The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-06-06
ALLIES" WAGE WAR
AGAINST GAG RULE"
Anti-Taft Forces Threaten
to Garry Fight to
Convention.
CHARGE UNFAIRNESS
IN THE COMMITTEE
Roll Call Is Prevented, Except as
Suits Hitchcock's Marshals.
Florida Case Heard.

CHICAGO, June 6.-Undismayed by
the seating OF the Taft delegates in Ala
bama and Arkansas by the national
committee. the allies" today prepared
70 continue to the last every cor test
lhat has been filed against Taft men.
Inc nght is being led in person by Con-
gresham J. Francis Burke. of Penn
sylFanla. who Is in charge Of the Knox
campaign. and he today declared that
the action Of the national committee
will not end the struggle.
see that the assertion is being
spread broadcast" he said that the
committee on credentials will be made
up along parallel lines TO that of the
committee which is passing upon con-
tests That is not true We have good
reason TO believe that fl will be i'm
possible for the TAFT men to pack the
committee. and I venture the prediction
Ihat sone- u the names on the tenn
poraTy roll viii not be on the perma-
nent roll when it is first called.
And don't forget that there also will
be a convention. We intend that the
Republican party In the nation shall
lean what is being done behind closed
40 rs here. and il will, II we have 10
take the entire matter out to the floor
OF the convention"
ConCede Taft Point.
Others of the Allies" talked in a
similar strain. They conceded that TAFT
had scored a great strategicaI advan-
tage in winning the initial contests and
conceded that tho national committee
was for TAFT by a percentage Of three
10 one. Ii was this very fact that kept
the anti-Taft men on the committee
from demanding a roll call on the vote
ia the Alabama case.
IEasmuch as the committee, IN adopt-
ing its rules. insisted that a roll call
should not be ordered unless asked tor
by twenty members" the Allies felt
that they could not ask for a roll call
with any certainty that one would be
ordered. E1ey characterized this rule Of
The committee as ''c0wardiCe."
Duri1g the early hours today there
were conferences between leaders OF the
several "bOOms." and 1t was determined
10 use every effort 10 have the commit
tee discuss the Florida contests after
the facts are presented and before tax
lng vote. BY this means it was hoped
a roll call might be secured
Hitchcock Jubilant.
Taft forces, who IS sitting as a MEM
ber of the committee by proxy, was
Jubuant today.
Secretary Taft viii be nominated by
acclamation," he declared. 1T looks to-
day as though no other name will be
presented to the convention"
None OF the Taft leaders would dis !
cuss the threat Of the Allies to carry
the fight 10 the floor OF the convention
Privately, however. they declared /
there was no hope for the opposition.
Even though there should be a minor /
lJy report from the committee on Gre
dentials, they asserted it would simply 1
be voted down. They declared that anV /
attempt to make an extended speech on
the floor on a minority report would be /
blocked.
Resent Gag Rule"
This hint that gag rule tactics"
might be adopted for the convention
caused additional resentment among the
allies" but they stuck to It that tney
would take the matter to the convention
If turned down by the credentials COM
mittee.
The hrst contest taken up today was
the Florida fight. In this State the
delegates-at-large and the delegates
from the Second end Third districts.
el6Ht IN al are lilNOlNSul and the aSSer-
tlon Of Federal office holding DONNA
tlon was freely made
The anti-Taft delegates-at-Iarge. J. y.
Stripping, J. h Dickerson, r. r Robert
son and J. j. De Hazard. were raDre-
sented by Stripping, who made q lengthy
argument, insisting that the election Of
the sO-called regulars was in every yyay
improper. This was contested bv me /
Taft delegates. Who are J. y. Coornhs !
national committeeman; Joseph r lee !
Of internal revenue for Florida |
H s. Chubb, register of the land ofice |
at Gainesville. and NJ. B. Mcfarland |
collector or customs It Tampa
Inc Iact that the organization "big
-FOUR Il made up entirely Of office
(Continued on Second Esnrnn