Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-06-06
CONTESTS TO Be TAKEN UP
NATIONAL COMMITTEE GATHER.
ING IN CHICAGO FOR PRELlM-
MARY WORK
WILL USE THEIR MAJORITY
SUPPORTERS OF THE CHIEF Exc
cuTlvE EXPECT TO MAKE
SHORT WORK OF TEDDY

Chicago, June 6.-Although the rep
resentation was not complete, ma
iority Of the members Of the republi-
can national committee assembled to-
day prepared to enter ten-day series
Of meetings which win determine
what men shall fill 254 contested
seats of total of LOTS on the floor
Of the convention, when it is called to
order June 1S.
This meeting is expected to develop
skirmish between the Taft and
Roosevelt forces which may become
highly important in foreshadowing the
line of fighting that will be carried
into the convention. The Taft lead
ers. according to reports from various
sources, had decided to use their
claimed majority of the committee to
seat Taft delegates in nearly all oil
the many contests.
United States Senator Boies Pen
rose of Pennsylvania and several otn-
er Taft leaders, expressed eagerness
to clean up the preliminary work ot
the committee as quickly as possible
and get down to the actual work oI
hearing contests late today Nathan
n Scott. West virginia's committee
man. sent his proxy to Harry s. New
chairman of the subcommittee on ar
rangements who will determine who.
will hold it.
Senator Dixon, leader Of the Roose-
velt forces, was offered proxy by
member of the national committee
whose name he declined to divulge'
but said that in view of the position
taken by the Roosevelt men regarding
ing the non-partisanship of the COM
mittee. it would be impossible for
him TO take in the contest hearings
The proxy of S. A. Perkins, of wash
ington. viii be held by A. M. Steven
son of Denver, pending the arrival OF
William Barnes of New York. Mer-
rill Moeres Of indianapolis, former
classmate Of President Taft, arrived
today prepared to represent the Taft
men in the Indiana contests.
On the question of open or closed
sessions, members of the committee
tentatively had agred to admit two
representatives of each press assocla-
tion recognized on the floor OF con
gress. This arrangement it was urg-
ed. would assure publicity on the deli
berations of that body without unnec-
essary complications which might re.
suit if the meetings we're thrown open
without limitation.
A conference of the members oil ne
national committee from southern
states, presided over by United ssstes
Senator Newell Sanders Of Tennessee
was held Just previous to the open
! ing of the committee meeting. After
i the meeting, Sendtoi odiiu0ie
that the southern members had agreed
to stand together solidly for President
TAFT Congressman Richard Barthold'
of Missouri, carrying the proxy OF see
retarv of Commerce and Labor Charles
4 Nagel, was among those who confer
red with the southern committeeman
The committee was called to ordel
at the coliseum by Acting Chairman
Victor Rosewater of Nebraska. II
was expected that no contests would
be taken up; the work of the com
mittee seemed likely to be confined
to organization and adoption OF rules
including the question Of admittine
the press to the hearing.
President Taft's managers practi
calIy have decided to invite Colone
Roosevelt to attend the discussions
of the republican national commit
tee during the consideration of con
test cases so that he may be assured