The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-06

Chicago June 5.-The national commit
tee was the whole show to-day.
One should be very careful in calling
this committee a Roosevelt committee or
a Taft committee. If close scrutiny is Of
value. Il should be classed as Repub-
lican committee, wholly desirous Of car
rying out the Presidents apparent wishes
that Secretary Taft should be the Presi-
Dental candidate Of this convention, and
especially desirous OF leaving no stone
unturned TO prevent the hue and cry of
the Federal offceholders for a stampede
for Roosevelt.
There are some very engaging and as
tute politicians on the committee, and
they believe. taking the President ~ lis
word. that Taft should be the man. and
while number OF the committee are ut
terly friendly TO Fairbanks. Knox. and
Cannon, they do not, for the life OF them.
believe in precipitating a situation which
might give even the semblance OF an
opportunity for a Roosevelt stampede.
Indeed. so we'll is the situation in hand
that several OF the kingpins Of the COM
mittee believe that the assurance should
go out to all the world that Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge will not be called
upon 10 attempt TO thwart a Roosevelt
stampede
Allies Bent TOm-tOms.
While several OF the allies are beat
ing tom-toms and proclaiming in voices
Of stage thunder that Taft must and
shall ee Sefeated on the first ballot. and
that the nomination shall then 20 TO
Knox. Fairbanks. or Cannon the real
simon-pure alllee-those with heads upon
their shoulders. waking OF sieeping-teIl
you that TAFT viii be nominated on the
first ballot for the reason that the Pres
ident must and shall be taken al his
word, notwithstanding the yelpings and
yawkings OF the Federal oficehoIders.
who seem TO believe Taft 70 be weak
candidate. this alleged weakness neces-
sarily 1eopardizlng their Jobs. while
Roosevelt, perhaps could possibly keep
them four years more al the PIE counter.
Senator Crane OF Massachusetts:
Charles F. Brookcr. national committee
man for Connecticut. and many others
similarly familiar with the situation. told
their friends to-day that Taft would be
nominated on the first ballot. and IN
deed. It was the opinion Of several that
perhaps no other candidates name may
go before the convention.
All I'm Difference to President.
All this Is in Difference TO the Presl- |
dents decision that TAFT is the man for
the nomination and while the allies
have not, in recent months, been so
amenable to the Presidents mandates
there is a time for all things. especially
a time to forestau any secret machina-
tons 10 bring in Roosevelt on a stam-
pede.
In other words. several Of the allies
seem TO be quite serene. IL not actually
happy over the Taft situation. as in thei.
judgment it eliminates all dark and hid
den efforts 10 precipitate Roosevelt
stampede.
This was the situation when the ma
tional committee met in the Coliseum al
noon 10 take up the Alabama contest in
volving the seats Of twenty-five delegates
TO the convention. including two from the
Third district instructed for Senator Fora
ker
Chairman Harry S. New. of Indiana.
presided and Secretary Elmer Dover. OF
Ohio. was at his side. Some of the more
notable committeeman present were Pow
ell Clayton, of Arkansas; Charles F.
Brooker. of Connecticut John +. Addicks.
OF Delaware; Senator w. Murray Crane.
OF Massachusetts; Franklin Murphy. Of
New Jersey; William l. Ward. of New
York; Myron r. Herrlck. of Ohio; Sena-
tor Penrose. Of Pennsylvania: Charles r.
Brayton, of Rhode Island: John G.. Ca
pers. Of South CarolinaI w. p Brown
low. of Tennessee. and Senator Nathan r.
Scott, OF West Virginia.
Proxies Number Thirteen.
There were thirteen proxies. as follows:
Charles w. Fulton. for George A. Knight.
of California; Henry S. Chubb. for ]. 3.
Cooms, OF Florida: John w McCulloch
for John w. Yerkes. Of Kentucky: Dallas
Boudeman. for John w. Blodgett Of
Michigan; Victor Rosewater, for Charles
H. Morrill,, Of Nebraska: Charles r.
Phelps, for Alexander Mckenzie. of
North Dakota; Elmer Dover. for J. NJ.
Green. Of South Dakota; Joseph f.
Howell. for c. E. Loose. of Utah: f. L.
Phillips, for J. w. Babcock. of Wis
consin: A. f. Statter. for John G. Reid.
of Alaska: George =. Mcclellan. for A.
G. NJ. Robertson. of Hawaii; Frank n
Hitchcock. for Solomon Luna. Of New
Mexico. and Senator Henry c. Lodge.
for Henry b. Mccoy. of the Philippine
Islands.
Strenuous objections were made TO
Hitchcock Phelps. and Statter. not only
by Alabamians. but by Representative
James F. Burke. representing Senator
Knox; Joseph b. Healing. representing
Vice President Fairbanks, and A. B.
Humphrey. secretary Of the Hughes Ma
tional League All three protested
against the seating of Hitchcock Phelps
Continued on Page 3, Column @.