Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-18
ROOSEVELT STAMPEDE.
CONTINUED from Page Five.)

were not listened to at all, and the TAFT
men adopted rules which absolutely
excluded members of the committee
from participating in the debate.
Senator Charles w. Fulton of Ore
gon, having been elected chairman,
stated that 1000 persons in the con-
vention awaited the report of the Gre
dentials committee. This was an argu-
ment in favor of limiting debate, or, in
other words, in favor of plan to
adopt the report of the national COM
mittee without hearing any of the con-
tests. which provoked Mr.. Bookwalter
to reply that there are 90,000.0o0 peo-
pie who will have to wait until next
November"
Representative ]. Sloat Fassett, the
New York member of the committee,
had favored the scheme for a blanket"
approval of the work OF the national
committee. but in reply to Mr.. Book
walters comment, he said:
"Well, ! suppose we will have to let
the molasses run"
Not molasses but vitriol," retorted
Mr.. BOOkWalter. sharply.
The collcquy is an illustration of the
bitterness of feeling which frequently
was shown by both Taft and anti-Taft
adherents. The statement was made by
Mr.. BOoRwalter that the minority re-
port would be signed by fully half a
dozen members Of the committee anu
that in all probability it's adoption
would be advocated by Senator CALM
ger and himself.
When tie committee met and organ
iZed, Chairman Fuller was empowered
to appoint a committee to draft rules
to govern the procedure in hearing the
contests. This committee consisted of
five members. Mr.. Fassett being the
chairman. A recess was taken while the
rules were being drafted.
The cub committee delayed SO long in
reporting that the anti-Taft members
of the full committee conceived the idea
that gag rules were being prepared.
These reports had the effect of arous-
ing still more i'll feeling. After an
hours wait the report of the sub
mittee vas submitted to the null COM
mittee and 1t was adoped without di
vision. 1t consisted practically of the
same rules that governed the national
committee in considering the con-
tests.
Among other things it prohibited
members Of the committee from In
dulging in debate and In many other
WAYS was designed to economize time.
With the prelminaries out of the
way. the Alabama contests were call
ed. Twenty-Five seats in the conven-
ton were involved. After compare
lively short time for arguments the
committee sustained the action that
l.. ta1, ~,
mittee in this case A test vote was
had however, showing that of the men
who were in the room when division
was had. the Taft forces We're sup
ported by 81 votes against seven. At no
time during the long session was there
any test Of strength, but the members
Of the committee favorable to the
"Allies" said they were outnumbered
to l.
The Taft delegations were seated
without a break, When. Texas was
reached Chairman Fulton invited the
members OF the press into the com
mittee room that they might listen to
the argument made by Col. Cecil A.
Lyon. national committeeman from
Texas. an intimate friend and
frequent host of President Roose-
volt. Col. Lyon is not a law
yer. but in a picturesque and
forceful manner he advocated the
cause of the Taft delegation. He was
opposed by A. n. Sager of ST. Louis.
The result was the same as in all of
the preceding cases.
After the committee had adjourned |
Chairman Fulton and Representative
FaSsett asserted that the cases of the
"Allos" were weak in every particu-
lar. Both said that the charge that |
the national committee was prejudiced |
In favor Of Secretary Taft had been |
refuted and the committee fully vim |
Dictated. Mr.. Fulton announced that he |
would not draw the report of the COM
mittee until after he had had few |
hours sleep. 1t was not his intention |
he said. to enter upon any discussion |
of the merits of the case. or into any |
defence of the national committee. but |
If necessity arose for such defence.
he would make it on the floor of the
He expressed the opinion |
that after the dissatisfied members of |
the minority had an opportunity to
sleep for Il few hours over the ques-
ton they would change their minds
on the subject Of presenting a minor
ity report.
1t was after A. NJ when the COM
mittee on credentials. after an all
night session. passed upon the last
Of the contests, closing the list with
the case covering the entire state OF
Texas.
Every cas-, was decided by the COM
mittec In accordance with the previ-
JUS decisions of the national commit
lee and in nearly every instance the
seated delegation WAS the one in
,tructed for Taft.
A dissenting report will be made by
he minority of the committee
In the Ohio cases all were decided in
with the decisions of the
national committee. Four districts
we're involved, the Sd. 9Th. 10th and
9Th In the 9Th the Taft and Foraker
delegations were both seated with half
, vote for each. In the 10th and 18th,
Is In the Sd. Taft men gained the de-
'ision. Extra time was to be allowed
n the Tennessee cases and it was ex-
'ected that they would consume con-
siderable time. In these cases the de-
'iSiOnS of the national committaa Uara