The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-06-08
Roosevelt Delegates From the Ninth
Alabama Unseated by Strict
Partisan Vote

ult VI htAl WIEN
The Missouri, Washington and Tex
as contests are the pivotal contests
from the Roosevelt point of view. II
these contests are decided against
him, his followers will undoubtedly
bolt, for in these three states the vote
was Overwhelmingly in his favor and
the Taft delegates from these states
represent purely strong arm methods.
There is also one contest from Ken
lucky on which even a large proper
ton of Taft men agree that Roosevelt
is entitled to the delegates. The
other contests are likely TO be prac-
tically all decided for Taft without
much opposition.
Chicago. June AFTER seven busy
hours, which the Republican National
committee put in today wedding the
chaff from the wheat in the matter OF
delegates and contestants for seats
in the Republican National conven-
ton which will meet here on June Is,
twenty-four delegates have been Ia
ken from the contested columns and
added to the sure-enough, strength
OF President Taft. In all cases, ex-
cept one, the contests were determin-
ed by unanimous vote, the Roosevelt
members on the National committee
voting with the Taft men.
Twenty-Five out of the twenty-four
Contestants for seats, which the com
mittee during the day determined
should be occupied by Taft delegates,
were virtually laughed of the stage.
In two Alabama districts the seats
went to the Taft delegates by default,
the contestants failing to put in an
appearance.
The Roosevelt members OF the com
mittee freely admitted that the evil
dence on which was based the colon
els contest in eight Alabama districts
was too fiimsy to merit consideration.
The Taft men were compelled to go
on record, too, for there was roll
call in every instance, instead OF the
viva voce vote that was provided for
lin the rules adopted yesterday against
the vigorous opposition of committee
members.
The decision in the contest from
the Ninth Alabama district was by a
vote of 3S to Is. Three Taft men,
bers on the National committee voted
with the Roosevelt forces to seat ex-
Judge Oscar r. Hundley of Birming-
ham and G.. r. Lewis OF Bessemer,
the Roosevelt contestants. One OF
the colonels stanchest supporters on
the committee, Cecil A. Lyons, the
Republican boss of Texas, voted with
the Taft men.
Mr.. Dixon, at the Roosevelt head
quarters, issued statement tonight
excoriating the members Of the Nat
ional committee.
Until the roll was called on the
Ninth Alabama district" says the
statement, 81 was not prepared to be-
lieve that a majority of the National
committee was prepared deliberately
TO murder the Republican party.
"The nation might as well know
the truth. Three minutes before the
roll was called on this contest Sena.
tor Crane OF Massachusetts walked
over to Mr.. Stephenson of Colorado,
who holds the proxy of Senator Scott
OF West Virginia, and said to him:
We simply cannot AFFORD to go on
record in this case against sealing
the Roosevelt delegates; the case Is
lso plain that the country will not
stand for IT,"
mfr. Stephenson replied, We have
to do II. OF course there is no JUST
fication in fact, but II once we estab
lish precedent we will have to yield
In other cases
"The theft was coldblooded, pre-,
meditated and deliberate. With the
record of the ron call Of the Ninth
Alabama Congressional district ] now
deliberately charge that a majority Of
the National committee. In violation
of their sacred trust as trustees of the
Republican party in fear and hatred
of Theodore Roosevelt, have entered
into 6n agreement among themselves
to unseat all and every Roosevelt del
egate regardless of right.
"Tn his bitterness at being repudi
ated by the Republican voters. Mr.
Taft has now determined II possible
TO wreck the party rather than per
NIT IL to win with Col Roosevelt al
its candidate. But the National com
mittee is not the National convention
as will be seem" ASS
oyster Bay, June Col. Roosevelt
was just as confident aud cheerful a
ever tonight, although reports ha
reached him from Chicago as to Tn
action OF the National committee o
the Alabama contests. On their fac
the dispatches semed to indicat
that the committee would In the en-
throw out most If not all Of the Roos'
Welt delegates who are contrasting fo
! seats. but the Colonel took quite al
| other view Of the matter. He smile
I when told that the vote on the del
gates at large and most OF the di
trict delegates had been SO TO 0.
| faNne az Ar Taft mud uthtia ha unul