The Washington herald., 1908-02-24
THE DELEGATES ELECTED.
Fair Unin- Con
Taft. banks structed. lcsted.

Up to date "a OF the $50 delegates to the
| Republican national convention have
been chosen. The contest for the Presi-
Dental nomination is far enough ad-
vanced TO arouse general public interest.
and the friends OF the various candidates
are vigorously at work
, The alignment Of the delegates so far
chosen. as shown above. are the figures
on the records OF the Republican Ma
tional Committee as kept at headquarters
here. The Florida delegation is not given
to Taft. although il is claimed by his
managers. In accordance with the rule.
announced by the national committee.
wherever more than the legal number OF
delegates have been elected In a State or
district, that State or district is put down
IN the committees record as contested.
This supersedes the former rule requiring
notice of contest 20 be filed twenty days
before the national convention.
Florida Not Counted for Taft.
Heretofore there has always been con-
fusion. as where there were two delega-
lions each has claimed 10 be regular and
has charged the other with being con-
testants. Neither one would agree to be
rut in the position OF being contestants.
81 the committee now puts such cases
downs as contests. and in the making up
Of tie temporary roll viii use its judg-
ment as to which delegation shall be
recognized. When one delegation has
been recognized the other Will fmmedi-
ately become a contestant for the place
on the roll. and it's claims VIII be heard
by the committee on credentials Under
this rule the Florida delegation is not
counted for MIR Taft.
According 10 the above table. Mr.. Taft
has less than one-half OF the delegates
so far elected, and. with the exception
OF Indiana, the elections have all been
in what were claimed 10 be Taft States
and districts. The Fourth Oklahoma dis
tf1ct Is put down as unlnstructed. be-
cause the national committee has re-
ceived regular notice that the conven-
ton held in the regular way refused 10
, vote instructions, although some boilers
from the convention sent out the report
that instructions were voted for Taft
Contest in Alabama.
The Third and Sixth Alabama districts
have held regular conventions and re-
fused to instruct The State committee
|, which claims 10 be the regular OrganiZa-
ton has indorsed Taft, but this indorse-
ment is contested by another State COM
mittee, which insists that II is regular.
and bases its claims on the fact that
it put up state and county tickets last
year when the regular organization re-
fused TO do so. BY neglecting or decIin-
ing to put tickets IN the field last year.
it is claimed that the old regulars for
feited their rights
) The State election officers officially rec
ogniZed the new organization that came
10 the front last year and this certifca-
ton, il is understood. will be received BY
majority of the national committee as
final proof Of regularity. The indorse-
. ment OF the State committee does not
bind any delegates. but it indicates the
sentiment in the State 1t is accepted
here as meaning that in Alabama the old
organization will endeavor TO send Tart
delegates TO Chicago, while the new or
; ganization will send uninstructed dele
! gates. The indications are that the lat
; ter will be recognized by the national
. committee
Making Good In Ohio.
one Of the features OF the past weeks
elections is that the claims of the Taft
people in Ohio are being made good. The
districts that have elected delegates have
: instructed unanimously for him. There is
no evidence that the Foraker-Dick com
; bination is making any headway. and IL
is predicted here that Taft will secure
every district delegate in the state The
Taft movement has met with anticipsted
victories in Missouri. although only seven
out Of the sixteen districts have chosen
delegates. The real test in this state Will
come at the State convention, 10 be held
in St. Louis on February q.
The Taft boom has been more in evi
dence during the past week than anv Of
its competitors. The opening of Taft
headquarters here, with former First As
sistant Postmaster General Hitchcock IN
charge, has been an important event, al
though little, if any; practical work has
; yet been done. The invasion of Washing
ton by number Of New Jersey leaders
also contributed 10 bring the Taft move
nent into prominence Gov Fort.
State Senator Colby. and State Chairman
Franklin Murphy were guests at the
White House, and much attention was
paid 70 them by the New Jersey SEN
. ators and ex-senator Dryden. who makes
his winter home in this city. SecretaryV
Taft entertained Gov Fort Ex-Gov
John w Griggs was also here for a
short time.
Fort Doomed for Vice Presidency.
The principal result of this convocatiou
of Jersey statesmen was a well developed
boom for Gov Fort for the Vice
Presidency. He is now considered fairly
in the field for that position, and If he
Indicates his desire to have the place his
political colleagues in the State will work
earnestly for him. President Roosevelt
made a great deal Of Gov. Fort. who
with Mrs Fort, was a house guest at the
White House for two DAYS Il is re-
ported that the President did good mis-
sionary work for Mr.. Taft with the gov
ernor, but IT is steadily denied that any
promises were made on either side. and
the other leaders in New Jersey contend
that so far as getting instructions for
their candidate is concerned the Taft
managers accomplished nothing.
There have been no demonstrations Of
strength among the other candidates
during the past week There was a big
personal demonstration in the House for
Speaker Cannon. who was nominated for
the Presidency by his colleague from Iii
nois, Mr. Boutell, but that outbarst has
not brought any practical results as vet