Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-10-10
THE ATTEMPT THAT WAS MADE
TO STEAL THE NOMINATION
FOR ROOSEVELT.
SCORES OF FAKE CONTESTS
Evidence Of Attempted Thefts ConcIu-
slve and Overwhelming, While
President Taft's Title Is
Honest and Clear.

speeches delivered charging the, Ma
tional Committee and the National Re-
publican convention with the theft of
something like seventy delegates,
while practically nothing has appeared
IN print or been heard upon the plat
form about the attempted theft, of
more than twice as many delegates on
the part Of the Roosevelt managers?
Is not the attempt to steal, a deter
mined effort to steal, as culpable NOR
ally as an actual theft?
The evidence is absolutely conclu-
slve that the nomination was not
stolen for President Taft.
The evidence is just as conclusive
that a deliberate plan was formed, of
which he had full cognizance, to steal
the nomination for Col. Roosevelt, a
crime which would have been perpe-
trated except for the courageous hon
esty, of the members of the National
committee and Of the credentials com
mittee of the national convention.
Truth Should Be Known.
II these statements are startling it
80 ~ ShOJ olO hOW I'LL " NC
they are not true. Col. Roose-
welt is a postmaster in diverting at
tention from himself by a noisy and
terrifying assault upon others. But
the tumUlt and the shouting have died
away and it is time now for the coun-
try to know and consider the truth.
And the truth is that very early in
tho nrn-nn Nnnfinn nnrnnofnn fh0
Roosevelt managers laid their plans to
prepare the public mind for the charge
that the nomination had been stolen,
provided it went to anybody but
Roosevelt. They did this by instigat-
ing a great number of contests, utterly
fake contests without, as it was after
wards admitted, a shadow of ground
upon which to rest.
The purpose for which these con
tests were i%nstigated was frankly
and cynically avowed, even while they
We're still under consideration, in a
dispatch from Chicago, written by
Judson c. Welliver, one of the most
ardent Roosevelt supporters. In this
dispatch, which was sent to Mr.. Mum
sey's Washington Times, Mr.. Welliver
said:
For psychological effect, as a move
in practical politics, it was necessary
for the Roosevelt people to start con-
tests on the early Taft selections in
order hat a tabulation of delegate
strength could be put out that would
show Roosevelt holding a good hand
in the game.
"A table showing Taft, $50; Roose-
welt, 10; contested, none, would not
be very much calculated to inspire con
fdence, whereas one showing Taft,
90; Roosevelt, 10; contested, 1875
looked very different"
Contests Were Pure Fakes.
In other words, here is a frank avow-
al that nearly two hundred contests
had been instigated "fof psychological
effect as a move in practical poll
tics" to deceive the people into think.
ing that Col. Roosevelt had support
when in fact he did not have it-un'
terly fake contests, started for a frau
dulent purpose and with the full knowl
edge on the part Of Col. Roosevelt
that their only reason for existence
was to deceive the people and to pre-
pare the way for the cry of fraud
when they were decided against him
This is severe language but it is not
more severe than the facts warrant;
for of the 234 contests instigated by
the Roosevelt managers, 162 were
thrown out by the unanimous vote o.
the National committee, the Roosevelt
men joining with the Taft men in de
, claring that they had no ground what
> ever upon which to rest. In the face
of this questionable record, is Their,
, not full warrant for charging that thu
4 Roosevelt managers, with the knowl
. edge and consent of their chief, at
! tempted to steal the nomination?
> The command "Thou shalt not steal
. certainly implies the further command
r ment, "Thou shalt not attempt t.
S steal?" And with this attempt Il
S steal so indelibiy branded upon him
what consideration should be givel
, the charges Of theft which Col. Roose
i welt makes against another?
Some of the Decisions.
=, Why are the friends of Presiden
n Taft called upon to defend him, TO
e example, from the CHARGES of having
5 stolen the Indiana delegation whel
the Taft delegates were seated by tn
u unanimous vote of the committee. Co
. Roosevelt's own supporters declarin.
: the Roosevelt contestants had II
shadow Of claim to the seats? VIII
should it be necessary. to defend tn
president against the charge OF stolei