The Washington times., 1908-06-05
HITCHCOCK FIGHTS
TO GAIN HIS SEAT
Allies" Oppose Him as
Proxy" in the National
Committee.
FIRST TAFT VICTORY
Unprecedented Number of Con
tests Up TO Republicans-Ala-
bama Case Is Heard.
FIRST TAFT VICTORY


CHICAGO, June 5-A fight to. o.excl,,da
Frank b. Hitchcock, Taff'g mana0er
from the session Of the Republican ma
! tional committee, was started By the
aEti-Taft men shortly after the com
mlttee met today.
Protests against the seating Of Hitch
COCK as a proxy from New Mexico:
! ChaFles +. Phelps as a proxy from
| NoTth Dakota, and Arthur +. Statter
as proxy from Alaska were filed with
the committee
statter and Phelps also are Taft men
The anti-Taft people declaring II vzol.Id
De breach Of propriety 10 seat these
men.
The committee tabled the protest
against Hitchcock and the two other
Fart men, allowing them their seats.
Inis is first blood for Taft.
With nearly every comnitteeman
present. the Republican aNtionaI Com
Ihlttee today began making I'D the tenn
porary roll for the convention. which
tion' which assembled in the Coliseum
VIII assemble IN the Coliseum here
eleven days hence.
It's task IS the hardest in .he bfstorv,
Oh the party. In making up the temno-
iaTy ron il must pass upon 2 contests
ana as It's action will establish a r,ra-a-
ueh' ior the committee On contested
| seats when appointed the decision
means much 20 the candidates
Hope in South.
Because Of This the campaign man
ayers were much in evidence prior 70
the assembling Of the committee m.
AiAes are working hard 10 land tba
contestants from the Southern ststag
whose war cry IS I'VE oupozs doriro
zion by Federal of1oeholders. ,, ar5 =.
many cases. It is admitted, they viii h.
successful. ~
certain OF the more Influential con-
ini'tee' men resent the allegation fba+
the conmlttts is controlled by TsS-
AAey iusist that, while al have "fav-
oElte sf's1s' whose interests tbaz
"oulo ike TO promote. this viii in no
way influence their judgment.
Iae nFst work OF the committee Was
oeciolns how much time would be
ailo"ea each side IN presenting its
oaSe' 1As subcommittee suggested. 10
,-o ui' 'oLhnllttee that fifteen min
u'es q each OF the factions was
enough. but the chief revolutionsy,, 80
sestioh was that the State contests
De Jumped with the district onas 80
decided as a whole Tba co-1-,,'--- -
TOOK up these propositions as soon as. II
met penInd closed doors
The Alabama Contest.
The Alabama contestants. who bv
reason Of alphabetical preference Nil,
be first taken up, were early on tba
ground All the districts IN the s+sts
and all the delegates at large bsvs
been contested. National Committa.-
man Charles II. Scott heads the con-
testing delegation, He claims that re
regular delegates were driven out 1f
the convention by the Federal Office
holders. and that the convention which
instructed for TAFT was irregular.
On the other hand. the delegates with
Ghe regular brand In their possession
Inslst that Scott has not been playing
fair with the party, but has been allied
with certain Democratic leaders. and
refused two years ago TO place a stare
Republican ticket in the field, il finally
being put on the Official ballot by the
men who later controlled the State BY
petition labeled Republican, but print
Cd without the party emblem.
To further their claim that they are
regular, the Scott-Davidson faction
presented TO the committee twenty-five
afhdavits from leaders OF the party in
the State. claiming that the convention
gave every one fair show, only when
1t was agreed 70 vote for Taft instruc-
tions.
The so-caued lilly white and black
and tan" issue also has been raised, and
It was admitted that the issues in dis
pute are so complex that. no matter
what the decision of the committee. il
will not establish a precedent.
Chairman New stated before entering
the hearing that he expected IL would
take the committee four hours 70 pass
upon the Alabama matters. with Ala
bama disposed Of the committee viii
take up the one district contest in Ar
kansas.
"Allies" Are Busy.
simultaneously with the assembling
Of the national committee, all OF the
several headquarters got busy. The
Allies issued their usual daily state
ments declaring that THE tide again has
set against Taft" while at the Tan
headquarters all was serene.
The boom for John Hayes Hammond
for Vice Presidsn today became strong
enough 10 make some Of the leaders sit
up and take notice.
..FIammond on the ticket" one of the
engineers s friends explained carefully,
will mean that the committee Will not
have any trouble raising funds for ex-
penses But If IL isn't Hammond we
think II will be Fairbanks, ia spite OK
his refusal 10 run
The booms of former Governor Muir
pby Of New Jersey and Governor Guild
Of Massachusetts, also are in evidence
That the committee was almost unani-
uaously in favor of executive sessions
developed as soon as Il took IN the
IouestiOn OF rules. All Of the Southern ma
tiouai commit teenaen explained that the
Lonnti,nad On paea ra.aI..eA