Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-21

pleQSeQ anu uhiho.i oe
 to the national convention were elect
 ed here to-day at the republican state
 convention. A resolution indorsing
 Secretary Taft for the presidency
 was tabled by rising vote of 763 to
 25.
 Concord. N. H., April 2l.-The
 prospect of contest over presl-
 dential candidate resolution attract
 ed an unusually large number of dele
 gates to the republican state conven-
 tion, called here to-day to select TOUT
 leaders of the New Hampshire dele gation to Chicago. About half of the delegates arrived last night in time to participate in the preliminary work of starting the convention ma chinery, by the selection of conven- tion officers. This early coming also gave them the opportunity of numer-
 pus little chats and conferences with
 party leaders over local and state
 politics. :,
 To-day's arrivals were mostly from nearby cities and towns and for an hour or two before the convention was rapped to order, Main street and the hotel corridors were crowded. Very little excitement was apparent. No rushing about, no headquarters of any candidate, no display of cam paign buttons, in fact, the few hours previous to the convention were very dull. Yet nearly all the. participants in the days proceedings seemed eager to obtain some information as to whether resolutions expressing pref. erence for Secretary Taft as the par ty candidate for president would be pressed in the convention. It was known that the platform had been completed, that the convention off cers had been elected and two hours before the convention met there was no opposition to the four avowed can >didates for delegates at large-Sena- tor Jacob H. Gallinger, former Gov ernor Chester B. Jordan. Attorney General Edwin G. Eastman and Ed ward P. Jones'.
 But Taft preference resolutions furnished plenty of food for discus sion and thought.
 Former Governor Frank w. Rol- lins. Frank s. Streeter and Winston Churchill, leaders of the Taft league of the state, refused to disclose theil plans this morning or state what might be their action in the conyen- ton. Other party leaders, such as Senator Gallinger and former Sena- tor Chandler, who had not been idon- tified with the Taft movement, were fully as reticent so that a majority of the delegates went to the conven. ton hall in an expectant mood.
 Tn the hours proceeding the open ing of the convention, the leaders of the Taft league of New Hampshire asserted that if their candidate for the presidential nomination should not be recognized in the report of the committee on resolutions. as was re- quested last night. they were pre- pared to offer some kind. of Taft | resolution on the floor of the conyen- ton.
 Although there was considerable | discussion and speculation AS to the | outcome among small groups of del- | egates, there were no Formal con- | ferences before the committee opened | this forenoon. Tho various com mittees had done their work, the | machinery was believed to be in working order and there was nothing to be done until the call of tho ehairman's gavel started the | in operation. There was plenty of activity, however, and by 9:30 o'clock it was believed that 700 out of the 500 delegates to the had reached the city and | was scattered throughout the hotels and the streets in the vicinity of the hall.
 The opera house, the scene of the days proceedings began to fill by 10:30. delegates strolling over from the hotel in little groups of twos and threes nearly all intently discussing state politics. local and gem ersl. ...|.-...
 There was no band to enliyen the wait, but there was plenty of chatter about the Auditorium. Some Of the party leaders before the call to order were bustling up and down the aisles urging harmony.
 The stage filled up gradually with elder men of the party. Nearly ev- ery one of them was applauded as he found his seat The party leaders ar. rived late and it was some minutes sfter II o'clock when Senator Gal finger. chairman of the state com nittee appeard.