The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-03
THEY SAY TAFT IS BEATEN
ANNOt MOMENT N BEHALF OT
OTHER CANDIDATES,
II IS 10 the Eject That the Opposition nnI
Control the Republican National Con.
,entiOn by More Than 100 Votes
Foraker Gets Onto Delegates.

WASHISGIoS, May g announcement Is
made tonight in behalf Of other candidates
for the Republican Presidential nomination
that 1t IL now certain that the opposition
10 Secretary Taft will control the national
convention 10y a majority Of more than
one hundred votes The statement in
which this announcement is made contains
the following additional claims
The last week was the fourth IN which
Secretary Taft has lost ground in the PRO.
portion Of delegates committed to his cause.
On April l Secretary Taft had more than
half the delegates then elected IN bis in.
structed column. On May | less than
one-third we're 60 classified.
During the past week the report has
been widely circulated In behalf Of SecTc-
tary Taft's candidacy that the opposition
to his nomination was disintegrating and
several opposing a indicates have been
mentioned a about 10 withdraw from the
race. II may be stated authoritstively
that these statements, in line with many
others issued for the purpose OF creating
the belief that the nomination Of Secretary
Taft is assured, have 20 basis in fact.
During the last week l+5 delegates
were elected. or this number only forty
two we're instructed for Secretary Taft,
although only eight of these delegates
were elected in so-called favorite son States.
The regular delegates chosen this week in
the Thirteenth Ohio district are for Senator
Foraker. These, with two that have al
ready been instructed for him and the
delegates in three other districts which
his friends control. will give him a total
Of ten votes in the State and prevent Secre-
tary Taft from having a solid delegation
In his home State.
In Kentucky and Mississippi the Efforts
Of the Federal oficeholders TO control the
selection OF delegates we're attended by
fraud aud violence. resulting In delega-
tions contested almost in their entirety.
In Mississippi delegates to the State ON
y%ention. including the State chairman,
were prevented from participating in the
proceedings by armed men, although a
large majority OF the delegates regularly
chosen were opposed TO the programme
Of the oficeholders. The regular delegation
is for Senator Foraker.
"0f the 7S4 delegates elected up 10 this
time 2S7 are instructed for Secretary Taft
and ~ for the opposition. One hundred
and forty are uninstructed and 10 contested.
A large majority nf the uninstructed dele
gates are committed to the opposition, as
the plan Of the Taft management has been
70 secure Instructed delegates wherever
possible, while that Of the opposition has
been 10 send uninstruoted delegates from
outside the so-called 'favorite son States,'
The plan Of the Taft management,
especially in the South, has been to bring
contests wherever their forces failed TO be
in the ma jority. A majority Of the con-
tested delegates will he committed TO the
opposition on the face Of the returns and
the evidence, and therefore by the de-
cision Of the national committee and CON
vention will be seated