The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-19
SUPPORTERS OF MIR. TAFT
 DISCUSS VICE-PRESIDENCY

Chicago. June 1S.-A meeting of prominent Republicans most, but not all of them supporters of Secretary Taft, was held tonight at the rooms of Frank H. Hitchcock. one of Mir. Taft's managers. The meeting began at 10 o'clock and was still in session at mid night. It had been the expectation that this conference would decide up- on the available candidate for the vice. presidential nomination and 1t was even anticipated by some that the view of Secretary Taft as to the choice of a companion on the ticket would be made known.
 In both respects, the meeting was a disappointment. The situation had been represented to MT. Taft by wire, but at a late hour no definite prefer once had been expressed by him.
 In the absence of a statement from the presidential nominee the confer ence busied Itself with a discussion of the situation and in doing so the avail ability of many men was discussed. The preponderance of opinion seems to be favorable to the selection of some man from the Mississippi valley and the names of Senator Deliver and Governor Cummins were frequently mentioned. The meeting was made aware of the action of the Iowa dele gation in deciding to withdraw the name of Senator Deliver In case 1t should be presented and 1t was the general view that such action would have demoralizing effect upon the convention.
 The kindly feeling of the admins tration for Governor Cummins was conceded, but some expressed the thought that he would not be accept able to the convention. The names of Senators Long of Kansas and Warner of Missouri were suggested. but both of these gentlemen, being present promptly declined to be considered as candidate. It was represented that Vice-President Fairbanks would have many friends In the convention and the opinion was voiced by some that all things considered, he would make the most acceptable nominee that could be chosen. The advancement of the boom of Representative Sherman was freely the opinion that his nomination was highly probable. but there was no de- cision to concentrate upon him.
 The nearest approach to a conclu- sion was the general opinion that tn ere would be no capitalization of senti- ment before the taking of the first bal lot for Vice-President at the beginning of tomorrow's session of the conven- ton.
 OluCI ltipoEtdllb tkpf eAoPulcHbc m lile vIce-presidential sttnatlen during the day were:
 The decision of tfs Iowa delegation to withdraw the name of. Senator Dol liver in case 1t should be presented and to press Governor Oummius for the of- flee; the active propa ganda In behalf of ReprdAentatiTe sherman and devel- opments of strength by him in unex- pected quarters and the apparent fall ing off in the prospects of Vice-PresI- dent Fairbanks due largely to his an- nouncement of his refusal to he a can didate and to the fact that some of his Indiana friends heve sharply antago- nized the Taft management.
 During the day John Hays Hammond definitely withdrAw from the race and it was announced that in all probabil- ity Mr. Kellogg's claims would not be presented. The friends of George A. Knight of CalifoFnia. were quite &C., tive in llls behalf. and apparently they were not entirely without hope. The determination of the supporters of Governor Guild and of Hon. Franklin L. Murphy to present their names to the convention was reiterated.