The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-17
ROOSEVELT CLAIM
RlO|CULED HERE
Statement That Slemp Will
Turn Back on Taft Is
Not Credited.
THIRD DISTRICT is PLEDGED
Brady and Vawter Made Prom
ise-Colonel's Chance Slight
From Virginia.

Local Republican leaders ridicule
the claims made Saturday night by
the Roosevelt managers in Chicago
that the Colonel Will receive five OF
| the Virginia votes. The very mention
Of the delegates specified by the
Roosevelt men is sa'd to preclude the
poss biiity o: any such result.
According to press dispatches irom
Chicago. the two delegate each from
the I nlId and Ninth Districts, with
one from the Fifth. Will turn their
backs upon President Taft and vote for
their man. This assertion seems to
have been many times repeated with
absolute confidence.
Summers Taft Worker.
Now. to get the votes from the Ninth
District. the most complete change in
conditions would be necessary. Louis
Preston summers, OF Abingdon one or
the men from the Southwest district,
is III Chicago as TAFT leader. con
~uctinS the case OF the contestecs He
mas just resigned the position OF In
ternal Revenue Collector for the Nest
ern District of Virginia. for the eX-
press purpose of helping MIR Taft to
be Reelected. Therefore, any claim
that lie is for Roosevelt Would seem
most remarkable.
The other Ninth District delegates IS
y. Pendleton Crockett, OF Wise. the
private secretary OF Congressman {.
.iascomh Slemp. The latter helped TO
organize and carry the Republican
state Convention in Roanoke for
Pres dent Taft. and is regarded as
most loyal to him. True. during Mr.
Slemp's hard fight for recollection III
1910. when he was nearly defeated by
Henry {. Stuart. former President
told a crowd al B.sstol that "Sienlp
was as straight as a string" When
the Colonel was told that aemp and
Summers were working against him
he said: "unkind; unkind"
MI Slemp seems TO have burned his
bridges behind him, and no one here
believes his private secretary Will vote
Tor Roosevelt. Besides, Mr.. Crockett
has recently said he would follow his
instructions and vote for Taft.
Richmondcrs PIedged.
1t is true that the Third and Fifth
District delegates are not instructed.
Joseph p. Brady and ". r. vawter
successfully fought the Inns" in the
mass-meetings and district convention
and got their faction seated IN Roa-
noke. But before the latter event was
brought about they came out in a
public statement to the effect that they
Woulu vote Tor president Taft at the
Chicago convention. Otherwise. they
would not have been seated at Roa-
noke. for the "ins" We're instructed for
Taft Mr.. Brady has recently said that
he preferred Roosevelt, but would vote
for Taft.
1t is not known here which of the
tlfth District men is supposed to be
for Mr.. Roosevelt. They were not in
structed. but ON the day Of their Sc
lection By the Martinsvnlo convention
they wrote letters TO the Taft head
quarters piedging their support and
vote 10 the President. S. Floyd Land
reth. OF Carroll, one of the two. has
deplorcd the fight wi.hin the party,
and has hoped that Supreme Court
Justice Charles L. Hughes might after
all be the nominee and heal the fac
lions. but he insists that ne will stand
by his pledge for Taft
So there would seem 10 be small
nope for any Nircinians going for
Roosevelt OF course surprises are in
order. and no one seems to be able
to tell what day may bring forth