The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-21
With President Taft'S Holding
a Safe Majority.
OPPOSITION GOING TO PIECES
Disposition to Let 1t Wear Out
Is Manifested.
The COIOneI's Followers APP
pear to Be DemOralized.

Chicago, June 21.-Delegates to the
fifteenth Republican national conven-
ton frankly tired and eager to return
to their homes, today prepared for de-
cisive action at the Coliseum after
three days of skirmish firing between
.he Taft and Roosevelt forces, that has
resulted in nothing tangible but delay,
1t was evident that the temper of the
delegates and not the schemes of the
leaders would hold first place In the
r.ext II hours of convention delibera-
tions With this fact in view MEM
bers of the credentials committee work
ed slI night in efforts to have some
thing approximating complete report
for submission to the convention wheE
it is called to order at II a. m.
The fourth day of the convention OPP
ened with President Taft a strong ia
vorite for denomination, possibility of
a third candidate as second choice ii
the betting, and Col. Roosevelt APP
uarently out of the race as far as
particular convention is concerned.
Ordinarily in Republican national
convention procedure candidate fol
president would have been nominated
yesterday the third day, and the only
business remaining for the convention
today would be the selection of vice
president and adjournment. Now as
the program runs the report of the
credentials committee may require
vote by individual delegates; the re-
port of the committee on rules may
provoke extended debate and the sub
ject of a platform may take half day
for discussion on the floor.
If the convention actually gets down
to the point of nominations this week
it will be late Saturday. Every effort
cd rd II
the convention Saturday afternoon OF
night.
Claim Safe Majority.
President Taft's managers today as
serted that the president already was
assured of I majority of Is or Is votes
when the roll call on the preS1oentlai
nomination comes.
There was much conjecture and Cos
sip as to the exact number of dele
gates that Col Roosevelt could depend
on to stay with him through any sort
of a move that the former president
might decide on. Outside of California,
PENNSYLVANIA and possibly Kansas, y
was predicted that Col Roosevelt would
get comparatively little support among
delegates on any proposition that might
compromise the regularity OF the men
who followed him.
For in the last analysis. the Roose- |
Welt followers demonstrated that they
were willing to do almost anything for
Roosevelt but as it is known in par
lance. go the route" When it comes |
right down to the point of burning all |
their bridges behind them and taking |
chances on a dead open and shut game
of win or lose, there was a scurrying |
to get from under and the colonel was |
left behind holding the bag.
Governor Hadley, of Missouri, Gov |
ernor Deneen. of Illinois. and Senator l
Borah, of Idaho, served notice that |
they would not join in third party |
movement or in a bolt from the regular
convention. Other leaders of equal /
prominence did likewise.
Taft Stock Goes Up.
President Taft's stock went up the
scale at an amazing rate, once it be-
came known that the unanimity of the
Roosevelt plans had been broken.
The veteran leaders in command of |
the Taft campaign are using their po-
1itical genius adroitly for the purpose |
of disintegrating the Roosevelt sup
pert. They were reported to have en-
coura ged dark horse compromise talk
to have turned the fire from their can
didate until the preliminary steps in
the organization of the convention had |
been concluded.
Congressman William B. Mckinley.
of Illinois, President Taft's campaign
manager, insisted that at no time had
he considered a third candidate He
declared that all talk of a third can
didate had come from the Roosevelt
men. Mckinley declared that the
Roosevelt forces were demoralized and
disorganized to an extent which would |
preclude any further united action in
o. out of the convention.
As the hour for formal resumption of |
the convention sessions drew near