The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-06-19
ROOT TEMPORARY
CHAIRMAN BY
SMALL MARGIN
Taft Wins in First Clash at
National Convention
VOTE WAS $50 TO 5O2
Majority SO Small That II Indicates
Nothing Conclusive Bearing
on Nomination

Chicago, June 19.-The Republican
national convention today took up
the disputed roll which was under
discussion briefly yesterday.
The Roosevelt contention is that
rs Taft delegates seated by the nat
ional committee are fraudulently in
the convention and that these rs
seats belong to Roosevelt delegates.
The discussion is limited to an hour
and a half to side and vote Is ex-
pected TO be reached about 4 o'clock
Chicago, June 1S.--The Taft sup
porters in the Republican national
convention put through the first por-
ton of their program by electing
Senator Elihu Root of New York, as
temporary chairman. In spite of the
fact that Victor Rosewater, chairman
of the national committee, consistent
ly ruled out OF order every motion
made by the Roosevelt forces, it re-
quired more than five hours to reach
vote on the craftsmanship.
The calling Of the roll was beset
with difficulties from the first name
on the list of delegates. but in the
end, when the tumult had died away,
Senator Root W. found TO have won
by a vote of 55S to 500 for Governor
Francis +. McGovern. of Wisconsin,
with fourteen scattering votes and
four not voting.
Tonight both the Taft and Roose-
welt forces are claiming that this
vote indicates that their candidate Is
absolutely sure to win. The advan-
tage appears 10 be with the president,
however, for while he is sure TO lose
some of the votes that were cast for
Senator Root II is claimed that he
will gain. if instructions are lived up
to, some of the votes Independently
cast for McGovern.
While Mr. Root was made chairman
today and managed 20 deliver his
keynote" speech, the fighting is to
be renewed at II o'clock tomorrow,
when the motion OF the Roosevelt
leaders to substitute a new list OF del
egates for those seated in some of
the contested cases heard before the
national committee is to be taken up
as the unfinished business. No com
mittees were named tonight and none
will be until this motion TO purge
the convention of fraudulent dele.
gates" is disposed Of Today II was
defeated on a point of order. but the
Roosevelt forces declare that parlia-
mentary practice will not be permit
ted to stand in their way tomorrow
The Roosevelt people and the Taft
people carried out their programs as
announced in advance almost TO the
letter. The Roosevelt people say to-
night they are going to fight every
inch Of the way.
There were cries OF "bolters" hurl
ed at the Roosevelt delegates at times
during the session, but the contin
gency of bolt again tonight seemed
to be far distant.
California under the leadership oil
Governor Hiram Johnson, assumed Q
belligerent attitude almost with the
start of the roll call, when the two
Roosevelt delegates from the Fourth
district, unseated by the national com
mittee we're not allowed to vote But
they confined their protest to elo
| quence: the two votes from Roo
were the only encroachment in the
state upon the vote cast for McGov
ern. Later Pennsylvania fell into the
breach and made a flercer profess
against the vote Of an alternate
There is prospect, however, of an
other eyea more bitter struggle to
morrow, when as unfinished bust
ness the convention will take ND
motion CO Governor Hadley OF Mis-
souri, 20 strike from the tomporar,
roll Of the convention as prepared b,
toe rational committee, the names o
| 90 de'eeates seated by the na.iona
committee in cootesled election casel
and substitute thoce Of the Roosevelt
contestants
Alier the arg, nents were N. shcd
~ the Hadley resolution. Chairman
n'ne~ater renewed his rulrg tina
nothing vas In ori but nomination
for temporary chu man. He present
Cd the national committees recon
rendauon OF Sena'D, Root and ash
ell Tor further nominations.
The Roosevelt, men made no fur
tner opposition I, this ruling and tn
roc >all was begun at 1915. The nam
q! eve'Y delegate was called. and
consnn ed three hours. yet every ste
y 'he proceedings was heard witt
tue ktonest inter -
me Roosevelt men did the hes
they cu'id, dem ndinP the omission
of nc rame Of nvcrv one Of the de-
crates Objected to on the ground tina
he mad been improperly seated l.
~" rational oor,Gltlee as set fort
In he sldetractsl motion OF Cover
M faGley; but the roll call went Of
mere ttsly, some lines amid deafer
ing Cviuses. the sn,.tin; of IN
vote made dramatic sequence O
emotions, as applauds and cheer
greeted one vote after another.
With Oregon's three for Taft an
: six for McGovern, the net pluralit
. for Root stood at 80. but Pennsylvi
/ MAS GA for McGovern threw the ba
/. ance the other way and the advar
4 tage remained with McGovern unit
( Tennessee was reached when IN
{ Root advantage reappeared with
net plurality Of 10, and from then o
D the margin In Roots favor increase
J. and with the vote Of Patrick Halo
an In the Washington delegation. ca,
for Root al $3.50 ID m amid n .tor,