The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-11
Taft Will Entertain


 President Taft will entertain the com mitteemen at dinner tomorrow night. This dinner probably will be the most i'm portant politically given at the White House during the present administration. The committee will not bear federal of ficehoders as delegates to the national convention, taking the ground that this question, like that of southern represent tation, is one for the convention to de- eide. The representatives of the southern states are expected to discourage office holders from seeking election dele gates, and President Taft, it is said, will approve this programme.
 The question of presidential primaries had promised to be the most interest ing and far reaching In it's political ef- feet of any to be brought before the committee. It's apparent amicable ad iustment "out of court" was attended hy unusual circumstances, the most sts nificant of which was the fear of friends of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt that the primary system. if adopted al this time, might cut off the possibility of nominating the former president for second elective term. At presidential primary the voters would be called upon to elect to support certain an- nounced candidates. This would mean, as the situation now appears, choice between President Taft and Senator LaFollette.
 No attempt is being made here to disguise the fact that there is d well defined movement in favor of the nou- ination of Colonel Roosevelt The men behind this movement feel that the'r hope of success lies in working up the proper amount of sentiment between now and the time of the convention. They do not believe that the situation. ilxa kVi1 n crystalline prior to the holding of pri mary elections by certain of the west ern states. Thus states where they would look for the strongest Roosevelt sentiment might be compelled to re- cord their support for some other can didate Neither do they believe Colonel Roosevelt could be induced to announce his candidacy and thus permit votes to be cast for him. His nomination they say must come through an outburst of enthusiasm at the convention itself.
 States Should Be Free
 Behind the Roosevelt phase of the situation, however. there seems to be very general sentiment among the members of the national committee that they have no right, or at least that It would be decidedly mpolite, as a cen tral body to dictate to the states what they should or should not do. Each state, it was argued, should he free to determine the manner of choosing dele- gates.
 Consequently it appears certain now that the only resolution on the sub iect that will be adopted by the com nittee will be one to the effect that delegates to the national convention shall be chosen pursuant to the laws of the various states" and under the au thority of the republican state central committees. Six states thus far have adopted presidential preference pri- mares--North Dakota. Wisconsin, Ne braska, oregon, New Jersey and south Dakota.
 Cities After Convention
 While Chicago seems to have been de- termned upon definitely as the con vention city, the champions of St. Louis, Denver, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Bal timore have by no means abandoned the light They undoubtedly will put in a formal bid for the convention
 St Louis has been the most formidable rival of Chicago, with the claims of Dem yer and Cincinnati being next most prominently presented. Baltimore and Philadelphia have been discussed only during the past day or two. Baltimore is regarded as much more likely candidate for the democratic national convention, the time and place of which will be de- cideG at d meeting of the democratic rational commmittee in this city Janu- ary &.
 be favored as the best time for holding
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