Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-11
BAY STATE BIG FOUR
Lodge, Crane, Long and Bigney
Elected Delegates-at-Large.
COMPROMISE ON INSTRUCTION
Platform Says Majority fOr'Taft, but
Delegation is Unhampered.
LONG FIGHT IN COMMITTEE
Action Agreed Upon to Prevent
Contest in Convention.
GUILD FOR VICE PRESIDENT
Candidacy of the Governor for Second
Place On the Ticket Formally
Endorscd--Tarin Revision
Favored.
Action Agreed Upon to Prevent
Contest in Convention.
GUILD FOR VICE PRESIDENT


who will head the Massachusetts, delega-
tion to the republican national convention
will go to Chicago unpledged. These four
delegates, selected at the state convention
today are United States Senators Henry
Cabot Lodge and W.. Murray Crane. ex-
Secretary Of the Navy John d. Long and
Sidney o. Binney. business man.
The convention adopted resolutions en-
d6rsing Governor Curtis Guild jr., as
candidate for the vice presidential nom
ination and advocating a wise revision"
Of the tariff. on the question of the pres
ldential candidacy OF Secretary Of War
William II. Taft. the platform held that
the convention recognized that majority
OF the delegates to the convention de-
aired his nomination" but that II was
mot certain whether resolution of
preference would be carried, and its pre-
sentation would certainly lead to a con-
test which would he injurious to the well
fare OF the party" This last named plank.
the adoption OF which was the feature of
the convention. It was admitted by all the
party leaders was a compromise. It was
submitted to the committee on resolutions
this morning by the TAFT league. after
all-night session. The fight on it may be
regarded as beginning with the inception
OF the Taft movement In this state several
months ago, and II became acute when
Senator Crane although not directly op-
posing the candidacy Of Secretary Taft, de-
clared In a public statement in February
that the delegation to Chicago ought not
to be hampered by pledge
Long Contest Over Platform.
Up to a late hour today both sides had
made every effort for decisive victory in
the convention. The Taft men wanted
either pledge or preference resolutions.
whereas their opponents fought against
anything that would Indicate a preference
The compromise was affected when the
leaders Of the unpledged cause admitted
that a majority of the delegates TO the
state convention favored Secretary Taft,
and the leaders agreed that a resolution
expressing d desire instead OF a preference
for his Nomination would he satisfactory
The plank was drawn up at 4 o'clock this
morning. laid before the committee on
resolutions six hours later and agreed to-
after session OF about forty minutes.
Even after this agreement had been
reached, it was thought possible that some
Of the warInest supporters Of Secretary
Taft would endeavor to substitute for It
more radical plank. But Immediately
after the reading of the resolution. Senator
Lodge made a speech explaining that the
compromise was in the interests Of party
harmony. as well as owing to his friendship
for his colleague, Senator Crane. and his
desire for the success of Lieutenant Cover
nor Draper next fall, and the perpetuation
OF the policies of President Roosevelt. The
resolutions were then carried with rush
and even Congressman A. p. Gardner. one
of the leading Taft supporters, in Massa-
chusetts, voted in their favor.
Convention Begins Work.
The convention was called TO order
promptly on time by Chairman Doty of
the state committee, Senators Lodge and
Crane and Representative Gardner were
loudly applauded when they took seats on
the platform.
The committee credentials reported
that Of the 1850 delegates to which the
convention was entitled i,4O7 were present
Postmaster General George Won L. Meyer
presided as chairman of the convention.
He 6welt on the nations growth and what
lad been accomplished under republican
administration in the last eleven years
The postmaster general laudod President
Roosevelt as an executive who had largely
through his efforts made the United States
a world power. lie spoke of the present
Industrial depression OF the causes that
led TO IL and the position taken by the
federal government in reference TO the
questions that now confront the country.
The postmaster general said in part:
sPeech OF Postmaster General.
We have passed through a monetary
crisis of late but we should remember
that since the civil war the country has
experienced two great financial crises,
namely, I'm 1873 and in 1888, and in each in
stance II recovered the lost ground ana
then advanced to stin greater heights of
success apd prosperity.
The financial disturbances of 1907 are
now recognised as due to credit conditions
among several nations which were favor
Theye are those who blame the admins
tTatioh for their losses and refuse to
acknowledge tho real causes which brought
about the disturbed financial conditions
They prefer to believe their troubles to b.
due TO the struggle between the nation and
certain powerful combinations commonly
known as trusts, that have managed by
illegal methods to drive their competitors
70 tho wslk thus destroying competition.
monopolizing trade, and eventually
ahlng them p demand discrimination
withdrawal of their products.
II has been the purpose OF the president
To make these combinations realize, no
matter how powerful or prominent those
laws must be obeyed by all. AS a dts
tinguished senator said: The efficacy of
al law liss IN the integrity and persistence
The republican party is unalterabiy op.
posed 20 government ownership OF rad
roads bat it favors government supsrvis-
ion. and / venture 10 predict that when
that IL realized. instead of its being a
disadvsntage 10 our railroads. Il will prove
"A great benefit. The fact that an issue OF
bonds or stocks has been authorized by
the national government will at once insure
ready market for those securities in the
most conservative financial circles OF
Europe which they have not had hereto
fore In other words. government sanction
will prove to be as beneficial 20 those Sc
curities as the printed guarantee required
bV me government under the pure food Law
mas been TO our food products.
Achievements OF Administration.
The postmaster general enumerated the
accomplishments OF the Roosevelt admins
tration as follows;
The revision Of our immigration laws
with a view 10 excluding anarchists and
nersonh Of low moral tendencies.