The Washington times., 1912-06-20
Roosevelt Members Bolt At
Credentials Ses-
sion.
STOLEN DELEGATES
RETAIN THEIR SEATS
Colonel, at Mass Meeting, lndorses
Action of His Followers in
Walking Out. q

night today the Roosevelt members OF
the committee on credentials bolted the
committee sessions because that COM
mittee, controlled by Taft men elected
to It by stolen delegates, passed a reso-
luton presented by former Senator
James A. Hemenway. Ind. which put
into operation the same rules that were
used by the Republican national COM
mittee. eliminating all hopes of the
Roosevelt forces to get a fair hearing.
The evident purpose Of this resolution
was to keep the stolen delegates in their
seats throughout the convention.
After the bolt conferences were held
by Colonel Roosevelt and his lieutenants
and at Q o'clock this morning Roosevelt
addressed a mass meeting of all his
delegates, in which he announced his
purpose not TO stand longer for tactics
prevailing in the convention, and told his
followers to do as their convictions and
sense of duty dictated.
Issue Remains the Same.
After two weeks OF storm and stress
In the hearings before the Republican
national committee, and two days of
fighting upon the floor of the conven-
tion, the issue remains the same as
when the fight first began-"Shall theft
be considered the badge of party regu-
larity?"
All the fighting, whether II immedi-
ately concerned the election of a tenn
porary chairman or the adoption of
rules for the convention, or the forma-
ton of the various committees, revolv-
ed about this one point-shall dele
gates unjustly seated by the road roller,
and whose right to sit in the convention
is challenged by the Roosevelt forces,
be permitted 10 pass upon their own
cases, and shall the Roosevelt forces
be allowed to present evidence proving
their contentious?
That was the point raised by the
Roosevelt forces before the Republican
national committee. only to be steaH,
rolled and ignored.
That was the point raised the first
hour of the convention, only to be ruled
out of order by Chairman Rosewater.
That was the point raised again
Wednesday, debated three hours and
then sent to the committee on creden-
tails for settlement by a vote of 564 to
6l0. in which the contested delegates
were permitted to vote by Chairman
Root
Controlled By Stolen Votes.
The committee on credentials was
chosen by caucuses Of the various State
delegations. AS SEATED BY THE
NATIONAL COMMITTEE. This fact
enabled the Taft forces to control the
committee on credentials. The stealing
OF Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Texas,
Arizona, and Washington delegates
determined the identity Of the represen-
tatives of these States upon the cre-
dentials committee, and these in turn
determined the majority of the COM
mittee.
No sooner had the credentials COM
mittee organized than James A. Hem
enway, Of Indiana, Taft delegate
whose seat is contested, moved that IN
considering contests brought before the
committee there should be 20 evidence
iiniroduced that had not been Introduce j
bate should be limited to ten minutes
a side, and that all newspaper men
should be barred. The committe adopt
ed Hemenway's resolutions.
Inis means star chamber proceedings.
evidence. Such proceedings would be
a farce. The Roosevelt men, number
ing nineteen, protested against such
SesI;a tactics. asked for Justice and fal,
Then came their bolt.
They repaired 10 the Roosevelt head.
qaarters in the Congress Hotel, mad.
their reports. called conference OF
meeting of all the Roosevelt delegates
which was addressed by Roosevelt him
self. as follows
Urged To Stand Firm.
so far as l am concerned" de.
clared Colonel Roosevelt to his dele.
gates and advisers, Il am through. II
You are voted down 1 hope you, the rea
and lawful majority of the convention
will organize as such, and you will de
II II you have the courage and loyalty
OF your convictionA
II am speaking to you as a man t.
whom some OF you have done the homo
to state that you wish to nominal,
as President.
When l went into the race l mad,
my appeal to the people. Most of tn
delegates were. chosen at direct pri
maries by the people.
Il made my fight squarely. | said
and some of you heard me, that II tn
people decided against me l would hav
were for me and the politicians trie,
to cheat me out OF the nomination,
would have a great deal to say.
Il went before the people and l won
Now the national committee and a por
ton of the convention which is mad
a majority only by the aid of delegate
not elected, but chosen by the nationa
committee, are trying to cheat me ou
OF the nomination. They can't do II
las far as | am concerned, 1t make
no difference. But II Is not me they ar
cheating; il is the people, the rank an
file of the Republican party.
Advice From Colonel.
II didn't want to give you any ad
vice, as l preferred to let you decid
what 70 do. but / am going to Civ
you my advice.
Governor peneen today Introduce