New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-28
CONTESTED DELEGATES
An Inquiry Into the Motives o
Colonel Roosevelt's Managers,

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Several statements have appeared
recently that the ESQ approximately con-
tests against Taft delegates to the Repuoli-
can National Convention. about 10 OF
which are now admitted by Colonel Roose-
Welt to be without foundation, and almost
all the rest OF which are admitted by some
Of the Roosevelt delegates to be invalid
we're made for psychological eject l. 9,
simply for the purpose of use as basis OF
making up e list OF delegates alleged 70 De
pledged 10 Colonel Roosevelt and TO give
him an appearance Of success IN MS cam
palgn, and thereby enthuse his followers
and n gain over such as are susceptible or
be,nr moved by the desire ito get on the
band wagon" for nothing succeeds IKE
SUCCESS" 7 understand this statement nrst
came from a pro Roosevelt newspaper De-
fore the convention met. and coming from
q friendly source II is presumsole that II
&c The hest excuse for these 80 contests
Db,cb Colonel Roosevelt or his friends can
OFFER.
7, Is very elementary law that q man is
nresurned 10 intend the natural result OF his
acts. and that mans intent or motive Is
10 De rOUnO not tTly " "AAoN -
intent IS but principally by his acts. This
IS common sense as we'll as law, and there
IL that other authority, which Gays; by
their fruits ye shall know them
Now what was the intent in making these
20 contests. judged by the facts?
At the least. these contests constitute
what is commonly known as dirty ward
notifies" 10 which Colonel Roosevelt says
he is opposed
When the convention was called an at
tempt on behalf OF Colonel Roosevelt was
made 10 have all delegates against whom
contests had been fled excluded from par
tlcipation In the convention, and had that
attempt been successful the natural result
would have been that Colonel Roosevelt
would have gained control Of C'stolen." In
his language the convention from Mr. TAFT.
who had a clear majority Of the delegates.
II IL = fair inference. then, that these go
contests were framed up" not alone for
th. comparatively innocent purpose OF
"psvchological effect. statistical pyrotech-
mics In other words, but also. and princl-
nally. with the deliberate malicious and I'M
moral intent OF stealing the convention
from Mr.. Taft by excluding from the pre-
liminary and temporary organization all
delegates against whom contests had been
nled, and had not this last act OF the con-
splrators In attempting TO exclude the con-
tested delegates failed the greatest OF poit-
ical frauds in wears might have been per
petrated.
"A half truth Is a whole lie" II is scarce
" iust, then. 10 say only that the contests
were made for psychologist" effect. for
that Is only part OF the truth. There should
be TONED with II the statement that they
were also made 10 steal the convention Tor
Colonel Roosevelt.
II these differences are not In accordance
with tho facts Colonel Roosevelt should
frankly and fully explain how these con-
tests came 10 be made, ss In his speech
OF acceptance" Of last Saturday he said the
issue was a moral one
congratulate you on the accuracy OF
YOUR forecast OF the preferences OF the dele
gates for candidate fer President. and
thank you for your evident intent to make
your canvass fairly, rather than In part'
San spirit. EDWARD r. NEARN, JR.
New York, June IS. 1917