The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-03-05
TAFT MEN ALREADY CLAIM
THAT HE HAS ALMOST A
MAJORITY.
SECRETARY AGAINST FElB
A Big Scramble is Now On with
the G. o. p. For Delegations
to the Nationa!
Convention.

Washington March A great
fight is being made by various avow
ed candidate for the presidency for
control OF the Republican national
committee. Up to a monh ago ii
was quite certain that majority os
the COMMITTEES was opposed to the
nomination of Secretary Taft Now
MIR. Taft's friends are claiming the
control with all the confidence that
| is characteristic with them. Mr.
Frank II. Hitchcock Tatts campaign
manager is quite sure that more
than half OF the members OF The
mittee are supporters of the sec
retary
"You may state unauivocaNy and
empnatIcally' said ne "that Mr-
Taft's friends control the national
committee
since Mr.. Hitchcock retired from
Tho office OF First Assistant Postmaso
er General he has been deyotpg bis
: time 3o conference with state leaders
of Inc republican party from all parts
iof the country. These conferences
have had to do particularly with the
attitude toward Secretary Taft OF
members OF the national committee'
IN add ton Mr.. Hitchcock has com
oimicated directly with the commit
teemen themselves with all OF wnom
through his previous connection WIN
national campaigns he is well ac-
quianted.
Quite naturally the contest has nor
been one sided While Mr. Hitchcock
and other friends of Secretary TaTS
have been working vigorously the
other candidates and then friends
nave nor been idle. All realize not
merely that tactical but practical ad
vantage that will accrue to The can
didate or candidates in control OF tne
committee. ri is not unlikely indeeo
that it may carry with it the power
TO make the nomination
In the course of the contest an lili'
notant fact has been developed prer
~ conclusively, that is that the nghC
inst now is Taft against the field IL
is assured substantially that the otn7
er candidates have formed a "orhlns'
aoreement by terms OF which for cel-
tain purposes they will suand as
nit OF course the principal purs
Nose is the control OF the hatlonaA
committee. -
Until within two or three wteks IL
,y,s not believed to be a pre- requlsite
10 the nomination that Secretary ! ais
ehonla he able to dominate the eohi-
nittee. but developments partlcu'ariY
in tbr south now indicate t2at he
viii have TO control it il ne t%i"9'S
IN secure the nomination. In ''atS
acery southern state contesunS oeie-
,eations will be chosen and tn'y "n'
r,ala the welldn ring at Chicago with
their protestahons. Secretary Ial1s
,nonaaers mad expected TO wtn inc
southern delegates with special an
cultv but it is evident now that tney
w,u have to fight for every one they
cn, Thus the attitude of the nation
al committee becomes supremeiy In
nortant for that body will make up
tbn temporary roll Of delegates ana
those delegates will choose the com
r,ittees OF the convention. The &C
It,on Of tne committee will determine
the control Of the convention.
AZ this time the opposition to Sec
retary Taft has in signt something in
excess OF 300 delegates not counting
tbose it claims in New England, In
me northwest and on the Pacinc
coast AS there are $50 delegates TO
be in the convention AL viii be
necessary to secure the control Tle
fight between Taft and the so--called
allies viii be for about 200 delegates
The Importance Of the Southern yot"
in the convention therefore may be
understood readily It seems prob
able now that mastery Of the slta-
alton will depend upon the South.