New-York tribune., 1908-06-06
GET SOLID DELEGATION
FROM ALABAMA.
also T5cO Seats IN arkansas
allies Unsuccessfully Protest
against Hitchcock.
IBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune ]

for Taft from the 9Th District Of Arkansas. This
action was taken without division IN the COM
mittee. and the anti-Taft members con-
cede that out of a total membership Of fifty
four there are this evening not over half a dozen
anti-Taft men. Earlier estimates OF the stand
ing OF the committee gave Taft thirty-six mem
bers of the committee. against eighteen In oppo-
sition but the band wagon" movement was
rapid to-day. and It Is doubted IL any division
In the committee will occur throughout the
meeting.
When the committee met to-day IL was found
that the Taft people had surprise 20 spring.
Frank Fl. Hitchcock, manager OF the Taft cam
paign. and Charles G. Phelps. of Connecticut,
and Arthur 2. Statter, formerly Assistant Sec
retary Of the Treasury, had filed with the sec
retary OF the national committee the proxies OF
Solomon Luna, national committeeman from
New Mexico: Alexander Mckenzie. national
committeeman from North Dakota. and John c.
Held national committeeman from Alaska. re-
spectively. and were therefore entitled to sit as
members Of the committee. The oral protests
of the so-caIled "allies'' were loud and furious.
and almost Immediately a formal protest. signed
by Representative Burke, manager Of the Knox
boom. and Joseph B. Kealins. manager OF the
Fairbanks boom. was fled with the COMMITTEES
by ". F. Aldrich. attorney for the Scott-David
son contestants from Alabama General Powell
Clayton OF Arkansas promptly moved to lay
the protest on the table and the motion was
carried. the only negative vote being that Of
National Committeeman Scott. OF Alabama
When the information reached the crowd OUT
side the committee room that the protest had
been almost unanimously rejected. the oral pro-
tests of the leaders Of the opposition vers re-
newed with added vehemence, but they were. Of
course wholly Ineffective
THE TRTBUNE.s TABLE PRAISED
To-days action OF the national COMMITTEES
changes The Tribune table of delegates by four
votes bringing the total be accredited TO
Taft up to 55T. The Tribune had already given
the Secretary twenty votes from Alabama and
the committee added two more. while The Trfb-
une's table placed two votes from Arkansas in
the unconrnitted column which must now be
transferred to Taft Members of the national
COMMITTEES who carefully watched the growth OF
The Tribune's table declare it to be the fairest
and most accurate classification OF delegates
published In any quarter. although they say this
evening that after the committee has acted the
claims set forth by Mr.. Hitchcock will not be
wide of the mark
The course of the committee to-day cannot be
taken as an absolute criterion for all contested
cases 1t is possible that the Taft delegates
may win in every contest. but it ia more proba-
BILE that when Louisiana is reached. which will
probably be on Monday, there will be some de-
Walton as there the question OF lilly white" and
"bIack and tam IS understood to be squarely in
volved.
The victory Of the Taft forces to-day has
added materially 10 the popularity OF Frank H
Hitchcock and already the advisability OF send
ing delegation TO Secretary Taft to suggest
the wisdom OF electing Mr. Hitchcock chair
man of the national COMMITTEES is being dis
cussed
I'VE are old politicians. and when a youngster
like that beats us at own game he certainly
commands our respect" said a prominent rnen-
her of the committee who has been regarded a.
anti-Taft Many other remarks complimentary
TO the political diplomacy of Mr.. Hitchcock were
heard after the meeting this evening. all OF
which would seem to indicate his growing popu-
Iartty for national chairman Should such a
wish be expressed by the national COMMITTEES
there is no doubt that Secretary Taft will
cordially acquie5ce.
REJECTION OF ALLIES - PROTEST
wben the protest of Messrs. Healing and
Burke was received by the committee and
nroy-ed 10 be based on the allegation that Messrs
Hitchcock, Phelps and Statter. all OF whom
have been associated with Secretary Taft's CAM
paign for the nomination, were pretudtced. o. D.
Street attorney for the successful Alabama fac
ton called attention to the fact that National
Committeeman Scott. who was reasonably inter
ested in the outcome of the Alabama contest.
was also sitting and would have vote. hs
had assured some of the members OF his faction
in Alabama when, apparently. they questioned
the likelihood of their being seated at Chicago.
Further debate was shut off. however. BY the
motion of General Clayton to table the protest
Just before the committee met the allies cir-
culated a list OF delegates whose seats are con-
tested and who hold Office under the federal
administration. asserting that it showed par
tiality on the part Of the administration One
committeeman to whom the list was submitted
asked that he might keep it. for. he said the
fact that Southern Republican holds an office
under the government is all the PROOF WANT
of his regularity
The brief in the Alabama case. as IS true OF
numerous others. prepared by Ormsby Nc
Harg. of North Dakota. until recently a speciai
attorney for the Department OF Justice So
lucid and convincing was the paper that before
the attorneys for the Thompson or Taft peo-
pie had finished their arguments members of ths
committee advised them to proceed no further.
as they We're fully convinced OF the regularity
Of the Thompson delegates merely from reading
the brief.
The action of the national committee to-day
will doubtless lead to a number OF serious
ferences among the friends of other candidates
than Secretary Taft. Early this morning there
were signs of the weakening Of one boom. and
friends OF the candidate were asking in all
seriousness il IT would not be wiser for him 10
withdraw his name and what advantage might
be derived were he to transfer the delegation
OF his state TO Taft. AS the COMMITTEES mseting
proceeds. this will doubtless become a serious
question with most of the candidates. the only
two who not likely to consider il being
Senator Foraker who has strength 70 d.