The Washington times., 1911-12-13

The TAFT program was put through
the Republican national committee yes.
terday; and after that, the deluge.
The chairman of the Indiana Republi.
can State committee, Edwin M. Lee, Is
sued a statement expressing regret that
national committee refused to permit
primaries In States that want them. and
foreshadowing disaster due to getting
Presidential politics mixed up with State
affairs at the State convention.
The national committeeman from New
York, william L. Ward. after refusing
to attend the Presidents dinner. pre-
dicted an uninstructed delegation from
that state-and the prediction, from
him, meant a generally anti-Taft one.
Lucius N. Littauer. former Congress.
man and one Of the big wigs in York
State republicanism, was quoted al
saying that about ninety Of the New
York delegates would likely be opposed
to Taft ava !"
Tom Thorson. national committeeman
for South Dakota. declared that nil
State would surely select La Toilette
delegation, and that Taft strength
reached its high tide in the commit
tee meeting; It would be on the ebt
from this time forward.
Affront to Progressives.
Walter L. Houser, chairman OF the
La Toilette campaign committee. de-
clared today that the committees ac'
ton in authorizing State committees, II
States that have Presidential primary
laws, to ignore those laws. would be 9
serious affront to the progressives ev.
erywhere. Then he made this remark.
ohla decla ra tion.
"Six States have Presidential prefer.
ence primary laws: Oregon, Nenraska
North Dakota, South Dakota, New Jer.
sey and Wisconsin. In Just one OF tnUse mos,
pathy with the law: Wisconsin. In the
other Ave the State committees are en-
tirely opposed to the law. 1t is alto
gether possible that these hostile com con,
dices, revoke the State law, and by SO
doing arouse popular resentment that
will be most unfortunate for the party
and the Administration.
But that is nrsst,eaiiv mot call sexe Certain Will
pass Presidential preference primary
acts at their legislative sessions tn's
year. BY next summer there may pe
twice as many States IN TINS GIass az ~
a half-score Of reactionary State com.
mittees refusing, with the SANCTION OF
the national committee, to follow the
laws Of their States. Walt till you near
from the results at the polls. after the
people think over what that means.
Lee Issues Statement.
The hottest line of political CONVERSE
tion handed out following the COMMITTEES
meeting, came from Chairman Lee, OF
Indiana. He represents the Beveridge
wing of the party out there. and there
was no uncertain sound about his pro-
nouncefnent.
He said:
Mr. RepuSiicnn Rers SnenD' Nominee Sarl our ght
lost before a gun 10 fired. As one OF hii
original friends, who labored for hin
night and day, have been driven TO Uni,
knowledge. with extreme reluctance.
us next year, and personally declared
for him three separate times. have
spent the last eight months travelling
over Indiana; have visited each county
in the State, and some counties many
times.
FOR a time 1t looked as II we might
pull Mr.. Taft through. and I have fos.
tered favorable sentiment to hin
wherever ! could, because / am MS
personal friend. and It see, seemed ed iGsiSs .hnSid
succeed himself. From the first. how.
ever. / found no earnest. enthusiastic
sentiment for him. The feeling Of the
precinct workers and the rank and nlt
seemed to be one Of sunerance[tnat ne
mated, and we might as well make the
III I'm the last two months sentiment ha,
changed to pronounced dissatisfactior
with Mr.. Taft as our leader. rev
committeemen-there are more than 500
asking for statement OF pohtiea