The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-15
VICE PRESIDENCY
UP IN AIR, MANY
ARE MENTIONED
poLLIvER, coRTELYou. FAIR.
BANKS, AND EVEN HUGHES,
BUSY SCENE AT MICHIGAN
HEADQUARTERS.
BY w. G. r. PRICE.
Especial Correspondent Hearst News
Service and The Tirnes)

The blank may he filled with the
name OF Dolliyer. Fairbanks. Hughes.
Sherman Guild Woodruff Murphy,
or any one of a half dozen other men
who have been mentioned for the
honor OF completing the ticket
That is the situation today on the
eve OF the first meeting OF the Repub-
lican national convention.
Interest naturally centors in the
man who Is expected 10 head the Re-
publican ticket this year All eyes
are fixed upon Ohio's tavorite son,
William Howard Taft who will be the
central figure OF his party during the
greatest political campaign known to
American history.
So far as the nomination FOR presi-
dent Is concerned. the most desperate
attempts OF the managers OF the
'allies" make IL appear there Is
chance that Taft may fail of the NOM
inatiopn on the first ballot.
Claim 7o4 Votes for Taft
The only question which seems TO
excite even languid interest is how
many votes the secretary OF war Will
receive in the first ballot Frank IA.
the Taft forces. still holds TO his esti-
mate that 704 votes will be cast for
the secretary Of war.
The passive list which contains the
names OF Senator Dolliver. of Iowa;
Vice-President Fairbanks. of Indiana;
Gov. Hughes. OF New York: Secretary
Cortelyou. and Senator knight. OF Cal
ifornia. is believed TO contain the
Al al. ln,,-
tial blank
There is strong feeling that If
New York should unite on a man for
the vice-presidency. he would be
chosen. Otherwise IL Is not regarded
as probable that an eastern man will
get IT,
Hughes Favorite New Yorker.
Gov. Hughes Is the favorite New
Yorker so far as the men outside the
state are concerned. Ii is common
expression continually heard. IF New
York would present the name OF
Hughes for the vice-presidency he
would be chosen And this In spite
or his announcement declining TO cen
slider second place.
AS far as can now be learned. the
New Workers are hopelessly split be-
tween Rep. Sherman and Secretary
Cortelyou, with q sprinkling of Wood
ruff men.
They have no present intention OF
uniting on Gov Hughes.
Every hour boomlet Is started for
some favorite son, but as rule, 1t
barely lasts out the hour.
AS a matter of fact the vice-presi-
dency at this writing is up in the
air and one mans guess is as good
as another's
Labor Plank a Sucker.
Interest is increasing In the plat
/ form. Senator Hopkins, who VIII
head the platform committee, is al
most constantly in formal conference
with leaders of the various lines or
thought, trying to shorten the work
of the committee by reaching some
common ground in advance of It's APP
pointment. The labor plank is prov.
in ga sticker and may bring on a gen.
eral debate before the convention.
President Gompers and his council
of the American Federation are here
and are strenuously insisting on a rad
Teal declaration on the question OF in
junction and on other matters in
which organized labor is interested.
This Is being vigorously fought by
strong interests. No matter which
side wins, il means fight on the
floor and 1t Is difficult to see on just
what basis a satisfactory compromise
can be effected.
There are other knotty points TO be
worked out, but If the labor problem
Is solved the others will be compare
lively easy, II is altogether probable
that the document prepared by Atty.
Gen. Ellis. OF Ohio. and which Is said
TO have been approved by Secretary
Taft and President Roosevelt. will be
very different paper from that which
will be presented to the convention,
probably tomorrow.
Final Touches on Program.
This is busy day for the officers
of the convention The final touches
are being put on the program for to-
morows session and the state delega-
tons. all OF which are here. have been
caucusing TO choose committeeman
and the men for honorary positions.
This took up most of the forenoon.
Ii Is hoped that the work of the
convention will be finished Friday
but II Is possible that IL may go over
into Saturday. II will depend upon
the credentials committee. II II can
finish its work in time for the per
manent organization TO be perfected
Wednesday night, the platform may
be presented and passed upon Thurs
day and the nominations made Fri
day. Their are many contests appeal
ed from the action Of the state COM
mittee. however. and II is not improb-
able that the program will be thrown
out Of gear
Fulton Credentials Chairman.
II has been practically decided that
Senator Chas. w. Fulton. Of Oregon,
will head the credentials committee
He is strong Taft man and the com
mittee will have a safe majority OF
supporters OF the secretary of war.
John F. Hill, OF Maine, has been
decided upon az chairman OF the conf
mittee on permanent organization
Senator VIM. Warner. OF Missouri.