The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-02
FIGHT SEEMS CENTERED
ON FIELD AGAINST TAFT
Opposition Candidates May Form Co.
alition To Prevent Large State Del
egation From Going Over To
Taft In the Convention.

Washington January 1.-(Special.)-
Correspondence out of Washington which
indicates what will probably be a con-
test before the republican national con-
vention is being conducted by territorial
republicans. Through the action of ths
national committee last month each terri
tory Is allowed but two delegates to the
convention. Heretofore each has had six
and an effort will be made to have the
convention pass upon the committees ac-
ton. From each territory six delegates
VIII appear at the convention and aslc
for admission. The whole number of DEL
egates to the big republican gathering
of this summer is $50. This is counting
the District of Columbia. Alaska, Arizo-
ma, New Mexico, Hawaii Philippine is
lands and Porto Rico two votes each.
Under the terms of the call issued by
the national committee it Will be in or
der to hold conventions after January 7.
for the selection of delegates to the ma
tional convention upon the giving of thir-
ty days notice. 1t is expected that q
number of states will hold their con-
vcntions during February and by that
time there will be a practical show down
of the strength of the opposing candidates
for the nomination.
Practical politicians do not attach
great deal of Importance to the decIara-
tions which have been made by state
committees up to this time, for instance.
the Nebraska state committe adopted a
resolution favoring Secretary Taft, but It
is said that less than one-third of the
committee were present and the resolu-
tion was adopted by the bare majority
of one vote.
Politicians are of the opinion that re-
publican presidential politics will begin
to take definite shape within the next six
weeks. That within that time it will be
demonstrated whether Taft is to be con-
fronted by coalition of opposing can
didates for the purpose of keeping away
from the large state delegations neees-
sary to his nomination
In the national convention it will re-
quire 49l votes to nominate The COM
bined strength of the ''favorite sons, is
256, consisting of the votes of Pennsyl-
vania, New York, Indiana, Illinois and
Wisconsin, emitting Ohio. If these votes
can be kept from Secretary Taft by the
'favorite sons there will represent a
powerful element of opposition, and with
the votes of other states supposed to be
hostit " ullu LOT one reason and another
will make a very hard proposition for ths
Taft managers to negotiate.
Appeal for More Time.
Henry b. Warner of Lexington N. c..
president of the National Editorial as
ISOLATION. is in Washington to urge the
postonice department to postpone for six
months the new ruling of the department
in regard to lapsed subscriptions to
newspapers and periodicals.
An order promulgated on December
denies the publishers the privile;e of
sending copies to subscribers as such
after a specified term following the ex-
piration of the subscription This rul-
ing becomes law today. Hereafter pub-
fishers of weekly newspapers cannot car
ry subscribers In arrears more than one
year; semi-weeklies more than nine
months tri-weeklies longer than six
months and dailies longer than three
months. For each violation the pub
fishers will be fined one cent for each
four ounces.
Since the average newspaper weighs
four ounces or less each paper sent tn
a subscriber in arrears for longer peri
cd than indicated will cost the publishers
one cent fine. This law will not affect
the big dailies very much, but t will
make a change in the management of
weeklies and semi i-weellies.
Mr.. Warner states that newspaper pub
Fishers do not object to the law but
simply wish more tome to prepare them
selves and their subscribers for its
actual operation. He will see Postmas-
ter General Meyer tomorrow an, urge
an extension of six months He declares
few newspaper publishers know of the
law and fewer newspaper subscribers
Public Thermometer.
The weather bureau has perfected
plans to set up in several of the New
York city parks kos.-s containing ther-
mometers. barometers and other weather
recording instruments of the latest type
in order that the public will not be de-
pendent upon the corner store thermome-
ter. Within year or two 1t is hoped
that all the larger cities of the country
will be similarly supplied. w. S.