Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-09

chicago, June "A few handfulS OF
sand were thrown into the cylinders
of the Taft political machine late to-
day. SO far everything that has come
up has been handled quickly and de-
cisively by the Taft men, but today
from their own membership came q
proposition to divide the Louisiana
delegation with the opposition, seat
ing both Taft and anti-Taft delega-
tons with half vote each. The pro-
position in itself did not come as a
surprise, but the number of members
of the national committee who favored
the movement created some consterna-
ton in the Taft camp. The friends OF
the secretary of war on the committee
brought about an adjournment rather
than permit vote to be taken today
Before the Louisiana case, which in
wolves four delegates at-large and Ia
district delegates, IS brought to vote
tomorrow noses will be sharply count
ed 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 mar
mony will be subjected to pressure
from Washington. TO allow time for
this was the purpose of the sudden
adjournment today.
Manager Frank H. Hitchcock of the
Taft campaign tonight announced that
there would be no compromise. He Is
determined to fight for the seating OF
the delegations for Secretary Taft and
declared that he would insist that the
comittee pass on all contests.
To settle them in any other way, he
said, would be unfair to the delega-
lions themselves. He expressed the
opinion that the committee should not
shirk the responsibility of sitting IN
Judgment on the merits of every con-
test, and in this view he is supported
by nearly every committeeman from
the West and South and many from
the North Thus far contests nave
been settled from the states of Alaba-
ma. Arkansas, Florida, Georgia ana
Kentucky and there has been no di-
vision of the committee in disposinS
of any Of them.
The reason for this has been the
rule which denies roll call on any
question unless it is demanded by 70
members and the anti-Taft people nave
not that number on the committee.
The suggestion for division OF con-
testing delegations has become more
frequent from day to day. The polltl-
cal maneuvring by such members Oh
the "Old Guard" as Senators Crane,
Scott and Penrose and Committeeman
Hart of Iowa and Mulvane of Kansas
has not been without effect. Inc
growth of the compromise suggestion
was noticed by the Taft men. but they
we're not disturbed by it until late To-
day when they learned to their sur
prise that the plan for division III
Louisiana was favored by Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts and Generai
Powell Clayton of Arkansas.
Hasty conferences were held by the
Taft members of the committee our
ing the hearing of the Louisiana con-
te st and the decision was reached that
it would be wise to adjourn until they
ascertaned exactly where they stooo
This course was followed. Mr.. Hitch
cock called up Secretary Taft in Wash
ington. Charles p. Taft. brother OF
the secretary, did some telephonlns
and telegraphing on his own account
Manager Hitchcock feels that there is
far more at stake in the movement
for a. compromise in Louisiana than
appears on the surface. Similar con-
tests are pending from Mississippi
Missouri, North Carolina. Oklahoma
South Carolina Tennessee. Virginia
and Texas.
The plea for compromise IN
Louisiana is based on the argument
that the negro question is involved and
that some recognition that would APP
pease the negro voter of the South
should be given this Foraker dclega-
ton. In all of the contests mentioned
the issues are involved with the race
question Manager Hitchcock takes the
position however, that all of the TAFT