Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-16
Stirring Up al Awful Gless 10 The
Contest for Delegates.
Navy cOHTfsTIgG DELEsATIOas
There WIN be But Few Districts
Which viii Not Have Two Sets Of
Delegates at chIcaso-tiistory Re.
peatine Itself.

Southern states for the Republican
national convention! From the very
beginning contests were inauguratel
and from the present outlook IL is
doubtful whether there will be many
states or districts that do not have
double headed delegations. The con-
test Is on between the officeholders on
one side who are determined TO send
TAFT delegates TO the convention and
the would-be Office holders on the
other who want to nominate a Presi-
dent who will give them u show
From present appearances. it looks az
II the Southern delegations at the
Republican national convention Will
be more disgraceful than at any OF
the preceding conventions. even when
they were bought first for one candi-
date and then for another. -
| The scenes enacted in 1886 are be-
ing repeated. but 4 different motive
inspires the Southern Republicans
Twelve years ago Mark Hanna
through his agents. distributed the 81
news of war for Mckinley In the
South. and these agents were more
lavish In promises of favors to come
than they were with the money that
was raised to secure AlcKinley's
nomination. Probably very little
money is now being used In the
South. and 1t Is largely q contest Of
the outs" against the "ins" It took
the national committee In 1896 more
than week of solid work to pass
upon the contest cases from the
South. From present indications It
looks as II the national committee
! would be obliged to give much more
time than week to getting the con-
test cases. The strife in the South
ern states. with the disgraceful spec
tacle repeated day after day, may
serve to bring attention to the condi-
ton of affairs. aud the Republicans
may decide to reduce these conditions
to a minimum in the future.
Way Back IN 1896.
In 1896 the election OF Southern
delegates caused n great deal of Bit
terness. Then. as now, It was field
against single candidate. In some
sections efforts were made to elect
delegates for Reed. in others Morton
was the choice, and occasionally there
would he an attempt TO elect Allison
delegates. 1t was Intended to use
AHt OpDOolNiOu bSdlnSl /.
This year II Is the field against Taft.
We find the friends of Fairbanks.
Cannon and Knox all interested in I'M
Instructed anti-Taft delegates. AS in
1896. there are two different versions
or the Southern conventions. The
anti Taft managers receive kilograms
Isaying that they have won and the
Taft men are informed that the dele
tgates for the, secretary have been
elected. As 10 which side has won.
there Is no definite Information. and
in fact, no one can tell until the ma
tlonal committee decides. II made
Tom Reed exceedingly bitter when he
received telegram announcing the
election of delegates in the South, for
him and =. the next morning that
mckinley had won in the same con
lvention Any one who knows any
lthipe about the Southern Republicans
is aware that both sides will set up a
claim to victory without regard to the
rights OF the case. But In the final
determination of the contests of 1896
1t was proven that. where the claim
was made TINT Mckinley had Won
the national committee confirmed that
report by seating the Mckinley dele
gates. ...t4
That was because Hanna had
first captMred the national CON-
mittee. Hanna had reduced
the Southern delegate problem
to a scientific system which meant
success. All the Mckinley contest
ants were represented by attorneys;
every case was briefed and the claims
set forth in afidavits. But. what was
more to the point these Hanna
agents had been clever enough ia
have regularity" on their side. The
other fellows may have had the ma
jority of the convention. but the Han
ma men always had the chairman or
the person authorized to issue the
call for the convention or call the
convention 10 order with them. There
might have been the most fragrant
and outrageous cause of power. hut
regularity" was what they sought
land with national committee ready
to vote right" there was not the
least difficulty about seating the Nc
Kinley delegates.
During the proceedings of the COM
nittee which settled these contests
there was an occasional attempt TO
fight what appeared to be the gross
est kind OF fraud and chicanery. is,t
Il was no use. There were fifty men,
bers OF the committee and the oppo-
sitio never mustered more than TWEEN
ty votes on any case against seating
the Mckinley delegates.