The Washington times., 1912-05-27
TALK OF THIRD
f. PARTY TO BEAT
(. ROOSEVELT OUT
Boilers May Act If Split
* Follows Nomination
of Colonel.
PREDICTION COMES
FROM THE INSIDE
Open Sessions of Committee on
Credentials Advocated by
Party Men.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

,
lican, while Indiana and Kentucky are
close and doubtful States.
The national committee might, by
dint Of a grave error in Kentucky and
Indiana, throw over the party's chance
the country the s,sia rank and
going to be furious IL the committee
gives any other than a fair determina-
, tion based on the evidence and the
merits.
Therefore the earnest demand for
open hearings, for full understanding
by the public, and for an opportunity
for public opinion to make itself felt
while the cases are under the eye OF
This matter of forcing public sessions
Of the committee Is just now being
pushed forward by a strong element OF
men who have the good Of the party
sincerely at heart; men who are anx-
ious that II shall be in shape to pull
itself together after the nomination is
made, and put up united front for the
big fight of the summer and autumn
months. They include people who will
be candidates for State, city and county
offices, organization men. and the great
mass of men who want to curb the
extreme zeal of the ultra -partisans who
are declaring they don't care what hap
pens II their side doesn't win.
For the Primaries.
The political center of gravity will
week hence, when both the Taft and
Roosevelt organizations will be install
ing their offices there, ready to watch
the work of the national committee and
organize the preliminaries to the con-
vention fight itself.
In connection with the temporary
craftsmanship of the convention. new
name was brought into the considera-
hat afn T. nf
New Jersey The threats of opposition
to the selection of Senator Root for
that position have opened discussion
of various progressives as possible can
6idates of the Roosevelt forces. Senator
Clapp of Minnesota has been most dis
cussed; so have Governors Johnson OF
California, and Hadley, of Missouri.
Today a Roosevelt leader made the
unequivocal declaration that the right
man had not yet been named at all.
He would not say whose name would
be put forward, but the impression was
given that an Eastern progressive might
be desirable, so as to avoid sectional
division at the outset. and also to as
sure support from Eastern delegations
This suggestion turned attention to Mr.
Record. progressive of the most or
thodox style. who has been fighting his
way up in New Jersey till he Is now
recognized as one of the men who made
the movement mean something in that
State and put 1t in the way of the big
victory that Roosevelt seems certain to
echieve tomorrow in the Jersey pri-
maries.
Mr. Record Is a speaker of great
force and ability. and would undoubted-
ly be generally satisfactory to progress
sives of all sections.
The committee on arrangements has
definitely admitted that Senator Root
Is its choice for temporary chairman,
and the Senator has indicated that he
will accept. The invitation, however,
SlhiRcf N Of ha
convention. IF there Is going to be a
fight, 1t will come in the first half hour
OF the conventions proceedings. The
acting national chairman will call the
gathering to order, the secretary OF the
national committee will read the call,
there will be prayer-and then, they re
off in a bunch The national commit
tees selection for temporary chairman
will be announced; somebody will move
its acceptance.
II there Is to be opposition. a delegate
will rise and move to substitute the
name of somebody else; it will be sec
On this CALL the votes will be cast
by all uncontested delegates, and by
those contested ones who have been
given favorable report by the national
committee. This is the point at which
the first test must come.
On such a showdown, the vote would
be significant, but not conclusive In a
convention so closely divided as this
one Will De. fOf instance, tneTe are
eight delegates from Massachusetts,
who were elected under pledge for
Roosevelt, but whose support the Col
onel has refused to accept on the ground
that the preferential vote was for Taft
Free In Their Support.
They would be perfectly free, however
to support Roosevelt in the organiza-
ton fight II they chose. In Maryland
half the delegates are Taft men, in.
Btructed for Roosevelt, but free to sup
port Taft in the organization votes.
Illinois has a delegation, except two
men, instructed for Roosevelt; but Its
personnel includes d considerable num-
ber of men who are not, personally, fol
Roosevelt, and who are claimed as sup
porters of the President in the organi'
zation period. On the other side, ths
South has big bunch of delegates who
though instructed for Taft, do not want
him nominated, and whose votes might
be cast Independently in the temporary
organization. Altogether. then, the vote
on temporary chairman could be expect
ed to give more accurate line on the
real individual preferences OF delegate!
than on the detailed Instructions of th'
men making UP the temporary roll
Both sides assume that the element tina
controls on the temporary orSaniZa tiol
will also dominate on the credential
fight, when the convention has to dc;
eide whether It will accept or reject tn,
national committees decision of tn,
contest cases.
Sherman's Chicago Trip.
ApropoS of all this detailed discussion
of the fight in the temporary organiza
tion, there was a new story today abou
the visit of Vice President Sherman a
the end OF last week to Chicago. 1t Wa
reported, though without more confir
nation than some shrewd conjecture
in intimate Illinois circles that the Vic
President, who is an ardent anti-Roose
Welt man, had gone out to call on
prominent Illinois politician who will b
a delegate, under Instructions for Roos5
Welt. He, with at least one other, i
reported to have considered bolting in
Rtructions and supporting Taft on frs
ballot. The Taft people have been de
voting a deal of close attention to ef
forts to break up the Illinois delegation
Today finds three Presidential candI
dates, Roosevelt. La Toilette, and Tat
closing their appeals for the vote G
New Jersey. The primary, a straight
out preference affair. will be held ia
morrow, and both sides claim the ad
vantage, with all the indications, an
the judgment of unbiased observers, in
dlcating that Roosevelt will sweep th
State.