The Washington herald., 1908-04-11
TAFT NOT PREFERRED
Bay State Republicans in
Harmonious Convention.
DELEGATION NOT INSTRUCTED
Negro Defeated for AIternate-Lodge
Pays Tribute 10 Cranes LabOrs in
Procuring ResHlts-Meyer EulOEizez
Secretary Of War-AetiOn Nay At
feet Other New England States.
speeiai to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Boston. April lo.-senator Lodge made
a magnificent speech in the Massachu-
sets Republican convention to-day. Sen
ator Crane made no speech.
AS he sat upon ths stage in fremont
Temple. Crane manlfestly enjoyed the
tribu-e his senior colleague paid to his
patience, self-oontrol. and devotion to
the interests Of the Republican party. %
that had resulted in a free and untram-
meled delegation-at-large to the national
convention at Chicago.
II word. the long effort to commit the
Massachusetts, convention to the cause Of
any one candidate had failed.
But its failure has been accomplished
with a suavity. a nice balancing of words.
and an enthusiasm OF escape from threat
ened trouble that augur well for the
harmony Of the party in both the State
and the national campaigns. Every one
who reads the paragraph Of the Massa-
chusetts platform that deals with the
Presidential nomination viii admire the
wondrous deleaey of its phrasing.
Might Of Labor.
The trained ingenuity OF both Senator's
Lodge and Crane as well as the protests
and arguments Of some of the extremists
for and against an independent delega-
tion. were kept busy the greater part of
all night before this surrender Of the
Taft insuuctionists was formulated.
The name Of Taft is brought in deftlv.
but, it viii be observed. as favored bv a
number Of the resolutions committee.
With curious balancing. the assertion is
made that q majority OF the delegates
desire Tafts nomination. yet that the
passage OF a resolution In his favor woIld
be doubtful Hence. for the sake Of har-
mony, there was no resolution Of prefer
ence- The body Of delegates, who did not
know previously what had been going on
overnight. gasped with relief and shouted
its unanimous approval
The speech of Senator Lodge was a
virlle, tactful Grafton, delivered with ALI
the energy of enthusiastic devotion To
persons and to party with which # was
inspired. The cordial response of me
convention TO his praise Of the adnfnis-
traTion Of President Roosevelt was one
Of the most marked demonstrations Of
the gathering
Might Have Used Blue Pencil.
In his address as permanent chairman.
Post ma sfer Eaneret AF.,,r.- s;s -.
an appropriate tribute to his official Chief
which also was warmly received. But II
is assumed that If Mr.. Meyer had known
in rme Of the harmony that had been
reached over night, he might have done
some editing to his well-expressed but
no longer needed eulogy of Mr. Taft.
It is not always possible for the author
OF speech 70 know that some of IT may
have chilled since its first ardent dicta-
ton. But Mr.. Meyer was cordially re-
ceived and warmly applauded.
There was a furry toward the end of
The convention over the proposal to elect
one sof two rival negroes as alternate
delegate. This was scientifically squelch-
ed by the decorous and soothing process
Of 8 paper ballot.
Massachusetts Republicans are asking
themselves tonight whether this check
to the Taft boom wiz have its effect
in the other New England States. whose
conventions are yet to be held But OF
the harmony that has been wrought in
this State there can be no doubt.
There are assurances that il will mani
fest itself in many ways tomorrow.