Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
To Fight for instructions in
Massachusetts.
so SAY GARDNER AND COBB
They Are Suspicious of Senator'S
Crane and Lodge.
PARSONS FOR INSTRUCTIONS
Wants Delegates-at-Large Required
to Vote Hughes Until Released
by Him or Nominated.

Curious political conditions are arising
in Massachusetts and New York. the facts
as to which came out at the White House
yesterday from visits of reaIblican leaders
OF those states. In Massachusetts the Taft
men claim that the people are overwhelm-
ingly for Taft. but that Senator Crane
and others who are not supposed to be
friendly to the Ohio man are seeking I'M
Instructed delegates. Remarks made by
Representative Gardner and John c. Cobb
of Boston, chairman of the executive
committee of the Taft League, as we'll
as president of the associated boards of
trade of Boston, who called on the Presi-
dent. indicate that harmony may not be
any longer possible and that instructions
will be asked for in every convention
from this on, regardless of the wishes of
Senators Crane and Lodge, both of whom
favor uninstructed delegations. the latter
to preserve harmony and the former from
motives which the Taft people do not con-
cede are fair to Taft. The plain truth of
it is that Senator Lodge is simply agree
ing with Senator Crane for uninstructed
delegates merely to keep down factionai
fight.
Messrs. Gardner and Cobb today de-
clared that from now on they would make
a hot fight for Taft regardless OF mar
mony talk. They declared that the har-
mony-uninstructed talk was simply
cover OF take delegates away from Taft
at Chicago, and that in no other way
could it be done in view of the over
whelming Taft sentiment in the state.
They told the President what they felt
about the situation. He did not offer any
advice as TO the best course to pursue.
From now on" declared Mr.. Cobb,
Mr.. Gardner vigorously asserting. we
want TO see the Taft people demand in
structionS for the Secretary of War at
every convention, state or congressional,
so that the real voice of the people may
become known. Harmony ought not to be
endangered simply because the great ma
jority of the republicans wish their views
To be carried out at the Chicago con-
Vcntion.
What will be the effect of the ultimatum
i'm Massachusetts, remains to be seen.
Senator Crane, who has long been regard
ed as more or less hostile to the admins
tration and to Secretary Taft although
Outwardly on good terms at the White
House, is conceded to be a man of power
in his state. His move will be awaited
with deep interest Representative Gard
ner is son-in-law of Senator Lodge, but
is known to be entirely independent of the
senator's influence, and to be scrapper
when he believes fight is necessary.
Parsons for Instructions.
In New York the peculiar change in af-
fairs has come from some of the Odell
leaders, who are now opposing instruc-
tions for Gov. Hughes, and declare that
an uninstructed delegation will be best
The Odell people, when they thought the
Roosevelt Parsons Woodruff wing Of the
party was against Hughes, loudly cried
for instructions and, together with the
Hughes faction, really forced through
the New York county committee reso-
luton of support for Hughes. Represent
fsx-oT ~t,-irv ~ hit
county committee of New York, smiled
grimly yesterday when asked about this
new attitude of the Odell faction, and then
said: well, l propose to introduce reso-
luton in the state convention along the
lines passed by our county committee.
This proposes instructions for the dele
gates-at-large, who will be required to
vote for Gov. Hughes until released by
him or until he is nominated. Mr.. PsW-
sons said that he did not know who would
be the delegates at-large, but it is well
known that he feels that the Roosevelt
Parsons-W Woodruff combination will con-
troll the state convention and have charge
of the party machinery for another two
years. This is really the main point
about which there is a fight in the state,
being considered even more important
than what happens to the governors
presidential ambitions.
Military Appropriation Bill.
Chairman Hull of the House military af-
fairs committee says that the military
appropriation bill will be reported to the
House Monday so soon as the District
of Columbia street railway measure is
out of the way Explaining some Of the
features o. the bill. Mr.. Hull. who had
been talking with the President about
certain items, said: THE bill this year
carries something over $4,000 900, as
against S7SOOO,OO0 as the measure became
law last year. The increase is accounted
hui rtctr1
men about SS.OO0.0OO OF which 81, 100000
for the enlisted men is considered abso-
lutely necessary If the army is to be kept
up. The remaining difference is made up
the army. For reserve clothing we ap-
propriate S2,5O0,OOO which was not in
last years bill, and we provide a large
medical supply reserve.
nj the last few years the reserve SUD-
plies of the army have been running low,
too low for safety and these must be re-
plenished. The army lost heavy supplies
of uniforms and other necessaries in the
fire that followed the San Francisco earth
quake. Should occasion arise to equip
10000 men We would have to wait six
months or a year before we could get the
uniforms There ought not to be such a
situation"
Mr.. Hull said he knew that the pro-
posed increase IN the pay of officers and
enlisted men of the army was subject to
q point OF order, which would probably
De maCe, out III IL should be made his
committee would ask the House commit
tee on rules for a rule that would protect
the item against the point. He did not
know whether the committee would agree
to such rule.
Mr. Hull said he regarded 1t as impera-
tive that the enlisted men should be given
greater inducement to stay in the army
and for new men to enlist. One large
item of increase in the bill is to provide
for a better ration for the enlisted men
who have complained as to their present
ration.
Sherman Says It's False.
'If Mr.. Lilley says that the republican
congressional committee received a con-
tribution from the Electric Boat Com
pany or any other builders Of submarine
or other boats he tells a falsehood. and
he knows it, declared Representative
Sherman at the White House Mr.
Sherman Is chairman of the republican
congressional committee and conducted
the campaign two years ago. He called
on the President. presumably to discuss
with him the charges Mr. i1lay that