The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-11
Supporters Of Roosevelt No
Longer Conceal the Fact
That There Is Concerted Move
ment to Nominate Him.
SOUND COMMITTEEMEN
As to the ACCESSIBILITY of Forcing
His Nomination.
Presidents Political Family Re-
ported to Be Divided.

Washington. Dec. 11.-AIl attempts
! TO disguise the fact that a concerted
movement is on foot looking to nom
ination of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
as the Republican candidate for presi-
dent in 1912 We're apparently dropped
today when it became known that
members of the national committee
were being sounded as to their view of
/ the feasibility of forcing the NOM
ination of the former president
Another sensation was the report
/ that a sharp fight will come up in the
I committee over the proposed naming
1 of the allpowerful subcommittee of
! i've to make plans for the convention
/ to choose the chairman, etc, and that
the night would find the secretary to
the president, Mr.. Hnles, and Post
master General Hitchcock arrayed
against each other.
Mr.. Hitchcock, accompanied by Act
ting Chairman Hill and Secretary Hay
ward of the national committee, went
to the White House this afternoon and
| had a lengthy conference with Secre-
tary Hilles. It was said that Mr.. Hill
had already agreed with Mr.. Hitch
cock as to the personnel of a sub
committee and their list did not in
clude Colonel New.
It was said three names on their
slate were those of Mr.. Hill himself,
Victor Rosewater of Nebraska and
Cecil Lyon of Tevas. the latter an in
innate friend of Colonel Roosevelt.
Plan to Stampede Convention.
On the eve OIL the assembling of the
Republican national committee in qua
drennlaI session here tomorrow 1t be-
came known that several leading Re
pubhcans on their way to Washington
had stO1, ped over in New York and had
long talks with Col Roosevelt and that
still others had made engagements to
see him either at New York or Oyster
Bay following the meeting of the ma
tional committee. The supp 1rters of
Mr.. Roosevelt, now here, are basing all
their arguments in his behalf on the
claim tcat while the former president
mas announced that he is not candi-
date he has not said he would not ac-
cept the nomina ton if it were rendered
to him
sHey claim rLaa as a good Ameri-
can c7tizen, Col. Roosevelt CoHla not do
otherwise htan accept, once the con
vention hs4d acted
NO attempt it was said, would be
made to bring the Roosevelt sentiment
70 a focus at this time. The none of
his supporters is to achieve victory in
the convention itself. For this reason
they have practically dropped the fight
to have the natioral committee declare
in favor OF presidential primaries but
they are pressing the argument that
delegates should so to the convention
uninstructeI.
Friends of President Taft are meet
ing the Roosevelt sentiment every
is well directed one. They are urg-
ing Taft'a nomination on the ground
that to refuse TO indorse his admins
tration would be to discrediI the party
President Taft told Representative
Bartholdt and James T. Smith Of St.
Louis tnat the administration would
not throw its weight in behalf OF any
city that is trying to secure the ma
tionaI convention.
Mr.. Bartholdt said he expected st.
Louis to get the convention. Most of
the cora hnitteemeu afe agreed, how
ever. that the big meeting viii be held
in Chicago.
Program Is Complete.
Washington, Dec. 11.-Late corners
among the members of the Repubi-
can national committee who arrived
here today for the meeting tomorrow
found the program of procedure had
practically been agreed on and appa-
rently the only possibility of friction
would be a transposition of the fac
tional differences in Ohio to the ma
tional committee.
Leading Ohio Republicans contin-
ued in conference in an effort to bring
about a senblance of harmony The
chief difference is over the method OF
selecting delegates to the Republican
national convention. Walter Brown,
chairman of the state committee, and
Arthur l. Vorys, the national com
mitteeman, were in conference until
late last night. Mr. Brown, who re-
Gently came out in opposition TO Presi-
dent Taft, favors a presidential pref
erence primary. v hile Norys, the Taft
man, favors the selection of delegates
by the state convention, as usual
There appeared to be little possibility
Of disarranging the program for to-
morrow's meeting. This includes the
selection of Chicago as the convention
city and fixing the time as the last
week in June
Former Governor John F. Hill or
Maine. who has been acting chairman
since the resignation of Postmaster
General Hitchcock, viii formally be
elected chairman but VIII serve only
until the convention nominates. when
a man agreeable to the presidential
candidate viii be elected by the newly
constituted committee. Colonel Harry
S. New of Indiana is to head the sub
committee Of five who make arrange
ments for the convention. probably in
Guiding the selection OF temporary and
permanent chairman including the
Keynote orator.
Presidential Primaries.
The committee will discuss presi-
Dental primaries at some length but
will declare that the subject is one
for the disposition of the states.
The committee will take the ground
that it has no right to dictate to state
The method of selecting its representa-
resolution that delegates may be elected
IN the manner prescribed by law In the
various states.
SO far six states have adopted the pri-
mary system. Southern members of the
national committee expected to meet to-
day formally to protest against a reduc-
ton of the representation from the south
The committee viii leave this matter for
the next convention to deal with II will
not undertake to bar federal officeholders
as delegates but it is said. the southern
members will endeavor to keep office
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