The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-15
MONTANA GOES
FOR SEC. TAFT
SIX DELEGATES TO NATIONAL
CONVENTION CHOSEN.
BAIR is ONE OF THEM
Supporters Of Hughes and President
Roosevelt, Who Constituted No
Small Part Of Convention, stren-
i# uously Oppose instructions.

uousIy Oppose Instructions.
Especial to The Gazette.)
Butte, May 14.-The Montana state
republican convention in this city
this afternoon endorsed the policies of
President Roosevelt and instructed
its six delegates to the national con-
vention at Chicago for Secretary
Taft, despite the objections Of the
supporters Of Gov. Hughes and Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who constituted no
small part Of the convention. Chair
man Fl. q. Miller Of Livingston car
ried the Taft forces through with the
iron hand Of the dictator.
When Gen. Charles S. Warren of
Silver Bow moved to lay the resolu-
.tions on endorsing Secretary Taft on
the table. he was promptly ruled out
OF order by the chairman amid the
protests of the delegate, who shouted
that he would not be bound by the
gag rule, and that he was against it
first, last and all the time.
Gag Rule Effective.
Amid a pandemonium Of ayes and
nays when Chairman Miller put the
motion to adopt the resolution en-
dorsing the secretary of war, the
chair declared it carried. No chance
was given for roll call of the coun-
ties. In the committee on resolutions
a bitter fight was made against the
resolution, which was carried by a
small margin. O. B. Bannon Of Pow
ell, who succeeded in gaining recog-
milton, pleaded for independence.
The following delegates were chos-
en- to the Chicago convention:
Charles R. Leonard, Silver Bow; T.
A. NARROW. Lewis and Clark; Charles
M. Bair, Yellowstone; A. ]. Bennett,
Madison; ]. G. Bair, Teton: Col. f,
M. Malone, Custer.
Want Courts, Power Modified.
One resolution states that the re-
publican party OF the State of Mon
tana pledges its support for the pas
sage Of law modifying the power oi
the courts to issue injunctions, as
urged by President Roosevelt in his
recent message to congress.
The Lewis and Clark delegation
held a caucus this forenoon for the
purpose Of determining upon the Sc
lection Of delegates to the nationel
convention. After thorough canvass
OF the situation Thomas A. NARROW ol
Helena, Charles s. Leonard Of Mute
and ]. B. Gnose Of Anaconda were
endorsed and a committee consisting
Of Messrs. Galen, Smith, Beattie and
Lanstrum was selected to name the
other three.
Division Of Vote.
The committee determined upor
this division of the remainder Of thu
vote: G. NJ. Bair Of Billings. 81 votes;
Strain Of Great Falls, 16; J. B. Bali
Of Teton county, 15 votes; w. F
Meyer Of Carbon, 16 votes, and A. J
Bennett Of Madison, 15 votes.
Shortly after 1 o'clock procession
formed in front Of the Finlen ant
Thornton hotels, with the famous
Boston & Montana band at It's head
Then followed State Chairman Mad
dox and C.. 8. Leonard Of Butte
Lewis and Clark was given the place
Of honor in the long narade. At 1:4'
Chairman Maddox called the conven
tion to order in the Handsomely deco
rated Auditorium, In which the ma
tional colors, bunting, potted plant
and portraits Of President Roosevelt
predominated.
Majority Will BE Wiped Out.
Chairman Maddox introduced Rev
A. n. Morrison Of the Mountain viey
Methodist church, who delivered Al
invocation, after which the Chairman
addressed the convention at lengtl
on the leading issues Of the day. II
paid tribute to the Butte Merchants
association for It's appropriate PREF
aration for the entertainment Of vii
itors, arrangements for the conver
tion and the decorations. Divertin
to politics, he said that Silver Bo,
has shown undisputable signs q
awakening, and that the 1000 demo
cratic majority Of Silver Bow count
four years ago had been reduced t
less than 400 year ago, and he PIT
dicted amid applause that it woul
be totally wiped but this fall.
Outlook Encouraging.
Looking toward the Broadwate
county delegation he said that Il 2
votes could have been changed in tt:
county the result would have bee
/ unanimous. He said the outlook
the nation was equally encouragtn
and he predicted . larger popu!s
vote for the republican nominee