Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-18
ALLIES LOSE EACH CONTEST
Credentials Committee Follows Action
of National Body.
TAFT DELEGATES TO BE SEATED
Mayor BoOkwaIter of indianapolis
Voices Protest ana Says Minor
ity Report VIII BE Made
to Convention.

sentation of contests, but change was
made In the temporary roll Of delegates and
alternates. Full approval was given of the
work Of the national committee which had
devoted eight days to the matter.
The sun was beginning It's downward
course last evening when the members OF
the committee fresh and vigorous. began
their session at 2:45 p. m. yesterday. When,
after a continuous session the labors Of
the committee were concluded at 4;45 a. m.
today the light in the east was beginning
to signal the suns return, The committee
men looked decidedly different than they
did when they entered upon their all night
meeting. Many Of the members had not
left the room throughout the fourteen hours
session and they exhibited marks Of fatigue.
Mayor Charles A. Poekwalter of Indian
apolis, member of the credentials com
mittee from Indiana as he left the room
this morning. voiced the protests of men
classed as anu-Taft membersof the COM
mlttee and announced that minority
port would be made to the convention.
Mayor BOOkwalter Indignant.
"Of the cases submitted by the allies
said the mayor, "those involving 40 seats
had merit but they were railroaded out of
the hall, without examination Of evidence
| AA thSiA oupptIN ny tue NOlfHHiNNtNs AhO
arguments we're not listened to at ALL and
the Taft men made rules which absolutely
excluded members of the committee from
participating in the debate"
The dissatisfaction which Mayor Book
walter felt with the procedure of the COM
mittee manifested itself the moment the
meeting was called to order
! Senator Charles W. Fulton of oregon,
having been elected chairman, stated that
4 1000 persons in the convention awaited
the report of the credentials committee.
This was an argumnt in favor Of limit
ing debate or in other words in favor OF
a plan to adopt the report of the national
committee without hearing any Of the con-
tests, which provoked Mr.. Bookwalter to
reply that there are sOOOO.OOO people who
will have to wait until next November"
VitriOI. Not MOIaases.
! Representative ]. Sloat Fassett, the New
York member of the committee. had fa-
vored the scheme for blanket approval
| of the work of the national committee, but
in reply to Mr.. Bookwalter's comment, he
said: well, I suppose we will have to
let the molasses run"
mot molasses but vitrioL" retored Mr..
Bookwalter, sharply.
The colloquy between these men is an
]
'quentiy shown by Taft aud anti-Taft adj
herents. " 81 s-s~ ~.-s,-. .
The statement was made by Mr. Book
walter that the minority report would be
signed by fully half dozen members of
the committee and that in all probability
its adoption would be advocated by SEN
ator Gallinger and himself.
When the committee met and organized,
Chairman Fulton was empowered to ap-
point a committee TO draft rules to gov
ern the procedure In hearing of contests.
This committee consisted of five members.
Mr.. Fassett being the chairman.
A recess was taken while the rules were
being drafted.
Old Rules Govern.
The subcommittee delayed so long in re-
porting that the anti-Taft members of the
| full committee conceived the idea that gag
rules were being prepared. These reports
spread to the contesting delegations which
were waiting to be heard and had the
effect of arousing still more i'll feeling
After an hours wait the report of the sub
committee was submitted to the full com
mittee and It was adopted without division.
II consisted practically of the same rules
that governed the national committee in
considering the contests.
Among other things 1t prohibited men,
bers of the committee from indulging in
debate and in many other ways was de-
signed to economize time. With the pre-
limlnaries out OF the way. the Alabama
cases were called. Twenty-Five seats in the
convention were involved. After COM
paratively short time for argument, the
committee sustained the action that had
been taken by the national committee in
this case test vote was had, however
| baf Of he rnA who in the
room when a division was had, the Taft
forces were supported by 81 votes against
I. At no time during the long nights
session was there any other test Of
strength. but the members Of the commit
ktee favorable to the allies" said they
were outnumbered. four to one. The ac-
ton that was taken in case after case in
dicated that the estimate was not far from
correct.
Allies beaten at Every Turn.
Sweeping through the contests from
Arkansas, Florida. Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio and Texas
the Taft delegations were seated without
break. The contests from all other
states had been Withdrawn. Before the
night was half over, It was plain to every
one that the "allies" would not succeed in
overturning a single decision which had
! been made by the national committee
When Texas was reached, Chairman
Fulton invited the members Of the press
into the committee room that they might
! listen to the argument.
Debate was opened by Colonel Lyon, ma
tional committeeman from Texas and inti-
mate friend and frequent host Of President
Roosevelt. Colonel Lyon is not a lawyer.
! but in a forceful manner he advocated the
cause OF the Taft delegations. involving
thirty-six seats-the whole state delega-
ton He was opposed by A. N sager OF
ST. Louis. The result was the same as in
all Of the preceding cases.
: Cases Weak, Says Fulton.
After the committee had adjourned.
Chairman Fulton and Representative Fas-
sett asserted that the cases of the allies
} were weak in every particular and could
not have been decided otherwise than as
they were. Both of these gentlemen said
that the charge that the national committee
was prejudicsd In favor Of Secretary Taft
had been refuted and the committee fully
Yindicated-
! Mr.. Fulton announced that he would not
/ draw the report OF the committee until
after he had had a few hours sleep II