Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-27
C. 0. P. MEN FIGHT
Control of inc National Com. mittee is What Causes the
 Trouble.

Washington, Feb 27.-A great fight is being made by the various avowed
 candidates for the presidency for con
 tlol of the republican national com
 mittee. Up to month ago it was
 quite certain that q majority Of the
 committee was opposed to the nom-
 main of Secretary Taft Now, Mr
 Taft's friends are claiming tie con
 trol with all the confidence that is
 characteristic of them. Frank H.
 Hitchcock, Taft's campaign man
 ager, is quite positive that more than half of the members of the committee are supporters of the secretary.
 You man state unequivocal!y and
 You may state unequivocally and emphatically," said he, that Mr Taft's friends control the national committee.'
 Since MT Hitchcock retired from the office of first assistant postmaster general, he has been devoting his time to conferences with state leaders of the republican party from all parts of the couBtry. These confer ences have had to do particularly with the attitude towards Secretary Taft of members of the national commit tee. In addition, MT Hitchcock has communicated directly with the con- mitteemen themselves, with all of whom, through his previous connec- tion with antional campaigns, he is well acquainted.
 Quite naturally the contest has not been one sided. While MT Hitchcock and other friends of Secretary Taft have been working vigorously, the other candidates and their friends have not been idle. All realize not merely that tactical. but the practical that will accrue to the or candidates in control of the committee It is not unlikely, ,in- deed, that it may carry with it he power to make the nomination.
 In the course of the contest, an im- portant fact has been developed. pretty conclusively, that is, that the fight just now isNTaft against the field. It is asured, substantially that the other candidates have form ed a working agreement, by the terms of which for certain purposes, they will stand as unit Of course, the principal purpose is the control or tho national committee.
 Until within two or three weeks 1t was not believed to be pre-requis- ite to the nomination that Secretary Taft should be able to dominate the committee; but developments. par ticularly in the south, now indicate that he will have to control 1t If he expects to secure the nomination. Tn nearly every southern state contest Ing delegations will be chosen and they will make the welkin ring at Chicago with their protestations. l Secretary Taft's managers had eX- Dected to win the southern delegates without special difficulty, but it is | evident now that they will have to light for nearly every one they get. Thus, the attitude of the national
 
 committee becomes supremely i'm ,ortant, for that body will make up he temporary roll of delegates and hose temporary delegates will .hoose the committees of the con 'ention. The action of the commit ees will determine the control of he convention.
 At this time. the opposition to Secretary Taft has in sight something n excess of 3O0 delegates, not count ng those it claims in New Engianr, n the northwest and on the Pacific cast As there are 9S0 delegates to ,c in the convention. i9l will he necessary to secure control. The fight ,etween Taft and the so-callcd "al- ies' will he. therefore. for about 200 elegates. The importance of the outhern vote in the convention. herefore. may be understood readily. { seems probable now that mastery f the situation will depend upon the outh.