Norwich bulletin., 1912-07-29
To Throw Dust
 in Pub|iC's Eye
PURPOSE OF THE NUMEROUS
 ROOSEVELT CONTESTS
WERE ALL FRIVOLOUS
Statement Given Out in Reply to ceIeneI's Cry of "Theft and Fraud" Ali Were Abandoned But "A.

Washington July 2s.-A statement, approved by President Taft. defending his nomination by the Chicago conven- ton, was made public at the White House today. It reviews every con- test before the republican national committee and the credentials com mittee of the convention and asserts that each contest was settled logically, upon its merits. The statement was submitted to the cabinet at recent meeting and received the approval of the presidents official family.
 Contests Not in Good Faith.
 A resume of the statement, pre- pared by Charles D. Hilles, formerly President Taft's secretary and now chairman of the republican national committee, takes up each contest briefly.
 This resume opens with the declara- tien that the Roosevelt contests as originally filed before the national committee were not instituted in good faith.
 Intent Was to Deceive Public.
 "The total number of delegates sum- moned to the convention" says the resume, was 1,07S. with $40 necessary to a choice. MT Taft had 561 xotes on the first and only ballot and was declared the nominee There were in- stituted against 23S of the delegates regularly elecetd for Taft contests on behalf of Roosevelt These contests were avowedly instigated not for the purpose of really securing seats in the convention, not for the purpose of ad- ducing evidence which would lead any respectable court to entertain the con- tests, but for the purpose of deceiving +1a swAo OIs sAF r. Roosevelt had more votes than he really had, as the conventions and primaries were in progress for the se- lection of delegates. The 238 contests were reduced by abandonment, formal or in substance to "A The very fact of these 164 frivolous contests itself reflects upon the genuineness and va lidity of the remainder"
 Credentials Committee Msrepresented An appendix is the report of the credentials committee to the conven- tion, in which the statement issued by | the Roosevelt committeeman attacking the majority of the committee was answered In discussing the charge, | the report said: The statement as a whole in it's in- situations of conlbination of unworthy motive in it's recital of alleged facts, is grossly and maliciously untrue. It was Intended to convey the impression | that the time for hearing cases was so limited as to prevent their being prop erly presented to the committee. The untrutnfulness of this statement is clearly shown by the records of the ] committee and the newspaper reports of it's deliberations. Not only did the rules make liberal provision for time | in presenting the cases, but In every | instance where the parties presenting | the cases, or any member of the com mtttee, asked for an extension of time l it was granted
 Bias of Roosevelt Members.
 The committee on credentials of the republican national convention consists 1 of 59 members. The committee in ev- 1 cry case sustained the decision of the national committee, and in no case by ma1orities of less than two thirds. This | statement of facts, indorsed by 4O members of the committee. who listen ed patiently through aIl-dav and all l night sessions to evidence and argu- ment in order to be able to judge cases ] inteiligently and pass upon them hon estly, should be sufficient answer tc l the reckless aunWarranted and un- l truthful assertions contained in the statement signed by l members of the committee, two of whom did rot at- tend sessions of the committee, did not | hear any of the evidence presented and nearly all of whom indicated theil | bias by voting in every ease fer the delegates known to be favorable te Mir
 Roosevelt, including numerous eases l In which the action of the national committee had been unanimous for the ] Taft delegates''