Mr. Tafts nom
inafion has widely heralded contests when nave
failed to n7aterialize. The 1st Congress DIS
-r5r- of Illinois furnishes an example OF this
kind The district convention instructed its
delegates TO vote for Mr.. Taft Immediately IL
was announced in the public prints that the con-
1-e1lrion was irregular. and that contest would
he instituted. An examination or the oEcuIh-
stances attending the convention. however, re-
,ea1ed the fact that there was not even the
17ir7siest -pretext which TO base contest ana
therefore none has been instituted. But, then,
in Illinois the delegation in Congress Is so GER
tain 10 be Republican that the question OF
r,atronaee is not involved TO the extent it is in
Southern states. where the Congress delegations
are Of the opposite political faith
+ is further pointed out that the one remain
ing hone Of contestants who opposed the instruc-
lion of Taft delegates, organized runp conVen-
-ions and obtained their election without
snstr7sctions is TO procure seats in the conVen-
-jon and then vote for Secretary Taft That IS
the only method open to them whereby they
might make a pretence Of having sought places
on the Taft band wagon from the beginning but
OF having opposed the regular Taft delegates be-
cause of local conditions OtherWlse lhey iilusI
accept political oblivion
r-,der +be call Of The national committee con-
tests must be fled with the committee, in the
form Of printed briefs from both sides, by May
d ten days after the last convention may be
held except in those states where local laws
prescribe later date As politicians, like other
reorle are prone to procrastinate this means
that the ma jorlty of the contests VIII not reacn
the committee until late in May-too late TO per-
NIT the call for the special meeting to be de-
rerred until that time Therefore, il will be nec-
essarv for the committee TO act on the lndlca-
lions as presented by the press. and it is from
the published reports that Chairman New draws
his conclusion that not less than seventy-hNe
contests will be presented for the consideration
Of the committee. Acting on this information
unless coming events should materially alter
the nrosDects Mr.. New viii call the committee
together on June or -. presumably the former
T3fs call will be issued from Chicago when the
committee on arrangements holds its meeting,
Beginning on May 10
Already Sergeant alarms Stone has left Bal
timore for Chicago to superintend the physical
arrangements in the Coliseum Where the con-
yention is TO be held. The perfect order and
the carefully thought cut arrangements of Re
publican conventions have long attracted favor
ane notice from those who attend both Repub-
lican aud Democratic national gatherings, but II
Is 1ol generally realized that these eminentiy
satisfactory results are secured only by the most
careful preliminary work. 1t is the custom OF
the veteran sergeant-at-arms not only to ap-
point his assistants and ushers far in advance
n frlf TO carefully
1ised drills IN which every is taught his pre-
else duty how TO seat delegates and guests. the
location Of the numbered seats, of the several
state delegations, etc and the force is prepared
for e1.ry emergency which may arise. More
over. Mr.. Stone has the reputation of being
an infexibIe disciplinarian. and his every subor-
dinare knows that no deviation of the rules in
response 10 a distinguished name a generous
honorarium will be condoned by the who
has 50 long been responsible for the orderly
rangen.cnts Of Republican national conventions.
While the difference between the perfection of
order and detail TO be observed in A Republican
convention and the disorder and lack of disci-
pllne which similar Democratic gatherings
has long been commented on, it is said that the
Democrats have determined this year take a
lessen from their Republican friends. and that
greater .n,ler will prevail at Denver than ever.
The Coliseum where the Republican conven-
non is 10 he held next month, is the build
ing in which il occurred last time and this fact
has made all the experience gained then avail
able in enecting improvements. Far more COM
rnodious and convenient offices have been pro-
v1ded for the national committee; increased Off
stage accommodations for those entitled TO
places on the speakers stand; improved facil-
tiles for the press; rigid rules which VIII pre-
Vent the of press " any hut