The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-06-20

Chicago, June 1S.--Shortly after
noon today Victor Rosewater OF Ne
braska, chairman of the Republican
national committee, called the dele
gates to the national convention in the
Coliseum hall to order and the great
battle for the nomination for presi-
dent between William Howard Taft
and Theodore Roosevelt was on.
So soon as a semblance of order
was had Rev. James F. Callahan Of
Chicago invoked the blessing Of God
upon the labors Of the delegates in
q two-minute prayer. This ended,
Fred W. Upham in few words pre-
scented Chairman Rosewater with a
gavel on behalf of the Chicago conven-
ton committee.
First Skirmish 10 Begun.
Chairman hosewater then an
'nounced that the national committee
had determined upon Elihu Root,
United States senator from New York,
as temporary chairman and asked that
the committees action be concurred
In by the convention. This brought
about the first skirmish Of the battle
A Roosevelt delegate will move that
the name of Senator William E.
that of Elihu Root. Chairman Rose
water will direct Secretary William
Hayward of the committee to call the
roll. Alabama Is the first state on the
list The Ninth district delegates
were seated for Taft by the national
committee. Roosevelt supporters
challenged the vote Of the Alabama
Ninth district men and the fight over
/ the seating of the delegates by the
committee was under way.
May Hold Two Conventions.
Revolutionary political plans are in
the making by the Roosevelt army.
Two conventions are assured unless
the TAFT army fails to hold its ground
and is unable to perfect the tempo
rary organization Of the convention,
say those on the firing line. The
Roosevelt field generals have an
nounced a f1ght from the drop of the
gavel 1t is to be a move to refuse
to recognize the temporary roll call
of the convention as made up by the
Republican national committee. This
is something unheard of III Republican
national conventions. 1t means the
Roosevelt followers will leave the con-
vention unless they control it. say the
Taft directors-general.
The presidents managers follow
this up by asserting they will have
ITO leave the hall in that event, for
the Taft men declare they will be able
to organize the convention at least.
Roosevelt Directs Fight.
Col. Roosevelt, personally directing
his camp followers with the aid OF
Fighting Bill Finn, George w. Per-
'kins, Medill Mccormick and others,
laid this plan of campaign and Sc
llected Senator William e. Borah Of
idaho as the Roosevelt candidate Tor
temporary chairman of the conven-
ton to match against Senator Elihu
Root of New York, who was selected
for temporary presiding officer by the
Taft leaders.
Challenge Roll at Start.
1t is the Roosevelt plan, according
10 the leaders, to demand of Victor
Rosewater, chairman of the Republi.
can national committee, that all dele
gates seated by the national commit
tee during the recent hearings before
that body SHOULD be unseated In IA
vor of the Roosevelt delegates. At
the same time 1t is the Roosevelt
plan to move the contested delegates
complained of shall not be permitted
TO vote on the issue raised on the
ground that they would be acting as
Judges In their own cases.
Some Seek Third Candidate.
A big element In delegate strength
Is reported to be hoping for a chance
to switch to third candidate. Two
Taft delegates from Pennsylvania
Congressman William w. Griest and
William H. Keller, are ready, 1t Is
said, to start new candidate move
ment. They favor Justice Hughes,
Senator Root or Robert T. Lincoln.
They do not believe either Taft or
Roosevelt would win In November.
A Hughes boom Is under way
among New York delegates. If Presi-
dent Taft would give the word 1t is