Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-11
NO SPECTATORS PRESENT
Only Those Directly Concerned Ap.
pear Before Committee.
SEATING TAFT MEN CONTINUES
Decisions Rendered Regarding the
Controversies in the South.

lima contests were scheduled for the OPEN
ing work of the national committee today.
The case involving the delegates at large
from that state were defaulted to the
Taft column yesterday, and there was
bare possibility that this example might
be followed regarding the district con-
tests from there also. Tennessee, Texas
and Oklahoma were expected to follow.
and then the contests from Arizona and
Alaska. The work of the committee. it
was thought. would probably be simpli-
fed to considerable extent owing to
the agreement already announced to con-
sciidate the contests from Texas. A
number of districts, as we'll as the dele
gates at large. were involved here. and
the consolidation would shorten the
lengthy proceedings at the headquarters
of the national committee.
Less Interest in Contests.
The proceedings of the committee have
apparently lost interest in a large degree
TO the greater number of politicians. In
the early days of the committees work
the halls outside the committee room
were damned. When the committee be-
gan work today nobody was present ex-
cept those who had business connected
during the day.
The first case called was that of the
first South Carolina district. There were
but two contests in this state and an eff
fort to consolidate them failed, the coun-
sci for the anti-Taft factions declaring
that the issues involved were so different
that 1t was out of the question to hear
the evidence in both disputes at the same
time.
Before the hearing of evidence was COM
menced in the contest from the first South
Carolina district the national committee
issued bulletin giving the number Of
contests yet to be heard.
The national committee still had twen-
tytwo contests involving ninety-fOur
seats to consider, but strenuous efforts
are being made to rush this work to COM
pletion in order that other business might
be disposed of in advance Of the eve of
leaders of the allies gives fairly good
grounds for believing that this condition
will prevail
Taft Gets South Carolina.
The hearing Of the first South Carolina
district occupied but short time. and
when it had been heard the committee
decided in favor of the Taft delegation.
and ordered that it be seated. The South
Carolina contests were closed by the de-
cision of the committee after hearing the
evidence submitted by the two factions
from the fifth district. The Taft delegates
were ordered seated.
The state of Tennessee was next called.
and the contests here. which were over
the delegates at large and from the sec
and. third. fourth. fifth. sixth, seventh,
eigth and tenth districts. were CONSOLE
dated. and each side was given two hours
for the presentation Of its evidence.
favor of Taft. and the fight grew out of
the struggle between W. j. Oliver and
n. w. Hale for membership on the ma
tiOnal republican committee.
Hearing Tennessee Cases.
At the commencement of the hearing of
the Tennessee cases 1t was decided that
in the presentation Of evidence the fac
tons should alternate and that one side
should not be compelled to present it's
complete case at one time.
Jesse NJ. Littleton opened for the Oliver
delegates and made an impassioned ad
dress. Among other things he charged
against the members of the Hale faction
was that they came into the convention
arms they carried, Mr.. Littleton replied:
personally. 1 saw hut one man carry
ing weapon. and this is what he car
ried.' and Mr.. Littleton held alOft an
enormous Ratchet.
At the close of Mr. I.ittletOn's address
the opposing cause was upheld by Lee
Brock. who spoke at considerable length
for the Hale faction. After. the hearing
had proceeded for some little time the at
torneys for the Hale faction expressed
themselves as highly confident that the
decision would be in favor of their dele
gates
1t was claimed that canvass had been
made of the members of the national
committee and that a majority of them
had expressed the opinion that the Hale
people were entitled to the seats in the
convention.