The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-06-12
JOLT FOR TAFT MEN
A Proposition TO Divide the
Louisiana Delegation
1T CAUSES AN ADJOURNMENT
Hitchcock Says There Will Be No
Compromise With AlIies--Taft
Needs Southern Votes to Be Nomi-
mated on First Ballot

vi 81 Sdiot
Chicago, June "a few handfuls OF
sand have been thrown into the cylin-
ders of the Taft political machine. So
far everything that has come up has
been handled quickly and decisively
by the Taft men, but from their own
membership came proposition to di-
vide the Louisiana delegation with the
opposition, seating both Taft and anti
Taft delegations with half a vote each.
The proposition In itself did not come
bers of the national committee who
favored the movement created some
CONSERVATION in the Taft camp. The
friends Of Taft on the committee
brought about an adjournment rather
than permit vote to be taken.
Before the Louisiana case, which in
wolves four delegates-at-large and four
teen district delegates, is brought to a
vote, noses will be sharply counted.
Members of the committee who have
been ardent Taft supporters, but who
have shown a disposition to yield TO
the appeals from the allied forces to
compromise In the interest of harmony
will be subjected to pressure from
Washington. To allow time for this
was the purpose of the sudden adjourn
ment.
Manager Hitchcock of the Taft cam
tNoi0n hot no xx,;n h.
compromise. He is determined to fight
for the seating of the delegations in
structed for Taft and declares that he
will insist that the committee pass
on all contests.
Thus far contests have been settled
from the states Of Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia and Kentucky, and
there has been no division of the COM
mittee in disposing Of any of them.
The reason for this has been the rule
which denies rollcall on any question
unless it is demanded by twenty men,
bers, and the anti-Taft people have not
that number on the committee.
The suggestion for a division Of con-
testing delegations has become more
frequent from day to day. The po-
litical maneuvering by such members
of the "old guard" as Senators Crane,
Hart of Iowa and Mulvane of Kansas,
has not been without effect. The
growth of the compromise suggestion
was noticed by the Taft men, but they
were not disturbed by ii until they
learned to their surprise that the plan
for division in Louisiana was ia
vored by Senator Lodge and General
Powell Clayton.
Hasty conferences were held by the
Taft members Of the committee during
the hearing of the Louisiana contest
and the decision was reached that 1t
would be wise to adjourn until they as
certained exactly where they stood.
This course was followed. Hitchcock
called up Taft in Washington. Charles
P. Taft, brother Of the secretary, did
some telephoning and telegraphing on
his own account, and others also grew
energetic. What the effect Of the
many messages will be cannot be ac-
curately told until after the vote
Sixteen more votes were gained for
Taft yesterday by the settlement OF
contests. Two of these came from
Florida, six from Georgia and eight
from Kentucky. These were all the
contests heard by the committee. The
settlement of the Kentucky cases en-
gendered more ill-feeling than has been
manifest since the committee began
its work.
Representative Mckinley, manager
Of the presidential boom OF Joseph G.
Cannon, issued a brief statement in
which he said: "The action of the
Taft people on the national committee
simply demonstrates the weakness of
their statements that they had enough
votes to nominate Mr.. Taft without the
southern delegates or those involved in |
the contests. AS the situation now
stands, we have every reason to believe
that no candidate will have enough to |
him on the first ballot"