The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-13
Little Trace of Friction
inNational Commit
tees Meeting.
CHICAGO NAMED AS
CONVENTION CITY
Call Issued for Assembling of
Delegates on June 1s-No
Further Move on Part of
| Roosevelt's Friendship
nifcant Political Incl
dents During Day.

Washington December l2-with
little trace OF friction the Republican
National Committee met nero to-day
and formulated the preliminary plans
Tor the campaign OF 1912. The program
agreed upon was carried out cx-
peditiously in two short sessions az
sresatins barely more than two hours.
chicago was chosen as the conven-
Son city, and the call was Issued for
the assembling OF delegates on Tues
day, June Is to nominate candidates
1or Presiuent and Vice President
Acting Chairman John L. Hill, for
NOR Governor OF Maine. was unnni-
mous!y elected chairman OF the com
rnittee. after the acceptance of the
resignation OF PoHtmaster-Ge
Frank II. Hitchcock, which went into
erect on April /. 1909. William Hay
ward. Of Nebraska. was elected sec
rotary TO serve until the now national
committee is organized in Chicago in
June
The committee adhered TO the con-
Tention cal of 1905. and the primary
question, which had been the sole dis
turbing topic before the committee
was left AZ It was four years ago The
champions of presidential preference
primaries and Statewide primaries
Tor the selection OF delegates to the
convention In States where primary
laws are not operative were defeated
They were led by Senator Borah. OF
Idaho. who contentcd himseif with a.
minority report from the subcommit-
tee on call. OF which he was chairman.
and with brief speech to the com
inittee The meeting was unique in
Two rchpects: There was a complete
absence OF bitterness and the proceed
inss were conducted with open doors.
Meeting LIS Pro-Tnff.
POLITICALLY. the meeting was pro-
TAFT. The Presidents advisers CON
troilcd the situation. Early In the day
II became apparent that Secretary
Hilics and Arthur Vorys. national com
mitteeman from Ohio, were In con-
troll. The Discrimination OF Postmaster
General Hitchcock to indorsc the Sc
lection of Colonel Harry S New, for
ncr chairman of the committee and n
member from Indiana. as chairman OF
the subcommittee on arrangements
was overcome. and Mr.. Hitchcock took
no part In the proceedings OF the day.
The Southern committeeman, said to
be opposed to Mr.. New for fear that
he favored reduction Southern
representation. voted for the IndlanIan.
tn other members OF the commit
tee arc David Mulvan. OF Kansas;
Franklin Murphy, of New Jersey. Ar
thur !. Norys. OF Ohio; r. r. Williams.
Carolina, and Victor Rosewater, Ne
brasks
Chairman New announced after the
meeting OF the full committee that his
subcommittee would meet in Chicago
In January to begin the work OF or
sanizing the convention plans.
The wishes Of the Taft committee
men prevailed throughout the meet
Ing. The ohioans and New Workers
who had given publicity to the Roose-
velt propaganda contented themselves
with tho progress they have made.
Walter Brown. leader of the Ohio
Roosevelt band. took no part in the
proceedings. while National Commit
teem1n William L. Ward, of New
York. who did not attend the White
House dinner Monday night. was in
accord with the program adopted.
committee Of three was named 10
devise rules and regulations for the
national committee and Its officers.
which are to be reported to the 1912
convention. OstensIbly it's function Is
to devise rules by which the treasurer
and secretary of the committee shall
be given places in the committee and
entitled to votes.
Flash I'm Pan.
The expected and long heralded row
over the primary question proved 4.
nash In the pan. The following mem
ners OF the committee were Amounted
TO draft the call: Mcssrs. Borab. OF
Idaho; kellogg. OF Minnesota; Ward.
OF New York; RoSewatcr. of Nebraska.
and Capers, OF South Carolina. The
committee was appointed at the nora
Ing session, which began at 1890
o'clock and retired Immediately. With
In an hour the committee had agreed
TO report.
Messrs. Kellogg. Ward and Gamers
signed the majority report, which en-
powered States with primary laws to
select delegates by primary III their
committees SO decided, and Mr.. Rose
water signed 1t with the reservation
that he favored the primary idea. MIR
Borah submitted his minority report
which added provision that would
hermit presidential primaries in all
States, regardless of the existence or
non-eSlstence Of primary law.
When the committee resumed its
meetinS at o'clock Mr. Borah pre-
scented reports and explained the diff
terence In the two. He consented to
an amendment by Senator Penrose, OF
Pennsyivania, which ovcrcame the con-
flict between the call and the South
Dnko.a law. The call required that dele.
gates must be chosen thirty days be-
fore tho convention, and the South
Dakotr law fixes June as the date
Of the primary. The Penrose amend
ment valves the rule IN. the case of
South Dakota. Another difference in
tho call was one which directed that
the call for the South Carolina selec-
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