The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-19

ity into the situation surrounding the
battle for delegates To the Republi-
can national convention was practical
ly the only topic Of conversation after
the fact became known here.
To the Taft leaders the announce
ment III Col. Roosevelt was I'm the
nature of red rag to bull.
Director Mckinley OF the Taft cam
paign management issued statement
soon after Mr.. Rooseveit's start be-
came known I'm which he declared
unequivocally that the certain Taft
strength was 5si delegates-5i more
than enough for a nomination. He
and all the other Taft leaders de-
clared Roosevelt's coming was the
surest possible indie alton OF despera-
ton and knowledge Of defeat. He as
serted that at conference Of the
Roosevelt people held Thursday after
noon their most optimistic figuring
showed a Roosevelt total of rs votes
short OF the necessary $40.
More significant. however. was the
table OF delegate figures. which ac-
companied Mr.. McKinley's statement
the 59i delegates which he listed
In the Taft column included all of
the contested delegations. Ga In num-
ber from Texas. Virginia and WASH
ington. upon whose cases the national
committee has still To pass.
About the same time rumors were
current everywhere that the Taft ma
tority on the committee had decided
definitely TO give Taft every remain
Ing vote within their power from the
contests still pending before the COM
mittee. Early In the evening II was
explained that more or less formid-
able caucus of the majority would be
held before the night was over to
adopt this as def mite policy.
With the increasing defniteness of
these rumors came an even more def
mite decrease of such peace talk" as
had softened the situation TO some ex-
tent during the preceding "a hours.
Expressions on both sides were dis
tinctly truculent.
Some - The more eVuhcrant I,lose-
ve.t s1hercnIs proposed "tr.-
umphal .ntry for trrir candidate;
but u was tnstrrtiy liscoucaged by
Senate piNon oud others o.. tne more
experienced politicians a..oGs sac
Roosevelt leaders. They expressed
the opinion that such procedure
would be unwise and probably would
have effects quite the opposite OF
those intended by its proponents.
These counsels prevailed.
Arrangements had been made for a
mass meeting To he held next Monday
evening-the night before the con-
vention--in the great Auditorium
theatre In Roosevelt's behalf. with a
list Of well known speakers IL was
said tonight that Roosevelt would be
the only speaker on that occasion.
Whether ne will he given oppor-
tunity To speak before the conven-
tion depends altogether upon whether
ne desires To do SO. Even his Bit
terest opponents here concede tonight
that so distinguished Republican.
formerly president of the United
States. must he welcomed by the ma
tlonal convention Of his party To a
place on the platform. IL was not
known tonight whether Col. Roosevelt
would think II expedient To attend the
convention I'm person.
~ for Mr.. Taft. his principal rival
for the nomination. nobody here has q
serious thought that ne will come to
Chicago under any conceivable con-
ditions. In fact 10 lbs been positively
announced 10y the president that un-
der no circumstances will he come 20
the convention.
Whatever their views on the sub
ject Of col Roosevclt's coming To- the
convention there can be no doubt that
II has caused profound sensation on
the part. not only Of the leaders of
all the candidates. hut Of the dele
gates In the rank and hlc. An other
talk subsidized while all hands talked
about Mr.. Rooscvelt's coming To Chit
Cago.
one thing that happened during tn,
evening Interrupted even the talk
about l;ooscvclts trip. That was tn,
issue once from the Roosevelt head
quarters If what purp0rtcd to he q
letter to Director Mckinley of TAFT
campaign from Charles tanks. one OF
the negro delegates at large from Mis-
aisainnl anninh hN Ihn nnilnnnl rnm.