New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
FIGHT FOR DELEGATES
WILL Be IN THE OPEN
National Committee Likely to
Consider Contests in Semi
Public Meetings.
MOVE TO PROMOTE HARMONY
Number of Disputed Seats To Be
Settled Increased to 228
by Taft Claim in
California.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. June 1.-The meetings Of the
Republican National Committee. at which
the contests Of delegates will be heard. Will
be open to the public to a limited extent
If the present programme is adhered to.
Although all newspaper correspondents
will not be admitted because Of the lack OF
space. the representatives OF the press as
socations will be allowed full opportunity
to report the proceedings when the con-
tests are decided
This will constitute an innovation in the
practice Of the national committee, which
heretofore has adhered strictly TO the rule
of holding It's meetings behind closed doors
when the contests were presented and de-
cided and the roll of delegates made up
for the convention
Little or no objection was made to the
suggestion OF Colonel Roosevelt and his
campaign manager, Senator Dixon, that
this be done The Taft supporters are con-
fident that on a fun and fair showing the
regularity of the proceedings by which the
Taft delegates have been selected will be
proved. and the numerous contests insu-
tuted by Ormsby McHarg will be rejected
by the committee.
In this event the possibility Of a split
before the convention is organized will be
less remote, as there will be less oppor-
tunity TO raise the cry Of steam roller
methods, as the merits Of the cases will be
known to the general public. together with
the evidence on which the contests are
based.
Chicago, June with the arrival OF sew
nj ha RanuhNcan National
Committee. among them Pearl Wight. OF
Louisiana, In addition TO the active heads
OF the subcommittee on arrangements the
prelimnaries TO the national convention
took on business like turn late to-day.
IT was reported tonight that when the
national committee meets It's first business
will be the election OF a chairman. Since
the death of John F. Hill, OF Maine. Victor
Rosewater. OF Nebraska, Vice-chairman,
has been acting as chairman.
Secretary william Hayward announced
that a total Of 22S contests for seats had
been filed 10 date. The arrangements for
the work Of the committee I'm hearing con-
tests practically were completed tonight.
The hearings have been set for June s.
A contest based on the wording OF the
call for the Republican convention was re-
ceived to-day by Secretary Hayward from
the 4th District OF California.
The Taft men base their contest on
paragraph Of the national convention call,
which follows:
Provided further that in no state shall an
election be so held as to prevent the dele
gates from any Congressional district ana
their alternates being selected by the Re
publican electors Of that district.
The storm over the allotment OF ticke's
brought about by the refusal OF Chairman
New to honor the request Of Senator Dixon
for 80 tickets was little In evidence to-day.
THE ticket incident is closed said Colo
mel New. II have nothing more to say
about it,"
Politicians who have watched the ticket
tempest" were inclined to believe the Ma
tional Committee would sustain the conten-
ton OF Colonel New that the managers OF
the different candidates would not be rec
ognized as entitled TO blocks Of seats.