Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-09
ALLIES SECURE
SLIGHT VICTORY
WITH LOUISIANA
TAFT AND ANTl-TAFT MEN MAY
Wants to Give Time for Pressure to
Be Brought to Bear from WASH
ington on WaVerine
Committeeman
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June S.-A few handsful
Of sand was thrown into the cylln-
ders of the Taft political machine late
today. SO far everything that has
come up has been handled quickly and
decisively by the Taft men, but today
from their own membership came
proposition to divide the Louisiana del
egation with the opposition, seating
both Taft and anti-Tatt delegates, with
half vote each.
The proposition itself did not come
as surprise, but the number of men,
bers of the national committee who
favored the movement created some
CONSERVATION in the Taft camp. The
friends of the secretary of war on the
committee brought about an adjourn
ment rather than permit a vote to be
taken today.
In the Louisiana case, which involves
four delegates at large and fourteen
district delegates, if brought to a vote
tomorrow, noses will be charply count
ed Members of the committee who
have been ardent Taft supporters, but
who have shown disposition to yield
to the appeals from the allied forces
to compromise in the interest of har-
mony, will be subjected to pressure
from Washington.
To allow time for this was the pur-
pose of the sudden adjournment to-
day.
Manager Frank Hitchcock announced
thta there will be no compromise. He
is determined to fight for the seating
of the delegation instructed for Sec
retary Taft and declared that he will
insist that the committee pass upon
all contests. To settle them in any
other way, he said. would be unfair to
the delegations themselves. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the commit
tee should not shirk the responsibility
of sitting in judgment upon the merits
of every contest, and in his view he
is supported by practically every COM
mitteeman of the west and south, and
many from the north.
No Division So Far
Thus far contests have been settled
from the states of Alabama, Arkansas.
Florida, Georgia and Kentucky, and
there has been no division of the COM
mittee in disposing of any of them.
| The reason for this has been the rule
which denies a roll call on any ques-
ton unless it is demanded by twenty
members, and the anti-Taft people
have not that number on the commit
tee. The suggestion for division of
conteSting delegations has become
more frequent from day to day.
The political maneuvering by such
members of the "old guard" as Sem
ators Crane, Scott and Penrose and
Committeeman Hart of Iowa and Null
vane of Kansas, has not been without
effect The growth of the compro-
mise suggestion was noticed by the
Taft men, but they were not disturbed
by it until late today, when they
learned to their surprise that the plan
for a division in Louisiana was ia
vored by Senator Lodge of Massachu-
setts and General Powell Clayton .f
Arkansas. vi
Hasty conferences were held by the
Taft members of the committee during
the hearing of the Louisiana contest,
and the decision was reached that it
would be wise to adjourn until they
ascertained exactly where they stood.
This course was followed. Mr.. Hitch
cock called up Secretary Taft in Wash
ington, Charles P. Taft, brother of the
secretary, did some telephoning and
telegraphing on his own account; E.
N. Duncan of North Carolina and c..
A. Lyon of Texas and some others
also grew energetic. What the effect
of the many messages will be cannot
be accurately told until after the vote
tomorrow. Hitchcock feels that there
is far more at stake in the movement
for compromise in Louisiana than
appears on the surface.
Similar Contests Pending
Similar contests are pending from
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, South Carolina Tennessee,
Texas and Virginia. The plea for a
compromise in Louisiana is based on
the argument that the negro question
is involved and that some recognition
that would appease the negro voters of
the south should be given the Foraker
delegation. In all of the contests mem
toned the issues are involved with the
race question.
Manager Hitchcock takes the posi-
ton, however, that all of the Taft dele
cations are mixed" there being sew
eral negroes on the delegation from
each southern state. More than $50
delegates are involved in the settlement
of these contests from southern states
yet to be settled.
The Taft men say if they make con-
cessions now they may expect further
demands. They are determined to pre-
vent the insertion of any opening
wedge, if such thing is possible. Six
teen more votes were gained for Taft
today by the settlement of contests.
Two of these came from Florida. six
from Georgia and eight from Kentucky.
These are all the contests heard by the
committee.
The settlement of the Kentucky cases
engendered more ill feeling than has
been manifested since the committee
began it's work.
Quarrel Over Kentucky
Senator Bradley of Kentucky ap-
peared as counsel for the Fairbanks
delega ton. The First district was
quickly settled, as Mr.. Bradley had no
personal knowledge of the conditions
involved, other than the views pre-
sented in brief in the case. The Taft
delegates were seated. The Fifth dis
trict then was taken up. This is the
Louisville district, the home of Mr..
Bradley.
He spoke at length. the time of each
side having been extended to twenty
five minutes. During his speech he
made the suggestion that If Taft is
nominated 1t would be doubtful
he could carry the state of
Kentucky, whereupoh Clayton Blakey,
attorney for the Taft delegation.
charged that Mr.. Bradley had stumped
the state for Fairbanks, making just
that sort of an argument. Mr.. Brad
ley denied the charge and Mr.. Blakey