The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-13
Nearly TWo-Thirds.


 AS Taft had SS7 instructed delegates be- fore the national committee began. the hearing of contests heswill now have n total of sos delegates on the temporary roll call, without taking into consider ation any that have either indorsed him or declared for him in any other manner. The only complete defeat sustained by the Taft delegates in the contest was In the Fifth Virginia district where j Foraker delegation was seated because a man was allowed to act as secretary Of the district convention who had issued call for a convention in hls own county. flor white men only" It was believed by the members of the committee that If they allowed the delegates from the convention at which this man had acted as secretary to be seated in the national convention it.. would place the party in the light of approving a call issued to a portion of the voters.
 For this reason 1t was decided to seat the contesting Foralzer delegates.
 In Louisiana, Ohio and Tennessee split delegations were seated, the entire dele- gation from Louisiana being considered as one contest. The action of the commit- tee in dividing the Louisiana delegation made no difference to the Taft strength inasmuch as both factions were for Taft. The Tennessee division was made in the Eighth district in response to the urgent appeals of National Committeeman Brownlow of that state, who asked that it be done for the purpose of healing local differences The delegation from the Sixth Ohio district was divided on the evidence submitted.
 Statement of Allies.
 Outside of the conclusion of the con- tests before the national committee, the most important development of the day was the issuance by the 'allies' of statement in which they declared their intention of sticking to the finish" and in which they asserted that it was certain that there will be no nomination on the first ballot" The attitude of the .allies" as outlined in this statement was greatly strengthened by the arrival during the day of Gen. Stewart l.. Woodford of New York, who is in charge of the interests of Governor Hughes. One of the first things encountered by General Woodford on his arrival in Chicago was the strong sentiment developing to couple the names of Taft and Hughes This, however, General Woodford met with the state ment that the New York delegation would
 
 for the presidency, and until the con- vention had made its choice there would be no consideration of Governor Hughes name for any place except at the head of the ticket. When shown the authorita tive statement made at Albany today that the governor "cannot and will not under any circumstances accept a nomi- nation for the vice presidency General Woodford said:
 ic hat I have been attending national conventions since 1S60 and I have never known wise selection for the vice presidency to be made until after the candidate for President had been chosen"
 Boost For Hughes.
 Asked if Governor Hughes success in ending the contest over the race track bill had strengthened his candidacy, Gen eral Woorford said:
 'It has proved that Governor Hughes is a fighter and that he never quits.''
 Active work on convention preliminaries will not be under full headway before tomorrow night or some time on Sun- day Although delegates were constantly arriving today no state is as yet rep resented by it's full strength New York Massachusetts, Maine and Missouri will arrive tomorrow. On Sunday the Cali tornia delegation will arrive and nu- lperous other states from the west will have their complete quota on hand.
 The Louisiana delegates are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the remaining rnits of their voting strength for the purpose of holding a conference to de- ternine what action they will take in relation to the decision handed down by the national committee ordering the party to reorganize in that state. Former Gov ernor Yarmouth today said they would carry their fight against the ruling of the national committee to the credentials