The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-14
FIGHT HARD FOR THE
IDAHO DELEGATION
Taft and Roosevelt Forces
Lined Up in Battle Array
in the Gem State.
CLAIMS MADE BY BOTH
President Has the Best of 1t,
According to the Figures
on Delegates.

Special to Tho Tribune.
BOISE, Idaho, April 13.-The TAFT
and Roosevelt forces are active in this
state to control the Republican state
convention to be held at Lewiston May
10, where delegates to the national
convention will be elected, and both
claim Idaho. The figures and estl-
mates they give show wide difference
as to their claims. Taft leaders assert
they have 155 delegates pledged to the
denomination of President Taft to
Roosevelt 8 eightytwo, and that sew
enty-nine are still doubtful. The num-
ber of delegates needed to control the
convention is 159, so that according to
the figures of the Taft leaders but four
moro delegates are needed to give them
absolute control. They assert they Will
go into the convention with close to
100 delegates.
Roosevelt leaders are Just as positive
In their claims. They declare they now
have a majority of seventeen Of the
instructed delegates, and with the un-
instructed delegates elected and those
to be elected, will seat Isl delegates
in the convention, thereby claiming a
majority of fortysix delegates over
the Taft forces, and twenty-five moro
than the necessary number to control.
Roosevelt Claims.
They claim the swinging of Ada
county and its thirty-one delegates into
the Roosevelt column and the prospect
Of securing twenty delegates in Ere
mont, which they believe is now the
pivotal county, will settle the aues-
tion of domination of the convention.
In the event neither Taft nor Roose-
welt have enough delegates to control
the convention, a hard fight will be
made and a compromise may be reached
to send the delegates TO the national
convention uninstructed and TO use all
honorable means to work for the nomi"
nation of Senator William Z. Borah,
should neither Roosevelt, Taft, La Fol
lette or CumminS have a majority, and
in the event there is q possibility for
q dark horse receiving the nomination
The personnel of the Idaho delega
tion to Chicago will also cause an in
teresting situation at Lewiston Both
factions believe that If they control
ton to dictate to the convention who
those delegates will be. The name of
Senator Borab has been used to head
the delegation to Chicago.
Hepburn May Go.
Senator Weldon r. Hepburn and
Burton l.. French will also probably be
Given credentials. and the balance of
tho delegates will be selected from
among the most prominent aud repro
sentative party leaders in the state
A. K. Cruzen Of Boise, who was
prominent in the fight in Ada county
in securing n Roosevelt delegation to
the state convention, is spoken of as
n possible delegate 10 the Chicago
convention, and his friends are boost. (
ing his candidacy. Mr. Cruzen is said
10 be entitled to the selection and ii
his friends at Lewiston are in q posi- |
tor 20 do so they propose to place him
on the delegation,
A majority of the counties in the
state have selected delegates TO the
Lewiston convention. or fifteen out Of
the twenty The total number Of
delegates selected is ia.
Primaries will be held in Canyon
county Nav t. and a county conven-
tion May S. Primaries will be held in
Shoshone county MAY l.. and the con-
vention may l6. Primaries will be held
in Fremont county April 81, and the
county convention May 9.