Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-24
The Southern Contests.

the activity Of a certain astute gentle
man from the north operating in the
interest of Mr.. Roosevelt and said to
have been liberal in expenditure.
Welliver's Words Quoted.
I'VE have some very illuminating
testimony from a very high Roosevelt
source as to the reasons for bringing
these contests. ! need not remind gen.
tlemen how very enthusiastic Mr..
Frank A. Munsey has been in his sup
port of Mr.. Roosevelt His paper. the
Washington Times, published In this
city. and his magazines have devoted
the cause of Mr.. Roosevelt Mr.. Judson
{. Welliver Is the trusted political
writer on the Times who was given q
free hand to boost first the Roosevelt
candidacy and now the Roosevelt third
party. Mr.. Welliver went to Chicago
TO watch the contest proceedings be-
fore the national committee He saw
that body, upon which there were
Welt supporters. cast into the discard
by unanimous vote one after another
of the trumped-up. fictitious. fraudu-
lent contests. and 1t occurred to Mr..
Welliver that 1t was necessary TO re-
vive the dropping spirits of the Roose-
Welt adherents. who had been fooled
and misled by the bringing of these
10 tell some truths. and Mr.. Welliver
proceeded to do so In a dispatch from
Chicago. published in the Washington
Mr. Mondell proceeded to read part
Of the dispatch. which told how -
contested seats had been passed upon and
all awarded to Taft. After referring to
Tafts sweep OF the south IN the early
conventions Mr.. Welliver said:
For psychological effect, as a move in
practical politics. 1t was necessary for
the Roosevelt people to start contests on
these early Taft selections in order that
tabulation OF delegate strength could
be put out that would show Roosevelt
holding a good hand in the game A
table showing Taft, $50: Roosevelt, 10;
contested. o. would not be very much
calculated to inspire confidence. Where
as one showing Taft. q: Roosevelt. 10;
contested. ~ looked very different.
That is the whole story of the larger
number of southern contests that were
started early in the game. 1t was never
expected that they would be taken very
seriously: they served useful purpose,
and now the national committee is de-
Gliding them in favor of Taft, In most
cases, without real DIVISION
Mr.. Mondell continued:
Too Raw for Roosevelt Supporters.'
The southern contests were too raw
for the stomachs Of even the most preju-
diced Roosevelt supporters. 1t must have
been CALLING TO have to admit that these
contests were simply gotten up to fool
the people to bring in the wavering
brethren. who when in doubt resolve 1t
n favor of the most promising band
wagon. BY making them believe that
Roosevelt had many more delegates than
more huniliating confession of an at
tempt TO fool the people.
The Chicago Tribune. vigorously sup
porting Col. Roosevelt. June s. after re-
ferring TO the decision OF the national
committee in the Alabama cases. gave
the comment of Col. Roosevelt ON the
cases as follows.
The colonel showed the reporters a
table OF delegates he expected to be
awarded on the Alabama list. II was
shown that he had conceded twenty-five
10 President Taft and claimed only two
Tor himself, 80, - >
thing except that one district" he said.
And yet in the colonels interest all the
Alabama delegates had been contested,
and all were claimed for him by his man
ayers.
But TO return 10 Mr.. Welliver's article.
After admitting and conceding the fraud
ulent and psychological character Of
most of the contests having abandoned
the first line of defense and admitted IL
was mounted with straw guns. new
position was taken behind cases now
claimed 10 be valid with all the positive
ness with which all the cases had former
ly been defended. He said:
The ninth Alabama was an exception.
There IS every reason TO believe that
Roosevelt was entitled TO those two dele
gates He was robbed of them, just as
ne is to be robbed OF the Indiana. Ken
lucky. Michigan and Missouri delegates
that he ought TO get. and just as he will
be robbed OF the Washington state dele
cation If the Taft people are convinced
that they must do il 10 save themselves.
: The point Is that these contests never
were listed available assets OF the
Roosevelt campaign. 1t rested on no such
HImsy foundation.
We are here solemnly assured that the
ninth Alabama is an exception. II is, in
he sense that it IS an exceptionally weak
case. In the case Of the Indiana. Ken
tuchy, Michigan. Missouri and Washing
ION deleS atoms We are assured an awful
robbery was 10 be committed How I'M
icrtGnate II was and is that these cham
l.ons OF Col! Roosevelt could not have
iooked forward and have known that. In
ne Indiana ease, all Of Col Roosevelt
trends and supporters We're 10 vote with
tue other members of the committee &c
Srat the Faft delegates. that in the case
If the Missouri delegates at large they
ere given with equal unanimity 10 Col
.:tt5SeNt't. ~ 10 the Michigan delegates
"a . Ia-v were SVEN To Taft without
=, 'nt caE md ia The ease OF the Ken
s..>>y u,is, atv- at large but eleven mem
d. -e so.Gm.Jtee of nfty-two found
H. I'll heac.s - vote for the Roose-
81, Il tiefa1,s
Gases TAKEN Up in Detail.
M Mond,u then took the individual
,ss,s In detail ..uout The contest over
,.,r s.N delegates a; large frcm Michigan
- sail. ii paI,
'Tie contest 5s,oiy ing tbe SIX delegates
1t larse fta N chg "a and Tie incidents
4@4t.. = al 0Yia