Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-06-27
Plans Laid by Roosevelt Men and Ap-
proved by Colonel Himself
WILL NOT BOLT CONVENTION
DeIsoates 70 Aemaln In Their Seats,
But Not Vote, II Credentials Com
nlIttee Approves Dis
puted Roll.

party. Theodore Roosevelt ID to be
its standard bearer.
Unless there SHOULD be q radical
change OF program In the next IL
hours the Roosevelt delegates will
refuse to participate further In con.
vention dominated as they claim by
crookedly seated delegates.
The word unless" must be empha.
sized. Programs in the Chicago con-
vention throughout have been liable
to change without notice.
The truth Is that the Roosevelt
managers are constantly cropping In
the dark because of the lack OF COM
pactness of their forces. Like all con-
ventions, this one is made up chiefly
OF professional politicians, and this
Is true on both sides. There are
crusaders among the Roosevelt fol-
lowers, men who have never attended
a convention before and are battling
for cause.
Some Not Progressive.
This is especially the case with the
delegations from California and Penn
sylvania. But some Of the delegates
who are here under instructions for
Roosevelt are not at heart Roosevelt
men. They are politicians who have
gone under the Roosevelt banner be-
cause it was the popular thing to do.
The conspicuous cases are those
Of Maryland and Illinois In Mary
land half of the delegates were In
structed for Roosevelt at the state
primary, but would like to see him
beaten. There is a similar group in
Illinois. Delegates of this sort have
created the uncertainty in the Roose-
welt camp.
So 1t has developed that one pro-
gram after another has been deter
mined on by the leaders; only to be
abandoned later when they have
found that they could not depend up
on the support of many nominal
Roosevelt delegates.
Taft Men Nervous, Too.
Plainly the Taft crowd. too, 10
nervous over many of its delegates.
But they have the organization Of ex-
perienced politicians at their back.
The Taft margin as shown by the two
roll calls is slender and the preSf- |
dents managers will breathe long,
deep sigh OF relief If It sticks togeth-
err at the final test. j. %
While the plan here outlined has |
been approved by Roosevelt himself, |
his managers and caucus made up OF |
two delegates from each OF the RoOse~
velt delegations, It il subject to re-
vision by the delegates themselves.
The program now tentatively APP
proved does not mean that the Roose-
velt delegates will bolt; indeed, all |
thought of walking out has been
abandoned. 1t means that after the
report of the credentials committee,
should that report approve the al
legged stolen roll, and should it be
the Roosevelt delegates will
remain in their seats, but win not
vote or take any further part I'm the
proceedings.
1t means further that probably Taft
viii be named by the voting remnant |
and that the nomination of Roosevelt |
will come from the new party.
Plan May Change.
At present that is the plan, hut |
changes come quickly here, and 1t
may be altered before fits carrying
out begins. n
The cardinal fact is that unless
plans change, Roosevelt will be the
progressive nominee, and progressive
and Democrats alike will
be called on to support him.
It Is proposed that national pro-
gressive convention shall be held in
to which delegates fresh
from the people shall be sent.
These delegates, naturally, will be /
chosen without regsvd to party anita
ton. All persons holding to the pro-
gressive principles for which Roose-
velt stands would be invited to par
over old Party Lines.
The Roosevelt managers believe
that q new progressive party would
appeal strongly to Southern Demo
Gratis, who have been frightened at
the word Republican,. and that as
against Taft and almost any Demo
crat who. could. be dominated ataBaI-
timore Roosevelt would win.
The feasibility Of bolt was urged
BY some and finally dismissed Then |
a plan was suggested which had the |
approval Of most Of the Conspicuous |
Roosevelt men who could be found.
Henry J. Allen of Kansas Is the |
sponsor for II. Under this plan the |
Roosevelt delegates are to sit silent
and have no part in the proceedings
II defeated In purging. the roll
It was decided that Gov. Hadley. |
Roosevelt door leader, should make |
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