Evening journal., 1908-06-09
TAFT OPPOSES
COMPROMISES
Wants the Legally Elected
Delegates Seated in Every
Instance in Chicago
1T WAS PROPOSED TO
DIVIDE SOUTHERN VOTE
By united Press Leased Special wire.

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
CHICAGO, June 9--Armed with the
declaration Of Secretary Taft that there
must be no compromise in any con-
tests, the Taft men to-day went into
the meeting of the Republican Ma
tional Committee to ight for every
thing they can get out Of the Louisiana
contests.
The results will probably be the big
gest fight the committee has yet had
in the consideration OF contests.
If q delegate has been elected he
should be seated. If he has not been
elected ne should not he seated by a
compromise"
This IS the message sent by Taft
from Washington to his managers here
when it was suggested to them that
they should agree to a compromise IN
some of the Louisiana and other south
ern contests in the interest Of harmony.
Wants Legal Delegates Seated.
The secretary's message is taken To
mean that he is in favor of seating of
legally elected delegates, no matter
what the consequences. This stand of
Taft is regarded as certain of fulfill
ment of the threets made by the Allies
that the convention will witness the
warmest floor fight in the history Of
republican conventions.
The message was sent by Taft after
Senator.elect Bradley. of Kentucky
had declared that he would make no
further effort before the committee to
gei contssting delegates seated, but
Kentucky be seated, he personally
wouDl make a speech from the conven.
ton floor, denouncing Taft in a speech
which would not be sensational II
nothing else.
Hcpsd Fer Split.
This statement Of Bradley was tele
graphed TO Taft Lass night, and his
reply as above. came right back. The
Allies had hoped all along that, what
ever action the committee might take
on the other southern contests, they
would split the Louisiana vote. -Four
years ago the Credentials Committee
of the National Convention had trouble
over the Louisiana delegates and split
DELEGATIONS between the TWO contesting
factions.
This year the Allies charge that the
Lilly Whites, who constitute the Taft
faction, openly admitted that they had
unseated negro delegates. not because
they were Illegally elected, but because
they were negroes. The Allies declare
that to declare against the colored
delegates now might cause trouble to
the party in November.
The consideration of the whole
Louisiana matter will probably occupy
about three hours. The National Com
mittee ealled the contests up yesterday
afternoon. Some opposition by Taft
men on the National Committee Ia
Pearl White. one of the Taft delegates
at large from Louisiana, threatened 70
give the committee embarrassment
and the committee adjourned until to-
day hoping TO give the Allies and the
Taft men a chance to compromise.
Tafts message killed this plan and the
committee will be forced to meet the
issue to-day.
HitehooeLSs Friencs Busy.
The Hitchcock adherents are busy
to-day denying that Chairman New
summarily fired Hitchcock from hi;
position as assistant secretary of tho
committee. Indiana friends Of New
declare that New was displeased al
FTitchcocx's prominence and so named
Arthur Fisher, one of Secretary Dover
aides as assistant secretary. Friends
of the Taft manager declare the state
ment is without warrant. Hitchcock
they claim. has been too busy to de-
vote attention TO. the work Of assistant
secretary and told New that his plac,
should be filed. The result was tn,
appointment of Fisher.
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts
who has been acting as committeeman
by proxy since the initial session was
not a rnember to-day. Committeeman
Mccoy, of the Philippines got on th'
Job himself and the Senator is conplet
ing his speech as permanent chair
man.
When the committee met to-day e
resume consideration of the Louisiana
contests there was still talk of a COM
promise in spite of Taft's declaration