Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-03
Report That Chicago Hall
Has Been Rented by
7. R. Men.
ROOT VOTE AS THE TEST
Is Expected to Give Leaders a
Line on the Chances of
Their Candidates.

Chicago, June 3-Rumors of an i'm
pending bolt, reiterated and as often
denied. have stirred the republican ma
tional convention atmosphere and Of
recent days have been given consider
able weight.
The latest story, which has not been
verified because OF the unwtllingness
Of politicians 20 discuss II, is that fol-
lowers of Roosevelt have secretly
rented the LIST regiment armory in an
ticipation Of party split
II can be said authoritatively. how
ever, that for two days past electri-
clans have been busily engaged in ths
big structure putting in telegraph
wires. Who will use them is a matter
OF much conjecture.
Colonel Joseph B. Sanborn, COM
mandant OF the regiment, Sunday said
as far as he knew no Roosevelt men
had hired the hall or had an option
on IL. An aid in charge OF the building
said the League OF Republican clubs
and Young Mems Republican club
have options Of a day each for its use.
He. too. said he knew Of no contract
with Roosevelt followers.
SANBoRN MAKES DENIAL.
AS far as | know, the Roosevelt
people have made no overtures toward
the renting of the armory," Colonel
Sanbovu said. III such have been
made. the fact is unknown TO me"
The armory building is practically
"a MI n. MI iC-
trict big enough for a 'rump" conven-
tion. II either side anticipates bolt
It will assuredly get some place where
It can crowd in the outside following
for a hip-hiphurrah affair.
II bolt is 20 come, it will in all
probability come from the Roosevelt
camp. President Taft could hardly
gather his followers about him and
march out of the convention in event
he loses, and still retain his presiden.
tial dignity. The cry would go up that
he was peeved because a second term
wasn't on the platter and that public
demand meant nothing to him.
on the other hand. the Roosevelt
men would have everything to win by
walking out. in event their predictions
do not come true II would be T
Roosevelt. private citizen, walking out
With him would go that faction known
as progressives, and he could go be
fore the public and charge his actions
TO the refusal OF southern office hold
ing delegates to obey the popular
clamor He could also urge that the
party had outgrown its standpat con
servative attributes and that a new po
litical era was at hand.
FIRST ROLL CALL CRISIS.
Politicians generally agree upon one
point, and that is that the real cruz
OF the situation will be the first ballot
the roll call for temporary chair
man. II bolt is to come. II will be al
that time.
This vote means practically every
thing. The national committee. which
hears the squabbles over contested
seats this week. is with Taft heart anC
soul A number OF the committeemeI
went down with the Taft banner II
their respective states, among thes'
being Franklin Murphy, New Jersey
Victor Rosewater. Nebraska; David "
Mulvane. Kansas; Ralph f. Williams
Oregon. and Arthur l. vorys, Ohio
Having gone the route so far, the!
will hardly take TO a side track now
II means that TAFT will get a goodl,
share OF the contested seats.
These delegates designated by tn,
committee will be seated in the ten
porary organization. They will selec
the credentials and resolutions com
mittee and help name the permanen
chairman. II they are in suficien
numbers. added 10 the delegates IN
structed for the president, they vii
control the convention.
ROOT SELECTION TEST.
The Roosevelt forces will know
where they stand on the roll call 70
temporary chairman. II they have no
sufficient delegates at hand TO depos
Elihu Root, the Taft selection for ten
pcrary chairman. they may feel assul
ed that in the remainder Of the col
vention proceedings they will be in tn
minority on every question. This /
likely TO carry out even as far as IN
presidential nomination itself. anC
knowing this the Roosevelt leader
say il would be political suicide fo
the colonel's managers 10 permit hi
name 10 go before the convention.
The Roosevelt managers. without
doubt. II they contemplate boiling. vi
take this vote as a signal 10 brea
camp and hunt other quarters for
"rump" convention OF course fhi
means in event they are defeated an