Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-06-17
CHAIRMAN SAYS
ALLIES ARE WEAK
Minority Intended Bringing In a
Report But Decided IL Was Not
Worth While--Field Is Clear
For Taft and His NOml-
nation Assured.

Chicago, June 17.-It was after 4
o'clock this morning when the COM
mittee on credentials after an ALI
night session, passed upon the last OF
the contests, closing with the cases
covering the entire state of Texas.
Every case was decided by the COM
mittee in accordance with previous
decisions of the national committee
and in almost every instance seated
the delegates instructed for Taft.
Sweeping through the contests from
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky.
Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennes-
see and Texas. the Taft delegates
were seated without a break. Con-
tes,s frem all other states were with
drawn. a
After the committee adjourned
Chairman Fulton and Representa-
tive Fassett asserted the cases of the
"allies" were weak in every particu-
lar and could not have been decided
otherwise than they were. Fulton
said that he would not draw up the
report of the committee until after
he had slept. 1t was not his inten-
ton to discuss the merits of the cases
but If the necessity arose for a de-
fense of the committee he would take
the floor of the convention.
Fourteen hours were given by the
rcedentials committee for the pre-
sentation of contests, but no change
was made in the temporary roll of
delegates and attendants. Full ap-
proval is given the work Of the ma
tional committee, which had devoted
eight days to the question.
The hearing began at 2:45 D. m.
yesterday and the committee was in
continuous session until 4:45 this
morning Many members did not
leave the room during the long ses-
sion, and they exhibited marked signs
of fatigue.
Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter.
member of the credentials COM
mttee from Indiana, as he left the
room this morning, announced that a
minority report would be made. He
said that of the cases submitted by
the 'allies' those involving 10 seats
have merit. but they were railroad
ed out of the hall without an examin-
alton of the evidence. Arguments
We're not listened TO at all and the
Taft men adopted rules which abso-
committee from participating in de-
bate"
Much bitterness was shown by both
the Taft and anti-Taft adherents dur
ing the discussions before the COM
mittee. The statement was made oy
BookWalter that the minority report
would be signed by fully half dozen
members OF the committee. When
the committee met and organized
Chairman Fulton appointed a COM
mittee to draft rules to govern the
hearing Of contests. Recess was taken
while the rules were being drafted.
The subcommittee delayed so long In
reporting that the anti-Taft people
conceived the idea of gag" rules be-
ing prepared and this had the effect
of arousing ill-feeling. 1t finally re-
ported and the contests were taken
up.
Later Bookwalter announced that
he had abandoned the Idea of a mi
nority report and said in explanations:
I'VE did not desire to be merely
captious. Only three members OF the
committee were willing to sign the
minority report and fight It out.
knowing We can get at the same
questions involved when the conven-
ton considers the Burke resolution
to reduce representation In the south,
where federal officeholders control
the results and throttle opposition. we
decided TO let the matter go for the
present"