The Washington herald., 1912-07-25
MONDELL DEFENDS
TAFT NOMINATION
Wyoming Representative Addresses
House in Support of National
Committees Action.
NORRIS FOR rRoeREss1vEs

A lot of soiled Republican linen thrown
on the line in the House of Represen-
tatfves yesterday angered regular leaders
and near-Progressives who had hoped
that the factional fight started in the
Chicago convention would not again be
revived in this campaign. Representa-.
tive Frank w. Mondell. of Wyoming, q
regular, who served on the credentials
committee at Chicago, and Representa-.
tive George W. Norris, of Nebraska, q
Progressive who has fought President
Taft from the beginning OF his admin
istration engaged in a war of words
that was frequently applauded by the
Democrats but received almost in ST.
lence by the Republican side Of the
House
In defense Of the speech made by Rep
resentative Mondell 1t was explained by
Taft leaders that Col. Roosevelt has
charged that the Taft nomination at Chi
cago was attained by fraud. Friends of
the President insisted that II was i'm
perative that the Roosevelt charge should
be answered in a formal way. and that
Representa- tive Mondell, who was a men,
Der Of the credentials committee, was
better qualified, by reason Of his knowl-
edge of the evidence, than any other
man in official life. Representative Mon
dell spoke for more than three hours He
characterized the Roosevelt charge that
the Taft nomination at Chicago was ef-
fected by fraud as hypocrisy" and pre-
sented data that tended to show that the
majority of the delegates admitted at
Chicago were legally entitled TO their
seats. Representative Norris followed
Representative Mondell. Both of them
were followed with keen interest. For
the first time in many weeks nearly
every seat in the House was occupied.
Speaks of Contests.
Mr.. Mondelrs speech was a strong one
from the Taft standpoint He. analyzed
the evidence in all the contests, paying
special attention to the contests arising
In Texas. Washington. California, and
the Ninth District Of Alabama
Representative Norris charged that
Taft was nominated by a majority Of
nineteen: that at least seventy delegates
were seated in behalf OF Taft without
a shadow OF claim to their seats, and
that the nomination of Taft was null
and void. and that no Republican was
obligated to support the ticket"
MondeTI Points Out Discrepa ncies.
Mr.. Mondell in beginning pointed out
that Roosevelt's charges of theft were
directed against a party with a great
and honorable history. and not against
individuals. Mr.. Mondell added that
men and parties do not become corrupt
overnight.
a party that will do a great wrong
to-day" said he. could not have been
honest yesterday. last year. or four
,-At 1r4r ~
the National Committee which de-
cided these cases were members of
the committee four years ago when Mr..
Roosevelt was pleased with and Indorsed
the committees work. In the conven-
ton among the majority were many who
had been personal and political friends OF
Mr.. Roosevelt when he was President.
and had enjoyed his confidence. Has
the character of all these men changed?"
Representative Monder added that II
a great party could become corrupted
between Presidential campaigns so as to
commit the political crimes charged
against the Republicans, the party itself
was not only in a bad way. but the
is beyond redemption.
IF q party of which Mr.. Roosevelt
had the support and an organization
which four years ago he trusted said
Mr.. Mondell, could in SO brief a time be-
come so lost to all sense of decency,
what hope is there for a new party which
he might Greater"
Representative Mondell said that the
Roosevelt charges of larceny at Chicago
were designed not only to contribute to
the third party movement, but to furnish
an excuse for the most impudent and
plan OF political larceny
ever conceived.
1T Is proposed" said Mr.. Mondell ito
steal the livery and secure the benefits
Of Republican State organiza ton, while
1t the same time repudiatng the party
and its candidates 1t is difficult to con-
>eive a more shameless proposal OF pure
piracy than this. In Pennsylvania, for
Instance, about third of the Republi-
ans of the State expressed a preference
ior Mr.. Roosevelt for President. He was
lot nominated, but the men who were
placed in command of the
Republican ship by a third OF the Re
publican voters are expected. I am told,
o continue to fly the Republican nag at
he masthead and secure whatever bene-
OF eventually, whatever hap
'ens, scuttling the ship after having got |
lway with the cargo"
Were to Confuse Issue.
Mondell declared that of the 23s con-
ests originally brought by the Roose- |
yelt people. 146 were abandoned by them |
before reaching the convention or its |
,redentials committee.
The overwhelming majority" said Mr. |
dondell, were brought deliberately for |
he purpose of confusing the issue, mis-
eading the public. and laying the foun-
iation for the outrageous charges which |
ollowed. The Southern contests were too |
aw for the stomachs of even the most /
'rejudiced Roosevelt supporters. These
contests were simply gotten up to fool
he people.
"One who has looked into the history
Il the contests before the Republican
National Convention" said MondeIl.
cannot help being impressed with the
triking similarity of the methods en-
'loyed in widely separated localities.
iiven certain state of facts-for in
tance. a clear minority in a county, a
district. or State convention-and the
anne procedure followed, whether IL was
n Washington. Michigan, or Alabama.
The stage was set in advance for a
olt or. riot, or both, by a plentiful
upply of contests, and where the affair
Tas in cool and practiced hands, the en-