Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-11
BAY STATE REP. DELE
GATES UNRESTRICTED,
Platform Recognizes That Majority Q
Delegates Desire Tatt's Nomina-
tion---Compromise Measure.

Boston, April 10.-The four men who
will lead the Massachusetts, delega-
ton to the Republican national con-
vention will go to Chicago unhamp-
cred by pledges. These four delegates
selected at the state convention to-
day, are United States Senators Henry
Cabot Lodge and w. Murray Crane
Former Secretary Of the Navy John D.
Long and Sidney o. Bigney, a bust
| ness man.
F.! The alternates-at-large selected were
Frank f. Dunbar of Lowell, Winfield
S. Schuster of Douglas, Ralph f. Gal
lett of Westfield and James F. Shaw
of Manchester
The convention adopted resolutions
| endorsing Gov Curtis Guild, Jr., as a
candidate for the Vice Presidential
| nomination, advocating a wise revi-
sion" of the tariff, and on the question
of the Presidential candidacy of Sec
rotary of War William H. Taft, stat
| ing that it recognized that a major
| ity Of the delegates to the convention
| desired his nomination." but that II
| was uncertain whether a resolution
| of preference would be carried, and its
presentation would certainly lead to a
contest. which would be injurious to
| the welfare of the party"
This last named plank, the adoption
of which was the feature of the con-
vention, was admitted by ali the party
| leaders to be a compromise affair. 1t
was submitted to the committee on
| resolutions at 8 A. M. today by the
| ry,c T. oil ier1,t COG
| sion. The fight on it may be regarded
as starting with the inception of the
| Taft movement in this state several
months ago, and became acute when
! Senator w. Murray Crane. while not
| directly opposing the candidacy of Sec.
Taft. declared in a public statement in
February. that the Massachusetts del
egation to Chicago ought not to be
hampered by pledges.
Up to an early hour today both sides
had made every effort to gain a de-
cisive victory in the session. The COM
promise was effected when the leaders
of the unpledged cause admitted that
4 majority and not a portion of the
| delegates to the state convention ia
vored Sec. Taft and by the agreement
on the part of the Taft leaders that a
resolution expressing a desire instead
of a preference for his nomination
would be satisfactory. The plank was
drawn up at A. NJ, laid before the
committee On resolutions six hours lat
er and agreed to after session OF
about 40 minutes.
Even after this agreement mad peer
reached, it was not certain but thai
| @Lo of Seq
Taft would endeavor to substitute il
by more radical plank. Senator
Lodge, however, quickly seized the mo-
ment and with the finishing of the
reading of the resolution he stepped
forward and made a speech in which
he explained that the compromise wa:
made in the interests Of party harmony
as we'll as for his friendship for hi
colleague, Senator Crane, his desire fo
the success of Lieut.. Gov Draper mex
fail and for the perpetuation of thu
policies of President Roosevelt. Sena
tor Lodges speech aroused much en-
thusiasm. The resolutions were carried
with a rush.
Later there was considerable differ
ence of opinion as to what the passag
of the plank really meant and wheth
err the COMPROMISE had been as effec
tive as was anticipated.
The selection of the four delegate
occupied but little time, Former Gov
John L. Bates of Boston, who with
drew his candidacy for one of tn
places Tuesday last, laying the fou
names before the convention and NOV
ing that they be chosen by acclama
ton.
The only matter which then re
NAMED was the selection of four al
ternates; but here pretty contest re
suited. After Speaker John n. Cole hat
presented ticket made up of fou
well-known citizens of the state, :
colored delegate nominated Charles w
M. Williams Of Boston, another color
ed man, which was followed immedi
ately by DR.. Samuel F. Courtney o
Boston, also colored man, beini
placed in the field. Mr.. Williams wa!
charged with being a bitter antagonis
Of Sec. Taft and President Roosevelt
while Dr.. Courtney was charged will
having run for school committeeman
on the Democratic ticket. The debat.
/ practically closed the convention pro
ceedings, for as soon as the delegate
had dropped their ballots, they retired
from the hall. The Cole ticket was Sc
lected.
L The convention lasted about fou
hours. fully half the time being occu
| pied IN the speeches of Postmaste
General George Won r.. Meyer, the per
manent chairman, and of Senate
Lodge.
New York, April 10.-The political at
mospfere on this, the eve of the Re
publican state convention, has beef
heavy with rumors of dissension, ant
for time today there were storm
warnings Of fight on the conven
ton floor tomorrow against the en-
| dcrserlent of Gov. Hughes for tn
II Presidential nomination. Tonight tn
air has cleared and the original pro
| gram will be carried out, probabl,
H without a hitch.
Reports of an upsetting Of the pre-