The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-06
Taft Forces Are in Control and
They Are Expected to Win
Majority of Places
ARKANSAS, ALABAMA AND
ARIZONA FIRST CASES
Campaign Managers Make Fresh
Claims, But Won't Check Off
Delegates to Back Them Up

CHICAGO, June 6.--With both fac
tions in the republican party claiming
publicly everything in sight, and pri
vately admitting that the outcome
was certain TO be too close for close
;or comfort" the republican national
committee met today to consider the
temporary roll of the convention.
The Taft forces were in control OF
the committee. The result of the ma
jority of the contests was believed
certain to be the seating of the Taft
men. Publicly the Taft leaders We're
declaring that ii was "all over but the
shouting" The same contention came
from the Roosevelt entrenchments.
But neither Senator Dixon, leader OF
the Roosevelt forces, nor Congress
man Mckinley, in command of the
Taft warriors, would take pencil and
check the delegates that he claimed
would stand behind his candidate
when the actual fighting began.
The committee did not plan TO take
up any of the contests today. Instead
the meeting was devoted to organiza-
ton, the selection OF chairman, and
TO defining rules of procedure during
the coming ten days.
And while IN committee cleared
the decks for action the attorneys OF
the contesting forces, former Senator
Dick, of Ohio, for Taft, and Ormsby
McHarg. for Roosevelt. wrestled with
the yoluminous briefs preparatory to
the real fight for representation on
the floor. The first contests to come
up We're those OF Arkansas, Alabama
and Arizona. 1t was not believed
that they would be disposed Of until
late on Saturday and II was certain
that the ruling in all three would be
in favor OF the Taft men.
Believing that the followers OF the
president had gotten out and thor
oughly oiled up the steam-roller popu-
larized by Col Rooseyelt's heutenants
four years ago when the claims OF
the "allies" were ruthlessly shattered,
the Roosevelt leaders today were su2-
gesting the committee should sat all
OF the contesting delegations and split
the vote between the so-called regu-
lars and the contesting representa-
tives. But the Taft people declined to
consider any such suggestion. There
will be few split delegations this
year" declared Victor Rosewater,
vice-chairman OF the committee. The
iesues are too plainly involved This
committee cannot dodge. IT, will de-
eide each case on its merits and VIII
issue the certificates TO the men that
are entitled 10 them.
Incidentally the committee at the
outset made It very plain that II had
no intention of rafting the political
skeleton. 1t will not go back OF the
face of the returns. Where con-
testing delegation can seriously assail
the legality of the election of the regu'
lar delegates, it will have chance 10
win, but where the claim is OF fraud,
intimidation or juggling of roll-calls,
the committee will take the position
that il has not the power to review
the acts of a convention. The Tart
men will benefit greatly by this rul-
ing. as IL will throw out most OF the
contests from the south where the
Roosevelt conventions were held
weeks after the Taft conventions had
regularly elected a set OF delegates.
Most of these contests were not sug-
gsted until after the visit to the south
ern states OF the Roosevelt contest
manager. Ormsby McHarg, and the
committee will take the position tnat
II cannot seat the claimants, because
thew failed TO try TO control the earlier
conventions which were properly
called by the district or state organ
izations.
While the committee met 70 wreItle
with the temporary roll OF the con
vention the big party leaders were III
almost constant conference al thelr
hotels. Not in yearssinc-e 1881 10
be exact-has the outcome OF con
vention been as doubtful and the
party war horses have hastened 10 the
tContinued on page 1O.