The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-16
STRIFE AMONG REPUBLICANS.
HOSTILITIES PRECEDE MEETING
OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
ROOsevelt's Friends Start the TrOu-
bic by Opposing Taft's Choice for
Head of Campaign.

Washington, Dec. 11.-HostiIities
Of an unexpected character and from
an unlocked for quarter developed
today among members Of the Repub-
lican national committee and other
prominent party leaders who are
here In connection with the meeting
tomorrow to fix the time and place
vention next summer. Opposition to
Col. Harry S. New of Indiana, the
administrations candidate for chair
man OF the subcommittee on conven-
ton arrangements, was responsible
for the i'll feeling engendered.
The situation, however, cleared
considerable late in the evening. At
the presidents dinner to the commit
teemen there was no open discussion
Of politics But it became known
Immediately after the dinner had ad-
journ ed that Secretary Hilles and
other supporters Of President Taft
had won a complete victory and that
Col. New undoubtedly would head the
subcommittee on arrangements. 1t
was also evident that the Taft forces
would control the entire membership
Of the subcommittee and that the
slate for the subcommittee Of five in
cluded National Committeeman Null
van Of Kansas, Vorys Of Ohio, MUIR
ply Of New Jersey and Williams Of
Oregon. All of these men are known
to be friendly to President Taft. Com
mitteeman n. G. Duncan Of North
Carolina may be added later as
sixth member of the subcommittee.
Only less interesting than the up-
looked for controversy over the con-
troll Of the subcommittee in charge OF
the convention was the exploitation
throughout the day Of Col. Theodore
Roosevelt as the possible candidate
for the presidential nomination. The
advocacy Of Col. Roosevelt, but thinly
yelled yesterday, was open and pro-
miscuously proclaimed today. The
advocates Of Col. Roosevelt's nominal
ton apparently based their argu-
ments in his behalf upon the fact that
at no time had the former president
announced that he would not accept
the nomination if 1t were rendered
to him.
1t 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 their sentiment in regard to "forc-
| ing" the nomination upon the colonel.
There were many who connected
the open advocacy of Col. Roosevelts
| nomination with the opposition to
naming a committee Of arrangements
dominated by administration men. 1t
was apparent throughout the day
that friends Of Col Roosevelt were
endeavoring in every. way possible to
postpone action by the national COM
mittee which would definitely commit
anybody to any mans candidacy. The
Roosevelt enthusiasts frankly stated
their hope lay in working up de-
mand for Col. Roosevelt to be ex-
pressed in the convention itself.
Many conferences were held dur
| ing the day and continued until the
White House dinner tonight, when
President Taft was the host to a body
far from united on the business
which brought 1t to Washington.
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 the denomination
of the president, and Postmaster
General Hitchcock. 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. Finally Mr..
Hitchcock issued a statement in de-
nial, but did not entirely set the re-
ports at rest.