The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-12
MICHIGAN CHOOSES TWO
CHICAGO DELEGATIONS
Militia and Policemen Prevent
Free for All Fight in Con-
ventiOn Hall.
BOTH CLAIM REGULARITY
Roosevelt Men Backed by State
Chairman. but Taft Has
Majority of Committee.

BAY CITY. Mich. April 1.-THE Re-
publican state convention to-day was
not free-for-all fight merely because the
militia and the police prevented the Taft
and Roosevelt followers from getting at
each others throats.
Two full delegations to the National
convention. one for Roosevelt. the other
for Taft. we're chosen.
Two conventions strove for possession
Of the same hall. and both succeeded in
staying till their work was done.
Il is hard to decide which convention
IL the rump State Chairman Knox and
ten members Of the Central Committee
stand on the Roosevelt side. but a major
ity Of the committee. seventeen members,
are sponsors for the Taft meeting.
The big fight Of the convention was
to get the Wayne delegation into the hall.
The Taft men had the sergeant-at-arms.
and he finally prevailed. Every Rooee-
welt man from Wayne was barred out t
Only the Taft men we're admitted.
There was no test Of votes in the con-
vention. The Roosevelt men claim to
have had in the neighborhood of 800
dele gates, with the Roosevelt delegation
from Wayne. The Taft people claimed
$50. also counting their men from Wayne
With the Roosevelt men from Wayne
barred out OF the hall the Taft men easily
had q majority Of the delegates in the
convention.
State Chairman Knox presided at the
opening Of the Roosevelt meeting. He
called for the election Of temporary
chairman and Speaker Herbert F. Baker
Of the House of Representatives was
elected by the Roosevelt delegates. the
Taft men meanwhile giving their attention
to the Taft convention at the other side
OF the hall
| Mr. Raker proceeded to recognize
various of the Roosevelt leaders. each
with prepared motion. and the Roosevelt
convention proceeded to the election Of
committees and the framing Of reports
Then it went ahead with the election o!
six delegates to the Chicago convention.
Amid scene Of wild disorder when
the convention opened W. d. Gordon
Of Midland, a Roosevelt delegate, wa
thrown headlong of the platform by
Jack F. Creemer Of Marquette. Taft
worker. when Gordon leaped to the stage
Gordon tiunbled over the press tables
and landed on his head on the floor. over
turning q dozen newspaper men. Cor
don's friends jumped to the stage anc
pulled Creemer to the floor. but CreemeI
was surrounded by his own friends. who
kept Gordon part isans from beating him.
Policemen and militiamen at this juno
ture took charge Of the stage and the front
Of the hall and forced back more than
100 men who were trying to engage In
the fight. Shouting. cursing. pushing
back and forth, the delegates put the
convention in turmoil and all attempts
TO secure quiet seemed useless.
Policemen. brandishing their clubs
filled the stage. Chairman Knox tried
in vain to make himself heard.
Ex-senator Beveridge was on the plat
form when the fracas began. He was
swept back from his seat and two husky
policemen stood guard over him until the
row was over.
Mayor George Ellis of Grand Rapids
who refused to show his credentials a,
the inner door was thrown into the street
When the Wayne county Taft dele
gates attempted to enter the convention
hall they were met by a. squad Of nationa
guardsmen who refused to allow them tc
enter. They retired to an adjacent grow
and Indignantly denounced Gov. Osborn
for calling out the militia.
The doors Of the convention hall wer'
opened shortly after noon with the Taf
members Of the State central comnitte,
had instructed the sergeant-at-arms Il
admit no delegates but those accredited
by the Taft members Of the State com
mittee. At the front door stood solit
mass Of Roosevelt delegates from Wayn,
county When the sergeant refused
to accept their credentials they stooC
aside and allowed the Taft Wayne dele
CATION. next behind them. to enter ant
take the Wayne delegation seats.
Control Of the convention passed iron
Chairman Knox to the Taft organization
when Member Robert Shields and other
made formal demand for admittance
This was after the hall had been cleared b.
militiamen Of force Of over fifty mel
planted in the armory over night for tn
purpose of turning back delegates W it'll
out satisfactory credentials.
The Roosevelt convention selected tn
following delegates at large to the Chicag
convention
Gov. Chase 8. Osborn. Charles A. Mich
ola. Detroit. Sybrant Wesselius, Gran,
Rapids; Theodore NJ. Joslin. Adrian
W. -. Gordon. Midland; Herbert I
Bolghey. Grand Traverse.
Taft delegates at large: John d. Mac
Crystal Falls: William Judson. Gran
Rapids; George b. Morley. Saginaw