The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-10
THE FLORIDA
SENSATION
Taft Element the Boilers From
Convention
-
CRANE HAD NO HAND IN 1T
Though He Is Keeping in Touch With
the Situation Throughout Country
Letter Urging 0ficeholders to
Work for Taft.
CRANE HAD NO HAND IN IT

Washington, Feb. 1O.--The Florida
Republican convention continues 0 be
the political sensation. The story Of the
proceedings as they actually occurred
has been learned direct from respon.
sible person VINO was present on the
floor throughout the convention and who
arrived in Washington early Saturday
morning from ST. Augustine According
to this account the convention was call
ed to order BY the Taft people, who con-
trolled the then existing state central
committee. But as soon as the trial Of
strength came it proved that the anti
Taft forces had majority in the con-
yention. They elected new state cen
trail committee, elected delegates and
adopted the resolution against the use
Of federal patronage Having been I'M
able to control the regular convention,
the Taft people later held second con.
yenion. 1t was thus the Tafe element
which bolted.
The makeup Of the Taft party in the
South seems to be significantly indicated
BY the alleged fact that out Of the III
members Of the Florida state central
committee at the time the first conven.
tion was held, no less than ~ were feds
eral officials. But the new state cen
trail committee elected By the regular
convention il understood not to contain
4 single federal office holder iii lis en-
tire membership. The four delegates at
large selected BY the rump convention
are reported to include three federal Off.
cials, while the fourth delegate Is Mr..
Co0mbs. the national committeeman.
through whom, ii is said, the aiministra-
ton distributes Florida patronage. Mr..
Coombs Is said to have recently been at
the White House.
Representative Butler Ames, when
seen again Saturday. IN reagrd TO the
Florida situation. declined to make any
statement as to his alleged activity in
organizing the anti Taft forces But It
Il generally accepted that he was laTgclg
Instrumental IN the result. Assuming
that AIr. Ames' purpose ii going 10
Florida was what it seems to have been,
il may be said that he was sent down
hy Senator Crane Senator Crane il
keeping Ill touch with the situation
throughout the country, but Ne had no
hand III the Florida affair.
Such leadership as Senator Crane Is
taking among the anti-Taft forces mas
not been sought BY him, any more tnan
be has sought tile division now existing
IN the party The simplest and most
comfortable course would have been
meekly 70 acqtliesce in the will Of the
administration. but seat in the esnate
Is attractive to Senator Crane only so
long ~ it carries with it the privilege
of doing his own thinking for himself
and taking whatever position seems best
IN his own judgment, IL Is not an
agreeable thing 20 differ VITA the pres
eHt administration, as almost any one
who tried It would testify. Among the
many and unaonbted virtues III the
Roosevelt administration there Il ap.
pafentlv not included mich ability 10
recognize that opinions contrary to its
own may be equally honest and con
seientious
The anti-Taft forces claim 20 have in
their possession copies Of letters written
BY Assistant Treasurer Thomas j.
Akins Of the United States sub-treas
ury at st. Louis to postmasters ia the
9Th and 9TH Missouri congressional dis
triets urging them to work for Taft. 1t
IS promised that matter viii get a
airing.