New-York tribune., 1908-05-17
a T4ET CONIENTION.

Under the terms of the call for the Repub-
Iican National Convention. yesterday was The
last day on which delegates could be legally
chosen. Each state territory and insular de-
pendency has how selected its allotted quota
and the roll is closed IT has not been possible
however to obtain complete returns from Texas
eleven districts in that state having made no
definite reports Up to the TING Of going TO
nresS The Trbune's list of deleSates-eect con
taiued the names of 95S out of $50 delegates.
OF these 551-or 40 more than a majority
were committed by instructions, resolutions of
Endorsement or preference or by public declara
tions to the support of Secretary Taft
II has been The Tribunes aim TO show by
weekly tabulations the progress made IN fhe
election of delegates TO the national convention.
Our first table appeared on February 3, and
since then we have followed. with every en-
deayor to be exact and impartial. the action
taken by the various state, territorial, depend
ency and district conventions. In apportonlng
the delegates among the different candidates we
have been careful TO classify as committed only
those delegates who received definite mandate
of some sort from their constituents. This rule
was waived only in the case of seven delegates
Senator Lodge and Colonel Bigney, il MaSsa-
cbusettS: Governor Fort and State Senator
Alderman in New Jersey, and Representative
Andrus William L. Ward and William Barnes,
had publicly indicated their purpose to vote
for Mr.. Taft In Pennsylvania sixtyfour dis
1rict DELEGATES were elected at primaries With
out instructions. but on the general understand
ing that they would support Senator Knox.
They were therefore credited to Mr.. Knox.
Bur four Of them have recently indicated that
they will vote for other candidates, and they
have had 70 be deducted from the Knox columo.
In every other instance the delegates assigned
to any candidate arc bound to him by some eX-
pression Of opinion on the part Of the voters
whom they represent
1t Will be seen that Secretary Taft already
has a safe majority, definitely pledged. This
outcome was anticipated by The Tribune on
Nav g. when 1t announced that there was no
merit in preserving attitude of uncertainty
when uncertainty had ceased to exist. We said
then:
II is our conviction. based OH the facts which
We have published and on probabilities so strong
as TO be scarcely diStinguiSldbe from TacfS, tldt
the choice of the Republican convention for
President Of the United States has now been
determined and that the nomination Of Mr.. Taft
has been foreordained. If nothing more than
what seems be already in sight should occur
between this date and June Is our belief is that
Mr. Taft would enter the convention with a
secure majority of the delegates behind him and
be nominated the first ballot-probaby by
not fewer than $50 votes out of $50. But the
tide is setting strongly in his favor that the
natural process of accretion is likely to increase
his majority beyond the dimensions now clearly
discernible
This forecast has been fulfilled with good
measure. To-days table gives Mr.. Taft 531 def
initely committed delegates. He is pretty sure,
moreover. to get the votes of at least one-third
of the uncommitted. One hundred and ninety
seven are so classified. OF these the Secretary
Of War will in all probability secure four of six
iu Maine, four of eight in New Hampshire, four
of eight in Rhode Island, two Of six in Della
ware six of eighteen in New Jersey, two of two
in Maryland. six of six in Virginia, eight Of
sixteen in South Carolina, sixteen of twenty
six in Georgia. ten of twenty in Mississippi,
four Of four in Iowa and two of four in Mis-
souri,. Adding these si1ty-eight votes TO his
minimum total, he will enter the convention
with 500 votes. Twenty two delegates are still
to he heard from.
word as 10 contests. Many of these do not
involve Presidential preferences, but only
made 10 hold obtain control of state or dis
trict party machinery. We can find only ninety
four bora fde contests whose settlement may
affect the vote for President in the convention |
Taft delegates have primG fGCic title in sixty
eight of these cases and anti-Taft or uncommft- |
ted delegates in twenty-six. In some states, /!
like Louisiana. Texas Mississippi and Alabama, !
two or three rival factions are fighting for rec |
ognition Even if the contests should he settled |
on a half-and- half basis Mr.. Tafts strength in |
the convention would be only slightly dmn- |
ished He will not his nomination TO an !
inflated Southern vote. On the contrary his |
support comes from all sections Of the Union |
and its universally demonstrates that he is the
choice for President OF large maj jority of the |
Republican party.