The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-27
State Committee Stands Firm
for Vice-President for Tenn
porary Chairman.
ROOSEVELT CONFIDENT OF
MAJORITY OF DELEGATES
Struggle That Will Make Politi-
cal History for Nation
Comes Today.

SARATOGA, n, Y, Sept. 26.-By
a vote of % to -, the Republican
state committee, at a special meeting
tonight, reafirmed its selection Of
Vice President Sherman over Theodore
Roosevelt as temporary chairman Of
the state convention, which will con-
yene tomorrow.
This action. victory for the old
guard, was taken after Fice.Presldent
James A. Sherman had created sepsa-
tion with letter, asking investigation
of the charge that his selection as
temporary chairman was brought about
through trickcry, and stating that if
the charges were substautiated ne would
not serve.
After heated argument, lasting
nearly two hours, in which the leaders
Of both the old guard and the pro-
greSsives gave sharp expression of
their convictions. the committee, bv
vote Of % to 10. resolved that "Mr.
Sherman be informed that his selection
was made without Misrepresentation, as
an answer TO his letter.
Much Bitterness Shown.
! At times the arguments waxed so
/ bitter and acrimonious that to save
what appeared to threaten an unfortu-
nate situation. Representative j. Sloat
Fasctt moved that tho whole matter be
laid on the table But this was voted
down, the old guard leaders declaring
( 1t 10 be an attempt TO gag them and
prevent those members who voted for
I Vice President Sherman from explaining
/ their votes.
/ The committee had scarcely gone into
session when Chairman Woodruff an
nounced that be had received letter
/ from Vice President Sherman, which be
read. 1t follows:
/ Mr.. Sherman's Letter.
j Gas YOU know, ] had no ambition to
preside over the state convention TO
convene tomorrow. As you also know,
| was asked to preside, not alone be-
cause | WAS part of the Taft ad-
ministratioD. but because 1T WAS known
that, in response TO the president S re-
quest, | had spoken Of the administra-
\ tion and for him on several occasions
( in different sections of the country. be-
cause 1t was known that | bad been a
staunch supporter of the president dur
ing his entire term Of Office: because |
was known to be an especially ardent
supporter and advocate of the basic
principles of the party.
'My name was presented in the
! state committee in accordance with
custom in state and nation. | solicited
no man s support. | consented to act
as service to my party, not TO crafty
Il personal ambition. In that respect
I | had none.
/ The charge has since been made in
some quarters that my selection was ac-
ceptcd in The state committee by means
\ of deception and misrepresentation L
} do not believe it. So far us | am per-
sonally concerned, know the statement
TO be absolutely unfounded. Even TO
do the party service | am unwilling to
serve in the face of such charge,
( if well founded. ] therefore ask that,
at the committee meeting tonight, the
charge so publicly made be, with equal
drcctnesS and publicity. iuvosti gated,
/ that the ma IoritY of the state commit
tee which originally favored my Sc
J lection may each declare whether or not
his preference was based upon any
statement which bore any color Of mis-
representation or deception. for if such
be the fact, | ask that my name he not
presented TO the convention for its
tcmnorary presiding officer tomorrow.
Attack OIL Griscom.
The reading of the letter brought
William Barnes, ,Ir., of Albany, n. T.,
leader of the old guard, TO his feet
with the remark that he had read the
statement attributed 10 Chairman Girls
com OF the New York county commit
tee to the effect that MIR. Sherman S
election at the meeting of the commit
tee of August IL had been secured
through trickery and fraud. Then,
turning TO the New York members,
Barnes said: 81 suggest that if Mr..
Griscom has any information warrant
ing his charges against the twenty
members Of the state committee who
voted for Mr.. sherman he mako it
known here and now.
Pointing his finger at Grscom he
demanded to know what basis he had
for the information given by him to
the press.
''The name of Mr.. Sherman WAS not
known to any member Of the New York
delegation as prospective chairman of
the convention in advance of the meet
ing. said Mr.. Griscom. speaking with
emphasis. ''ln my ease. / was not
Informed OF the intention to elect him
until within fifty minutes of the be
ginning of the meeting. | informed
Mr. Wadsworth that ! did not think
it wise 10 take such action,
''It had been stated IN the papers
that cx-President Roosevelt was going
TO the convention as delegate and l
believed the proper place for II former
president was on the platform. | in
the proposed action unfair and that If
MIR. sherman 5 name were presented
TO the committee without consultation
among auv large number OF members l.
would oppose il and put mp the nume