Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-06

| Chicago, June 5-Without roll-calls
the Republican national committee to-
| day decided the contests from Ala
bama and Arkansas, involving "a seats
in the Republican national convention
in favor of the delegates instructed for
Secretary Taft. The victory for the
Taft force was sweeping, not even a
division being required. Contests
from Florida, Georgia and Kentucky
will he heard tomorrow. the total num-
Der Of seats affected being a.
The proceedings today would have
| been devoid of interest had it not
| been for an effort to prevent Frank
H. Hitchcock, the Taft manager and
Arthur f. Statter, former assistant
secretary to Mr.. Hitchcock from sit
| ting Judgment of the contest. These
| men held proxies for the members of
the national committee from New Mex
| leo, and North Dakota respectively.
| Their entrance into the executive ses-
sion of the national committee pro-
volled Joseph Healing, United States
attorney for the District of Indiana,
manager for vice President Fairbanks
and Repre- sentative James Francis
Burke of Pennsylvania. who acts in a
similar capacity for Senator Knox, to
make vehement protests from the out
side.
After a hurried conference between
representatives of all the anti-Taft
forces, it was decided to reduce the
protests to writing and have them
presented to the committee before the
contests were taken up. When this
had been done, the protests were sent
to w. F. Aldrich, formerly inem-
Der of Congress from Alabama, and
one of the contesting delegates-at-
large from the Scott-Davidson anti
Taft delegation from that state
Mr. Aldrich presented the protest to
the committee and in connection stated
that he did not regard it proper that
they should be compelled to present
their arguments to members who had
an Interest in the committee Then
followed the arguments against Messrs
Hitchcock, Slater and Phelps being
permitted to retain seats in the COM
mittee.
Debate on the question was shut Off
by A. NJ. Stevenson, the member from
Colorado, who promptly moved to lay
the protest on the table. The motion
was carried, Mr. Scott of Alabama be-
ing the only member who opposed it.
The Alabama contests, affecting q del
egates were then taken UP.
In spite of the fact, that the number
of contests was so large, and that it
was known that some of them would
be fought with exceeding bitterness,
the feeling among members of the COM
nittee was cordial in the extreme
Among the last to arrive were Senators
Crane and Lodge Of Massachusetts.
The former is Il member of the commit
tee and was warmly greeted by his
colleagues.
yet me in on that" said Senator
Ledge, "for I am the Filipino member
Sure enough the senator had proxy
from the Philippine islands.
Cecil A. Lyon. the member from
Texas, arrived with former Governor
Myron r. Herrick. the member from
Ohio, and they were soon busy "Round-
ing up" the Southern members. Lyon
frequently has been the host of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and makes no secret of
the fact that he would like to see the
President re-nOminated. Roosevelt
doesn't want it." said Lyon, $50 here
is where we go in and turn handsprings
in equity for the man he does want.
1t was decided that all sessions OF
the committee shall be executive, be-
ginning at 10 o'clock and continuing
without luncheon until adjournment
| for the day, which is expected to be
about 6 p M. In the case of contests
| involving the delegates t-large, 80
| minutes for each side will be allowed
for the presentation of arguments and
Is minutes will be allowed each side
| in district contests.
The Alabama cases, by agreement of
all parties concerned, were consolidate
| ed and therefore two hours were given
| to each side 1t was regarded as the
most important of all the contests. be-
| cause of the fact that % delegates were
involved, and it is first in the list of
states that will be called in the con-
vention when nominations are made.
The principal arguments in the
opening for the Scott-Davidson people
was made by Judge Asa E. Stratton,
| of Montgomery. leader of the anti
| Taft forces Mr.. Aldrich and ]. II.
| Manning, postmaster at Alexander
spoke briefly The latter charged that
l the ldIL convention Ildu DCch Sph
trolled by federal Office holders and
directed from Washington. One of the
Northern members provoked laughter
4 by remarking audibly that if that were
| true it in itself proved the regularity
| of the Taft delegation" He was call
4 ed to order for creating levity.
The Taft forces under the gem
eral direction of Ormsby McHarg of
/ Washington, D. c., were represented
by o. D. Street. United States attor-
/ ney for the northern district of Alaba-
/ ma, William Farley OF Birmingham
! member of the executive board of the
United Mine Workers Association and
4 ~ Alexander, a colored man of Mont
/ gomery. The legal argument was made
! by Mr. Street During his speech fav-
| oring the seating of the delegates
| headed by State Chairman Thompson
| he produced a CODY of circular letten