The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-06-10
DIVISION OF LOUISIANA
Is Opposed by Hitchcock, Sec-
retary Taft's Manager.
Sudden Adjournment Of National Com
mittee to Allow Time For Pressure
From Washington to Be Exercised
on Members Who Are Disposed to
Yield In Interest of Harmony.

Chicago, June $50 far everything
that had come up had been handled
quickly and decisively by the Taft
men, but yesterday from their own
membership came proposition to di-
vide the Louisiana delegation with the
opposition, seating both Taft and anti
Taft delegations with half vote each.
The proposal in itself did not come as
a surprise, but the number of men,
bers of the national committee who
favored it created some CONSERVATION
in the Taft camp. The friends of the
secretary of war on the committee
brought about an adjournment rather
than permit vote to be taken.
Before the Louisiana case, which in
wolves four delegates-at-large and
fourteen district delegates, is brought
to vote noses will be closely count
ed. Members of the committee who
have been ardent Taft supporters but
who have shown disposition to yield
to the appeals from the allied forces
to compromise in the interest of har-
mony, will be subjected to pressure
from Washington. To allow time for
this was the purpose of the sudden ad-
journment.
Manager Frank H. Hitchcock of the
Taft campaign announced that there
would be no compromise. He is de-
termined to fight for the seating Of the
delegations instructed for Secretary
Taft and he declared that he would in
sist that the committee pass on all
contests. To settle them in any other
way, he said, would be unfair to the
delegations themselves.
He expressed the opinion that the
committee should not shirk the respon.
sibility of sitting in judgment on the
merits of every contest and in this
view he is supported by nearly every
committeeman from the West and
South and many from the North.
Thus far contests have been set
tied from the states of Alabama, Ar
kansas, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky
and there has been no division of the
committee in disposing of any Of them.
The reason for this has been the rule
which denies a roll call on any ques-
tion unless it is demanded by 20 men,
bers and the anti-Taft contingent
have not that number on the commit
tee.
The suggestion for division of con-
testing delegations has become more
frequent from day to day. The politi-
cal maneuvering by such members of
the "old guard" as Senators Crane,
Scott and Penrose and Committeeman
Hart of Iowa and Mulvane of Kansas
has not been without effect. The
growth of the compromise suggestion
was noticed by the Taft men, but they
were not disturbed by it until ther
learned to their surprise that the plal.
for a division in Louisiana was fa-
vored by Senator Lodge of Massachu-
sets and General Powell Clayton Of
Arkansas.
Hasty conferences we've held by the
Taft members of the committee during
the hearing of the Louisiana contest
and the decision was reached that it
would be wise to adjourn until they as
certained exactly where they STOOD
This course was followed. Mr. Hitch.
cock called up Secretary Taft In
Washington. Charles p. Taft, brother
of the secretary, did some telephon-
ing and telegraphing on his own ac-
count. E. C. Duncan af North Caro-
lima and C. A. Lyon of Texas and
some others also grew energetic
Sixteen more votes were gained for
Taft by the settlement of contests.
Two of these came from Florida, six
from Georgia, and eight from Ken
lucky. These were all the contests
heard by the committee. The settle
ment of the Kentucky cases engen-
dered more feeling than had manifest
ed since the committee began its work.
Senator-eect w. o. Bradley of Ken
lucky appeared as counsel for the
Fairbanks delegation. The first dis
.trict was quickly settled, because Mr..
Bradley had no personal knowledge
of the conditions involved other than
the views presented in the brief of
the case. The Taft delegates were
seated. The Fifth district then was
taken up.
This is the Louisville district the
home of Mr.. Bradley. He spoke at
length and he suggested that should
Secretary Taft be nominated it would
be doubtful whether he could carry
the state of Kentucky. Whereupon
Clayton Blakely attorney for the Taft
delegation, charged that Mr.. Bradley
stumped the state for Fairbanks max
ing just that argument.
The effort to secure a division of
the committee occurred during the
hearing Of the contest from fifth Ken.
lucky district. John w. McCulloch,
who holds the proxy of John w.
Yerkes, the committeeman from Ken
lucky, demanded a division on the
question Of whether the Taft or the
Fairbanks delegation be seated.
Charles II. Scott, from Alabama, re-
sponded by rising and the two appeal
ed in vain for twenty members to rise
and be counted. They stood for mo-
ment and then sat down.