The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-12
.RllSEIEgT BllMsPRgNS
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the day and continued until the White
House dinner last night, when Presi.
dent Taft was host to a body far from
united Washington. In the executive
state dining room. however 1t was
realized that anlmosities would have
TO be laid aside. for the dinner was ar
ranged in formal honor OF the com.
mittee, the guests including both the
ardent supporters and the lukewarm
friends Of the President.
Sensational Feature.
The most sensational feature OF the
days diminishing was the fact that
Secretary Hllles, who Is the active
leader OF the Taft forces in the cam
paign for denomination OF the presi-
dent, and Postmaster General Hitch
cock. who managed the presidents
campaign three years ago, seemingly
were arrayed against each other. The
rumors that the two were working at
cross purposes flew thick and fast
through the hotel corridors. Finally
Mr.. Hitchcock issued a statement in
denial, but 1t did not entirely set the
reports at rest.
Friends OF President Taft entered
upon the work Of the day, preliminary
to the meeting to-day. thoroughly cor
fdent that there would be no opposI.
ton to Mr.. New. 1t was not until aft
ernoon that they learned that the pro-
gramme arranged on Sunday was Civ.
Ing dissatisfaction. Strangely enough,
the opposition came from members
from the southern States, the section
over which the administration was
supposed to be in u%ndisputed control.
South Opposes New.
Members OF the committee from the
southern States met early In the day,
ostensibly to take measures Of self.
preservation against any attempt in
the next convention to reduce their
representation. A motion was adopt.
ed authorizing General Powell Clay.
ton, OF Arkansas, who acted as chair.
man, 10 name a committee of five to
devise the methods and provide the
sinews to fight any movement made
TO curtail the southern delegations
At the conference also, E. c. Duncan
the. member from North Carolina, was
endorsed for membership OF the exec
utive committee.
After this formal business had been
transacted, several members made
impassioned speeches advocating op'
position to preferment for any posi-.
ton of power Of a man who had been
a member of n State delegation tha'
had voted solldly, in the convention o
I1908, to reduce the representation Of
the southern States. It was recog
nized that Colonel New was meant by
this characterization, although after
the meeting, several members bland
" reported that News name had not
been mentioned at the conference
which was probably true.
No vote was taken in the southern
conference, but % after adjourn.
ment It began to be whispered about
that Colonel New would be opposed
by a large number OF committeeman
who had hitherto been counted fol
any man favored atotheu White House.
stftls oppositionrto Hill Too.
tHiFollowing the announcement of op
,positiun to Colonel New among the
southern membership Of the commit
tee several members openly advocat'
ed the retention of Vice Chairman
John F. Hill, of Maine, who will be
elected today as of former
Chairman Hitchcock. OF the honor OF
directing the convention arrange
ments. 1t was reported that Mr.
Hitchcock was a party to this plan
and It was openly stated by several
southern members that Mr.. Hitch
cock was in sympathy with the ac
ton that had been taken by them. On
every side, Mr.. HItchcock's name was
coupled with the ars'-New movemen
and It was probably because OF that
fact that the postmaster general is
sued his statement.
Several OF the conferences were at
tended by Mr.. Hitchcock and at one
held at the White House, both tn,
postmaster general and the secretar,
to the president were present. Amonl
others who participated in the confer
ence were Vice Chairman Hill, Sena
; tors Crane, Of Massachusetts, and Pen
rose, OF Pennsylvania; Secretary Ma
gel, Arthur |. Vorys OF Ohio and Sec
} rotary Hayward OF the National com
m!ttee. Some members Of the com
mittee hoped that the White Hous
conference would result in an agree
ment for the selection of Mr.. Hill a
chairman Of the committee Oh al
raneaments and to make Mr.. New
member of the committee, but thi
: nope was not realized.
Seeks Presidential Views.
Considerable III feeling was man
fest late in the afternoon, and the c:
e~cutive committee OF the Nationa
committee met to consider the stu
, ton. After much %parleylng the e.