The Washington times., 1908-06-10
FIGHT ON PLATFORM
AROUSES DELEGATES
Chicago Committee Vigorously Opposes Senator Hop
kns as Chairman, and Demands Free
dom in Its Movements.
allies Take Hope From Criticism of Methods of the
Taft Managers and VIII Garry Con
tests to the Convention.
By ]. c. WELLIVER.

By J. c. WELLIVER.
CHICAGO, Juns 10.-Bright and eEF9Y
this morning, with the number OF dele
gates on hand much larger than pre-
W0usly. and increasing every hour.
there was a sudden and vigorous access
Of interest In the platform. The work
Of the national committee will attract
comparatively little attention from this
time forth IN comparison 10 that Of the
platform builders
Several men who are slated to sit on
the resolutions committee, although
they would nor be quoted. voiced vtgOr-
Gus protest against having q Chairman
dictated 10 them, and ready-made
platform submitted with practically tba
ullimatum that they must adopt IL
Among the reCaIcitrants IL developed
that there is a special antagOuism 70
the assumption that Senator Hopkins
Of Illinois viii be chairman Of the
resolutions committee.
I can't discover any possible quail
icatiOn Hopkins possesses for chair
man." declared a Western statesman.
who VIII be a member OF the COM
mittee, and know some good reasons
why I don't believe ne should be-"
Any platform which is reported By
Senator Hopkins viii be subjected 70
the most Untriendly analysis by all re-
VisiOnists, who viii manage 10 discover
that II is really q staud-pat program
The truth IS that whatever the conyen-
ton says abOut-tts policies must be
said in such fashion as VIII most tend
TO convince the country Of its sincerity.
Past Against Him.
Senator Hopkins might be ever so sin
ceTe. but his tariff attitude Of the past
will put him ana work Of the committee,
II lie is chairman, under needless suspi-
clon-
Another Western leader who is slated
for place on the resolution committee,
declared fatty that he was not going 70
vote for Hopkins. and that he favored
Frank B. Kellogg. of Minnesota, for
chairman. II develops that there is a
decided insurgent movement, and that
the iEsuTreCCOuisJs are gathering about
the Kellogg standard, with q view OF
making tEe Minnesota man head Of the
committee.
Mr.. Kellogg looks extremely good 70
most Of the radicals and sincere revis-
ionists. but the people who want to
keep the committee organization in
control Of the more conservative class
point out that Mr.. Kellogg has long
been attorney for the United States steel
interests in Minnesota, and that his Sc
lection as chairman would be subject .
at least 10 as much criticism and as
much suspicion as could thar of Sena-
TOT Hopkins.
Kellogg Preferred.
Nevertheless, the demand for Kellogg
has shown rather startling strength to-
day, and there Is a strong impression
in the minds of many friends Of the
President that within the next two or
three days It Will be fortuitousIy dis
covered that there never was any real
authority for the assumption that Hop
kins was the White House choice.
The disposition TO insurrectiOn has
ben strengthened because OF the signin-
canoe which has been held in limited
conferences in the last day or two.
Thus. yesterday, Speaker Cannon en-
terTained al lunch a little group or
friends, including Senator Hopkins,
every one OF whom appears 10 have
been of the sJGud-pat tendency.
Just whether this conference had the
purpose Of determining anything about
I the platform is not very clear. but Il
i Us
Hopkins explained the platform 10 those
present caused violent protest among
leading delegates.
Freedom Demanded.
The answer 10 this Hopkins stand-pat
move came in the form OF The demand
that EelIogg be made chairman OF the
committee The corridors Of the Annex
rang this morning with echoes Of ths
/ ton They announced that the res0lu-
tions committee would be a revolution
committee:s that IL would select its own
chairman. to suit its own purposes; that
il would consider suggestions from any
proper source. and that IL would make
its own platform, and not adopt one
made by anybody else for it,
Plans for G vigorous hght on the hoo-
OF The convention against the methods
used in seating delegates who viii sup
port Taft are being perfected. The in
formation is brought from every section
that there is criticism of the proceedings
Of the national committee
It 9Es encouraged the Allies" Il IS
well understood that the committee will
go righg ahead with its program L has
been taken 70 task for permitting the
"black- and-tan" delegates from Louisi-
ana to have a half vote each. The rep.
rimand came direct from Washington
last evening
"Allies" Encouraged.
There is nothing for the Allies" 70
do but plan for the business before the
committee On credentials and be'ore the
convention. The situation Is such that
the Allies" cannot nope for a majority
Of the credentials committee but they
believe thew will get a strong minority.
Their effort will be TO sat fighting men
competent to carry the contests 10 tho
floor Of the convention.
It is assumed that the Taft forces will
not deny fun and free discussion Of the
credentials report on the floor OF the
convention. and the ALLIES" are willing
10 proIonR the fight over credentials for
two or taree days. II necessary. TO get
all the facts before the delegates
such are the general plans Of the AL
lies" today. They say they are getting
many letters and kilograms telling them
10 stand firm OF course. the Taft or
ganizatiOn may make IL impossible for
0CoutfDr1ed on Taufh PagaA