The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-20
Just Before the Conven-
ton
Bitter Pre-convention Contest Justi-
fees Breathless Interest.
BOLT LIKELY

country awaited with SO much con-
Germ tho action of the national con-
ventions. Certainly at no time since
that memorable year has the pre-nom-
nation contest been 30 spectacular
and 30 bitter. And, now on the eve
of the calling OF the Republican Con-
yention to order, tho people thru
out the country await the result with
interest almost as brcathless as II
a real battle were going TO be fought
and the victory won by the force
that could sley the most Of its
enemies.
During the last week there has
been considerable maneuvering for
advantage, and much has been said
and done, with more or less insincer-
ity. for psychological effect. The
chief event worthy OF this character
ization was the appearance of Roose-
welt himself on the scene. Saturday,
to take personal charge Of hts
forces in order to make sure that the
nomination would be rendered him"
or course 1t had been known for
some time by all who know Nj.
Roosevelt that he would be present.
simultaneously with his arrival
the national committee completed
its work OF passing upon the 254
contests, the Committee. out Of the
254, according to Roosevelt only 10,
thus making his instructed vote
430 and placing in the Taft column
2S5. making his instructed vote 436,
not enough In either instance to
give a nomination on the first bal
lot, but II is understood that at least
SO OF the 80 New York votes are for
Taft, which would raise his total to
5l6. And 1t is claimed by Taft head
quarters that there are enough more
votes uninstructcd that are pledged
TO nominate him on the first ballot.
Significant insight is given to the
methods OF tho Roosevelt forces in
the fact that, while 10 of the % mem
bers of the national committee were
pronounced Roosevelt supporters, they
voted with the majority of the COM
mittoe In almost every instance in
seating the Taft delegates, Senator
Borah taking the lead and declaring
that in the Indiana case, sighted 50
often by Roosevelt himself as an
example of the method of Taft in
willfully robbing him, there was not
the slightest evidence in support
of the Roosevelt claims. And that
the grounds for tho contests In
most OF the other cases were practi-
cally as flimsy is evidenced by the
fact, as above stated, that the Roose-
welt contingent voted against them.
The Roosevelt program has more
light thrown upon 1t by a confession
in one OF the Munscy papers in Wash
ington. Mr.. Munsey being one CT
the chief hackers Of Mr.. Roosevelts
campaign. The following is the
justification given OF the methods
pursued and the contests instituted:
1T was necessary for the Roose-
welt people TO start contests on these
early Taft selections in order that
tabulation of delegate strength could
be put out that would show Roose-
Welt holding a good hand In the game.
a table showing Taft $50; Roosevelt,
10; contested, none, would not be
very much calculated to inspire con-
fidence; whereas one showing Taft,
%, Roosevelt, 10; contested 1921 look
ed very different. This is the whole
story"
The contests were instituted then
for psychological effect, and the
sreat cry of steam roller, when the
committee was not psychologically
effected, was a further attempt ht
psychological effect. And what the
result will be, 1t will take only II
few more days to disclose.
IL should be noted, however, that,
while Mr.. RooGevelt's contingent Of
the committee was deciding with
the majority that the contests were
trumped up, he himself continued
his thunderings from oyster Bay,
and abated not in his declarations
that he was being ruthlessly and
criminally robbed.
There is much talk about a COM
promise candidate, and Justice Hughes
Is the only man prominently spoken
of in this connection Some weeks
ago MIR. Roosevelt announced that
he would be the compromise candi-
date, and last week President Taft,
In great assurance OF success, declar-
ed that he would be the compromise
candidate. And IL would seem that
be has the advantage.
Another serious feature of the
situation is the threat from Roose-
welt quarters Of a bolt, and the wide
spread belief is that. lust as I'm the