The Sentinel=record., 1911-12-12
REPUBLICANS
 IN MIDDLE
PRE- LlM MARES OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING FORE
 CASTS TROUBLE FOR TAFT.
Opposition to His Choice for Commit teemen and Exploitation of Roose. welt as Possible Candidate
 the Cause.

Washington, Dec. 1l.--Hostilities of an unexpected character aad from an unlocked for quarter developed to- day among members of the republican national committee and other promi- nent party leaders, who are here in connection with the meeting tomor- row to fix the time and place for the 1 presidential nominating convention next summer. Opposition to Colonel H s. New of Indiana, the administra- tions candidate for chairman of the powerful subcommittee on conyen- | tion arrangements was responsible for the ill feeling engendered No settlement had been reached late to- night, but some of President Taft's closest friends announced that they not onlywould insist upon the cleo ton of Mir. New but upon naming majority of the committee.
 Only lgs interesting than the unlocked for controversy over the control of the subcommittee in ! charge of the convention. was the exploitation throughout the day Of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt as the possible candidate for the. presiden tial nomination. The advocacy of Colonel Roosevelt, but thinly yelled yesterday was open and promseuous- ly proclaimed today. The advocates of Colonel RooseveIts nomination ap- l parently based their arguments in his behalf upon the fact that at no time had the former president an. nounced that he would not accept the nomination if it were rendered to him. It was recognized that he would not openly become a candidate, they said, but they were busy sounding members of the national committee and other prominent republicans as to the sentiment in regard to fore ing the nomination o.l the colonel.
 There were many who connected the open advocacy of Coloney Roose- yelt's nomination with the opposition 1 to naming d committee of arrange ments dominated by administration men. It was apparent throughout the day that friends of Colonel Roosevelt were endeavoring in every way possible to postpone action by the national committee, which would definitely commit anybody to any mans candidacy. The Roosevelt en- thu5iasts frankly stated their hope lay in working up a demand for Col onel Roosevelt to be expressed in the convention itself Friends of Colcael Roosevelt also declared today they were making no attempt to force the issue. Their object was, they said, to leave matters sufficiently open to permit of his candidacy at the psychological moment
 Many conferences were held during the day and continued until the White House dinner tonight when President 1 Taft was the host to a body far from united on the business which brought l t to Washington. In the executive state dining room, however, it was arranged in formal honor of the com. mittee, the guests including both the ardent supporters ana the lnkeWarm friends of the president.
 One of the most sensational fea- lures of the days skirmishing was the fact that Secretary Hilles, who Is the active leader of the Taft forces in the campaign for renomination oi ! the president and Postmaster Gener. al Hitchcock who managed inc pres. ident's campaign three years ago; i seemingly were arrayed against eacf other The rumors that the two wer. working at cross purposes flew thicl and fast. Finally Mir Hitchcock is sued statement in denial, but 1t dit not entirely set the reports at rest MT. Hitchcock's statement F,llowsi
 "Statements which would indicat, that there Is friction between MT Hilles and myself are absolutely un founded. My resignation as chair man of the national committee wa
 teadered in good faith On the da. that was confirmed as postmsste general and from that time to this,
 :, have refrained from participation il the affairs of the committee. hay, all I can do at present to look aftel ] the business of my department ans