Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-04

FIGHT AGAINST SENATOR ROOT
Both Taft and Roosevelt Followers
Optimistic - Latter's Champions
Confident of Controlling Convention.

Chicago, June 4.-Both sides in the
political battle which is warming here
for the big fight over the Republican
presidential nomination, were over
ioycd today. Roosevelt followers
were glad because they had the Col
onel's word for it that there would be
real fight against Senator Root as
temporary chairman of the convention.
Also the politicians who are backing
Roosevelt saw cause for joy in the
action Of two Alabama delegates who
announced that they would support
Roosevelt in spite of their instruction
for President Taft because "9O per
cent of their constituents were for
Roosevelt"
On President Taft's side rejoicing
came from the Presidents def of the
Roosevelt "bluff" and his statement
that he wanted the whole public to
know everything that was done at the
sessions of the National committee in
deciding contests.
The Roosevelt followers were con-
fident of winning the fight against
Senator Root. They said today that
they were certain of support from
delegates instructed for LaFollette
and Cummins.
With these votes and the ones that
Col. Roosevelt controls, they declared
there was no question about the con-
troll of the convention. President
Taft was emphatic in his statement
of his desires in connection with the
publicity of the facts regarding the
contests on delegates. He wrote to
Harry S. New, Indiana committeeman,
that ne had nothing to conceal in the
contests-the same statement that
was made by Col. Roosevelt-and that
he advised admitting newspaper men
to all sessions of the committee.
Real convention atmosphere was
noticeable in Chicago today. More
politicians and newspaper correspond
ents arrived today and the hotel lob
bies we're crowded early. Congress
man William B. Mckinley, President
Taft's manager, did not arrive yester-
day. as was expected and the local
headquarters had word that he was
delayed but would arrive Wednesday
at the latest. Sen. Joseph NJ. Dixon
Roosevelt campaign manager Is eX-
pected here today. Ormsby McHarge,
contest manager for Roosevelt, again
today predicted the nomination OF the
colonel on the first ballot. Col. Cecil
Lyon, of Texas, hunting partner OF
Roosevelt, said that his state was Tor
Roosevelt, and that his delegates
would support him. Gen. Powell
CLAYTON of Arkansas and henry ).
Chubb, of Florida, were certain OF
President Taft's nomination.
The organization of rough riders
will be copied in various sections OF
the county according to John Y. Cllnn'
colonel of the local Roosevelt Rough
Riders. He said that he had recelv-
cd scores of requests from all over
the United States for information
concerning the organization and opera
ton Of the riders in this city.
Another fight in the convention
which loomed larger today was the
threatened effort to restrict the rep
reservations of the Southern states IN
comming National convention. Gen.
CLAYTON intends to fight the sugges-
ton. He said today that If they try
to base the representation on the num-
ber of Republican votes cast at the
election would be playing INTO the
hands of the Democrats because they
count the ballots. He added tnat IL
would mean the annihilation OF the