Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
Headquarters Issue Saturday
Night Statements.
DISTRIBUTE LITERATURE
Scrutinize Destinies of Candidates
for Presidency.
CLAIM As TO PLEDGES FOR TAFT
Story Of the Allies-Utterance by
Foraker League Secretary.
johnson Folks Busy.

The regular Saturday statements were
given out last night from the various
"boom headquarters in this city. where
the destinies of candidates for the presi-
dency of the United States are being
closely scrutinized. First to come to hand
was the Taft literature, which this time
is in the form of a statement from Frank
A. Hitchcock. the Taft manager.
Says Mr.. Hitchcock:
AT the close today of the campaign for
the election of delegates to the republican
national convention the total number
pledged to Taft is 5s4. OF this number
517 are instructed. 36 pledged by resolu-
tons of Endorsement. and 81 by personal
declaration The number of unpledged
delegates is 1850. and of these more than
one hundred are known to be favorable 10
Taft. The present Taft strength can be
conservatively estimated at ABOUT seven
hundred delegates
Story of Allies.
The allies have somewhat different
story to tell. Their Saturday night state
ment follows:
With all delegates reported but six. the
number of delegates instructed for Sec
rotary Taft and uncontested falls 1871 be-
low that necessary to a nomination. While
there are included among the 22s unln-
structed delegates some who may be af-
fected by preferential resolutions. the
large majority of these delegates are from
districts where efforts 10 pass resolutions
in favor of Judge Taft have been, de-
feated.
Included in the number of delegates
instructed for Judge Taft are many whose
personal preferences are for other candi-
dates. Nearly all of the delegates IN
whose behalf contests are being made by
the managers of the Taft campaign were
chosen by lily white conventions. the reg
ularity of which 1t will be Impossible Tor
the national committee To recognize. as
the call of the committee contained no
provision for the exclusion of any repub-
lican on account of race, color or previous
condition of servitude.
On Arbitrary interpretation.
THE claim of a majority for Secretary
Taft in the Chicago convention is based
on an arbitrary Interpretation of contests
In behalf of Judge Taft and the listing of
many uninstructed delegates as instruct
ed The systematic circulation of state
ments to the effect that the candidates in
opposition to Secretary Taft had with
drawn during the past few days IS evil
dence that the managers of the Taft cam
paign feel the necessity of relying upon
something besides the actual number of
delegates pledged to the Taft candidacy
The facts do not justify the belief that
Secretary Taft will be the nominee of the
Chicago convention. and claims to the
contrary are for the purpose of Affecting
those who are amenable to the band
wagon argument. In view of the char
acter and extent of the campaign Waged
in behalf of Secretary TaftS candidacy
and the influences which have been eX-
erted in its favor. it is of the utmost sig
nifcance that the close of the campaign
for delegates finds the Taft management
far short of the number of delegates
bound to their support which are neces-
sary to control the Chicago convention.
Reference to the South.
Secretary Oliver Randolph of the Fora
ker League last night gave out the fol-
lowing statement with reference to the
south:
Alabama. Florida. Georgia. Louisiana.
Mississippi excepting two districts).
North Carolina. Tennessee. Texas and
Virginia will send two sets of delegates
also be contests from Arkansas. Ken
lucky and South Carolina. Thus from
the south there will be contests involving
the seats of more than 200 delegates.
Senator Forakers friends have cap
,ured the south, and the contesting dele
cations are composed of the friends of
Secretary Taft who hold federal offices.
who are making desperate effort to
defeat the great body of republicans. In
some instances these off1ceholders have
the machinery, and they are counting on
that to win before the national COM
mittee. although they have not the num-
bers.
There is a deeper question at stake
with the southern republicans. in the set
tlement Of these contests than mere pref
ereice of a presidential candidate. 1t in
wolves the question of whether the repub-
licar party is to continue as a party for
all men, or whether 1t Is to be a lily
white party.
Bone of Contention.
This is the bone of contention in Ala
! bama. Louisiana. Mississippi. North Caro-
Ina, Tennessee. Texas and Virginia. In
Georgia. Arkansas. Florida and South
Carolina there are protests against the
dictation of the Office holders.
The Office holders with few excep-
tions. are for Mr.. Taft. The names OF
almost all of the Taft contesting dele
gates appear in the official register OF
government employees. The lily whites
are, without exception. solid for Mr. Taft
The last statements from the Taft head
quarters include the lily whites as if 10
infer that they are accepted by the Taft
headquarters as the regular delegates
/ The lilly whites have resorted to the
! scheme OF putting one or two colored men
on their delegations in order to deny the
assertion that they are lily whites.
IF the lily whites lose thei room
tests secretary Taft will not have the
required number of votes to secure his
nomination. With the aid of the favorite
son states the regular republicans from
! the south. and the uninstructed delegat es
from other states there will be over 5lI
votes for some candidate other than Sec
rotary Taft
senator Foraker carried one Ohio dis
trlct without a contest this week, and
with contests he had added to his column
| TINS Week th!rty-six delegates from Texas
and the majority of The delegates from
Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia
johnson Boom Kicks.
Inc young Johnson boom continues to