The Washington herald., 1908-06-17

Chicago. June 1.-THE committee on
credentials sat all afternoon and tonight
continuously to be able to report to the
convention when It reconvenes at noon
tomorrow. 1t had been expected the pro-
ceedings of the convention would be held
back for day or two because the ere
dentials committee would be swamped
with arguments from the allies in behalf
Of their contestants. but the adoption by
the committee at the outset of a ten-mln-
ute rule for each side TO a contest put an
end 20 that delay.
The test came on the Alabama contest.
which was decided in favor OF the Taft
or sitting delegates by vote Of SS to Z.
From that time on the committee pro-
ceeded speedily 10 settle the other con-
tests and seat the Taft delegates as de-
termined by the national committee in
making up the temporary roll Of the con-
vention. The allies fought for 10 con-
testants and there were a few outside of
these also presented 20 the committee
Contests aggregating 1l3 delegates were
abandoned at the outset before the Gre
dentials committee convened to-day. AS
the various contestants got wind Of the
makeup Of the committee and their prob
able action, a number Of them determined
to abandon their contests. Many Of these
aorfcforau e., IA rfu L.,
committee has decided 10 settle the con-
tests In blanket resolution indorsing
the action Of the national committee.
shorten Time Of Convention.
Mr.. Hitchcock was sanguine the COM
mittee would accept rules Of procedure.
be able to report 10 the convention when
il convenss tomorrow. and thus shorten
the convention a day or two
When the committee met a suggestion
was made at the outset that the national
committee had gone exhaustlvely into
each contest, much more than the Gre
dentials committee could hope TO do and
that the committee should not waste its
time listening to evidence. or even a
summing up. in any case but should 60
ahead and vote on the contests presented.
There was decided objection to this, and
a test was had upon the proposition by a
motion that the Alabama contest be set
tied without admitting the contestants
for hearing. This was voted down by
a vote of % years 70 2S nays
Then 1t was decided to appoint a sub
committee 10 draw up rules to govern
the procedure of the committe. Repre-
sentative J. Sloat Fassett, Of New York
was named as chairman OF this commit.
tee. and the other members were Harry
NJ. Dougherty, Of Ohio, one OF the origi.
nal Taft meni Samuel Rinaker, Of Ne.
braska; Samuel J. Elder, of Massachu.
setts. and w. S. Fitzpatrick, Of Kansas
There was a fight in this committee al
the outset, because Messrs. Dougherty
and Elder wanted the conmittee to decide
the contests without hearing arguments
but they were outvoted by Messrs. Fas
sett. Fitzpatrick, and Rinaker.
Give But Little Time.
The report of the committee on rule,
provided the contests should be heard
In executive session. and that the com
mittee should sit continuously without
adjournment until all contests were de
cided. II was determined TO hear NJ
contests not passed upon by the nationa
committee or declared in default by tha
committee. The report. as presented, pro
vided each side should have fifteen min
utes In contests for delegates-at-large anC
ten minutes each side in Congressiona
district contests.
The Hitchcock forces won a point her,
| by cutting the time allowed TO ten anC
eight minutes. respectively. Contests con
| soldated before the national cOmmitte,
were consolidated before the credentials
/ committee. The rules report provided
/ each contest would be decided at the con
cluslon OF each hearing by a viva VOC
vote unless twenty members demanded
roll call. Except in cutting the time al
| lowance, there was no objection to tn
adoption of the rules committee report.
/ Senator Charles w. Fulton, of Oregon
was named as chairman of the commit
| tee. AS soon as the rules were adopte,
+. c. Bryan. Of Washington; George T
| Buckingham. a townsman OF Speake
! Cannon; A. n. Somer. prosecuting attor
ney. OF st. Louis, representing the Hughe
Missouri delegates. and Senator-elec
Bradley. of Kentucky, as counsel for tn,
| allies, sent a formal letter to the commit
/ tee outlining contests aggregating II
| delegates. No attention was paid to thei
| demand for more time than was granite,
| by the rules committee report.
| Urge Claim OF COntestanta.
| The allies counsel said they did no
| pretend to represent all the contestants
but they did represent the 10, insistin.
any court or jury would seat these dele
gates upon the evidence brought out be
fore the national committee The 10 dele
gates contested came from the States o
Alabama. %; Arkansas, 2; George. 4
Kentucky, s; Mississippi 10; Missouri. 6
| Ohio, 2; Tennessee, 20; Texas. 36.
A number of Southern States contest
were abandoned for lack OF funds.
The North Carolina, South Carolina
and Virginia cases were abandoned large
| ly because OF lack Of evidence on whicI
To further base contests.
The Mississippi, Alabama, and rexa
cases were presented generally. instead O
by districts.
/ The Louisiana fight was taken befor
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