Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-20
Governor Hadley and James
Watson Lead the Debate
on Chief Question Of
the Day.
ROOT YIELDS THE
CHAIRMAN'S GAVEL
Delegates Interrupt Various
Speakers Who Seek to
Give Their Sides Of the
Controversy.

chicago. June 19.-The action OF the
republican national committee in de-
Gliding contests was argued nrn ana
con at today's session of the renuhli.
can convention at the coliseum. The
moor leaders of the opposing sidaa.
governor Hadley and James Watson
lead the debate, which Is still in pro.
gress.
La Prize Ring.
Soon after Chairman Root arrived
on the platform he was flanked on one
SIDE by Gov. Hadley, the Roosevelt
leader and on the other by James Wat
son OF the Taft forces. AS nre-
llminary to the days expected hostil.
tiles all three shook hands "and re-
tired to their corners"
Gov. Hadley and Watson arranged
\ Tor an equal division of the three
hours debate that was to be allowed
on the Roosevelt proposition to sub
stltute a roll Of ninety-two Roosevelt
delegates In place OF ninety-two TAFT
followers seated by the national com.
mittee.
Chairman Root finally pounded the
table with his gavel at 11.15 md
lordered the sergeant at arms to clear
the a1sles. "A swarm Of delegates and
alternates wandered aimlessly about
the hall In search Of their seats.
i surrounding Gov. Deneen's seat on
the floor for fifteen minutes
before the call to order were
the Roosevelt leaders in earnest
consultation. In the group were
Senator Dixon, Gov. Hadley. VIII
~ -
fornia.
Another fifteen minutes passed be.
lore Chairman Root again took up his
gavel and with emphatic blows on the
liable insisted upon quiet and order.
Much OF the confusion was due to late
comers In the galleries. Then pound.
ing tne table, Root announced
Inc exercises-I mean the business
OF this day will be opened with prayer
by the Rev Joseph stolz"
| No Objection to Debate.
Senator Root Announced the unfin-
ished business Of the day-the motion
Iof Mr. Watson that the convention pro-
ceed to the appointment OF the regu-
lar committees and the substitute mo
ton OF Gov. Hadley that the Roose-
velt list OF delegates be substituted for
the temporary roll He also announced
the agreement to three hours debate
and asked II there was objection.
There was not.
mad been agreed in advance that
4 there should be no parliamentary
J points or order against the Roosevelt
motion. the Taft forces agreeing to
1lgnt the matter out before the dele
: gates.
] AS Gov Hadley advanced to the
front OF the stage to open the debate,
La round or cheers from the Roosevelt
FORCES greeted him. When the tumult
subsided Gov. HadIey began an AZ
planation OF the situation confronting
the convention
He reviewed the events Of yester.
day leading up to the ruling OF Ma.
tlonal Committee Chairman Rose.
water which quashed the HadIey mo
tion to purge the temporary roll
We could have met immediately
and forcjbly. this arbitrary and un-
parliamentary ruling" said Hadley.
} and ne was roundly cheered. 1--WE
could have forcibly insisted on calling
! the roll on that motion and we could
nave forcibly taken control. Instead
we chose to wait patiently until to.
day"
Hadiey Gives His Views.
Gov. Hadley did not attempt to 70
into details Of various contested cases
saying he would leave that to other
speakers. He read the "indictment'
of the national committee as uttered
by Col Roosevelt in his Monday nights
speech in this city and 1t called out
a big cheer.
ut may be true that there are many
persons who do not agree with us that
Theodore Roosevelt should be our
candidate for president, but there
can be no difference Of opinion that his
voice today is the greatest Of rhe
western world" said Hadley.
He then read a statement from
fourteen members OF the national com.
mittee protesting against the action
LOT the majority in seating many OF
lthe delegates, particularly in the Cali
fornta, Texas and Washington cases.
Gov. Hadley made an earnest plea
that personalities be left out declar.
ling the question was 80 clearly one OF