The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-17
ALLIES AGREE ALL HOPE GONE Taft Men Control the
 Committee. RIDES OVER THE OTHERS Will Hear Contests as Matter of
 Form. Alabama Cases Are Called First by Committee on Credentials, of
 whieh Senator Fulton Is
 Chairman.


 Committee of the Republican Conven- ton within few minutes after the convention was called to order this af- ternoon.
 It had been expected there would be opposition to the selection of Senator Charles W. Fulton as chairman, bus when his name was proposed by Orae- mus R. sFyler of Connecticut and eec-. onded by Henry M. Daugherty of Ohio. no other names were suggested. Tn spite of the announcement that had been made that the representatives of the allies" would make a right for the election of Mayor Charles w. Bookwaiter of ofwIndianapoiis, personal friend of Vice-President Fairbanks. imous. J. N. Smith of New York was elected secretary, although he is not a member of the committed.
 After the election of Mir. Fulton. who Is known to be pro-Taft. and who sat as member of the National Comnlit- tee in hearing contests. methods of procedure were discussed by the com mittee. As time went on, without word coming from the committee room in the Coliseum Annex. and no cases be- ing called. a ruulor that the commit tee would resort to "b1ankst'' approval of the temporary roll which had been prepared by the National Committees was strengthened.
 Charges that the Taft organzasion had formulated scheme for steam roller disposition of all of the anti Taft contests were made freely. In fact 1t was said that Representative ]. S. Fassett, the member of the commit tee from New York had been selected to make the motion that arguments f4 the contest be not heard and that the recommendation of the National ccm- mittee be adopted This report created great excitement among those Inter ested in the contest, who were waiting in the lobby outside
 aCut Ana Dried For Taft.v At the end of nearly an hours dfa- cusslcn. a ten minutes recess was ordefed. IL was then learned that on the motion of Mfr. Dougherty of Ohio. committee of five had been named by Chairman Fulton to prescribe rules on the order of business
 All of the members participating in the motion and the men app1inted by Chairman Fulton are friendly Co the Taft management. Members of the committee opposed to Secretary Taft seemed to be much in the minority as the Taft forces on the National Com mIttee During the recess several Of them remarked openly that the con- tests were as good as over. that the credentials committee was cut and dried for Taft. and that nothing could be accomplished by presenting the cases
 All of the contestants had been eer~ tified from the National Committee to the Credentials Committee. They in~ volved 2f9 seats and 216 of these had been given to the Taft forces on the temporary roll. Representatives Of Fairbanks. Hughes. Cannon and Fora ker had designated counsel tc look after their interests before the cofn- mittee- There was no counsel for tho Taft management in attendance which was taken as an indication that de- pendence had been placed in their being able to carry their point.
 The attorneys for the allies an- nounced that they believed that con- tests involving no seats. or half of the whole number. could be won away from Taft if a fair hearing was given. They planned therefore to carry only 1fO cases before the committee.
 During the recess. the committee re- ceived Thomas Taggart. Chairman oE the Democratic National Committee and other members of the Democratic suD- Committee on Arrangements for tho Denver convention. The Democratic Committeeman had been looking over the Colsieum and Roger c. Sullivan. the member from Illinois, suggested a call on Mir. New, the Republican Ma tional Chairman. He was out and a conference was in progress in his room.
 Mir. Taggart was informed of the circumstances, and said: ''Never mind: we will take a look at the steam roller" whereupon the party was shown into the room where members of the Credentials Committee. awaited a report from the sub committee.
 That's an implement we don't need in the Democratic party" said Mr. Taggart. "we have nothing but har. mony now, and there will be no occa- sion to introduce politics of the steam roller type"
 Feeling of Bitterness.
 The ten-minute recess dragged into half hour and then an hour. without the subcommittee being ready to re- port Gossip of all kinds was heard outside. Supporters of the allies" said that if hearing were not granted Oh the contests, their proposed appeal from the Credentials Committee to the convention would be aided by the re- fusal.
 Taft supporters said that all the allies" desired was to prolong the contest. to give them an opportunity to undermine Taft instructions.
 The feeling between the opposing factions was far more bitter han at any time since the hrst few days ses- sion of the National Committed, when the alleged "railroading" of Taft op- position came into evidence, They stated boldly that they would not per init more delay than they could avoid fin disposing of the contests.
 The committee of five members to consider the order of business was not unanimous as was disclosed by It's prolonged session. At 4:50 D. m. the sub committee concluded it's meetings and at once entered the creedntials committee room. The committee voted to grant hearings in the contested cases.
 The report of the sub-committee proposed to give ten minutes 10 each side for argument in relation to dele- gates at large and eight minutes to the side for district contests.
 Mir. Moseley of Mississippi moved to lay this plan on the table. but the motion was drafted. and the sub-com-