The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-12

thorlEing General Powell clayton. OF
s Arkansas. Who acted as chairman. TO
B nHme q committee OF, Ave to devise the
+ me hod and provide the sinews to fight
Southern delegations. At the confer
E shce, also. L. G. Duncan, the memb Der
from North Carolina. was indorscd for
Y Membership on the executive commit.
X tee. After this formal business had
.SPeen transacted several members made
4 tmpassloned speeches advocating OPP
< position to preferment for any posi-.
ton OF power OF man who had boon
member OF State dclegaiticn that
bad voted sol!dly in the convention OF
4 1908 to reduce the representation OF
niGed that Colonel New was meant by
this Characterization. although after
the meeting several members blandly
yeported that News name had not beer,
q mentioned at tho conference. which
probably was true.
No Vote IL Taken.
No vote was taken in the Southern
conference. bu; soon after adjourn-
ment It began to be whispered about
that Colonel New would be opposed by
large, number OF committeeman who
bad hitherto been counted for any man
favored 6, the White riousc.
Following the announcement Of OPP
position TO Colonel New among the
Southern membership OF the committee
several members openly advocated the
retention by Ticc-Chairman John f.
Hill, of Maine. who will be elected to-
marrow successor OF former Chair
man Hitchcock for the honor of direct
was reported that Mr.. Hitchcock was
party to this plan. and II was openly
stated by several Southern members
that Mr.. Hitchcock was in sympathy
with the aston that had been taken
by them.
On every side Mr. Hitchcock's name
was coupled with the anu-New move
nent. and II was probably because of
ha no mi G q r
ISSUED his sta tement-
Several OF the conferences were at
tended by MIR. Hitchcock, and at one
held Ut the White House. both the
Postmaster-General AMI the secretary
90 the President were present. Among
others who participated In the confer
ence were Vice Chairman Hill, Senator'S
Crane. OF Massac husetts and Penrose
of Pennsylvania: Secretary Nagel, AR
thur l. Vorys. of Ohio. and Secretary
Hayward Some members Of the com
m,ttee hoped that the White House
conference would result In an agrea-
ment for the secret selection of Alr.
Hill us chairman of the COMMITTEE"
on arrangements and to make Mr.. New
n member of the committee but TINS
hope was not realized.
Committee to See Taft.
Considerable III feeling was mani
Tested late In the afternoon. and the
executive committee Of the national
committee met to consider the eituu-
tion. After much pnrleying the execu-
tive committee, adopted rcSclutlou
presented by former Governor Franklin
Murphy. of New Jersey, who, although
not member. had been admitted to
the confers -:e. naming Mr. Hill, Chas-
T.. Brooker, of Connecticut, and former
representative Frank Q. LPwdon, OF
Illinois. as q special committee to go
10 the White House to ascertain the
wishes of President Taft.
Brooker and Lowden were known
10 be in favor OF New. and somo of
the latter's opponents went SO far as
TO say that the committee had been
stack ed" against the yiee &c inndnn
urged the President openly to espouSe
the cause of New no alternative would
5e left Mr.. Hill but to acquiesce. How
ever. President Taft did not follow the
course News friends expected. He Is
said TO have told the special commit
tee that the question was one whlch
the national committee must meet.
That ended the parleyinE until after
the dinner, and, OF course, passed the
whole situation over until TOMORROW.
The question of presidential prefer,
committee was concerned. practically
was disposed of at the meeting of the
executive committee late to-day. II
was decided to cover all OF the otner
providing that delegates should be
elected in accordance with rules iatd
down by the various State committees
There seemed to be no question to-
night but that Chicago would get the
national convention, and that II would
be held the last week In June. ST
Louis apparently was the only city Sc
riously considered as rival to en-,
caro Denver. II was claimed, would
throw It's support to Chicago in prefer
ence to st Louis.
President Taft to-day declined TO
commit himself either 10 Chicago or
st Louis. The national committee
Tomorrow Will allow one honr and
half TO the Representatives OF the va
rious cities to present their convention
claims.