Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-31
Sounding Delegates to the
Chicago Convention.
ATTITUDE AS TO CHAIRMAN
Question of Loyalty to Instruction
Looms Up.
OF MASSACHUSETTS
Ohio Platform to Be Discussed at the
White House This Afternoon.
Other Conferences.

The Taft managers are making a poll OF
delegates to the Chicago convention it
is said. to ascertain how much support
Senator Root will get for temporary
chairman OF the convention. The poll Is
being made through national committees
men. So far IL IL said TO show that SEN
a;or Root VIII be elected. which means a
preliminary victory for the President The
hrst big fight of the convention VIII he
over the national committees selection or
Senator Root
The whole situation OF standing by in
structions promises to be a serious one
at Chicago in view of the bitter feeling
that will prevail there. The general at
titude of Taft leaders is that instructions
should be sacred among all the delegates.
but that something is likely to happen
when once the breaking OF these instruc-
tons begins. Although Taft carried
Massachusetts by a preferential vote OF
5000 the eight delegates at large elected
We're running on the Roosevelt ticket
Col. Roosevelt promptly urged them to
stand by their primary instructions and
vote for Taft. Seven of the eight men
have refused to do this but the eighth
has not announced his position. On the
other hand four Taft men were elected
delegates In two congressional districts
that gave preferential majority to
Roosevelt. and they said to be wait
ing to see what the eight are going TO do
In fact, there Is much talk that Taft
men elected in Illinois and elsewhere on
the Roosevelt sweep are going to watch
closely the voting of Roosevelt men eject
ed in states that instructed by primary
or convention for Taft.
Representative Gardner OF Massachu-
sets, who managed the fight OF the Taft
people in the primaries there was at the
White House today.
The Ohio Platform.
of Ohio is due for a con erence with Pres
ident Taft this afternoon. Mr.. Harding
is to be chairman of the committee on
resolutions of the Ohio republican con-
vention, which win gather at Columbus
consideration as the man to place Mr..
Tafts name before the Chicago conven-
ton. His conference with the President
this afternoon relates to the resolutions
to be offered by the Taft people in the
Ohio convention. II the Taft people con-
troll that convention the resolutions would
be significant in their bearing upon the
Chicago convention
The Roosevelt delegates in the Ohio
convention will attempt to defeat the
Harding resolutions and Will offer
platform OF their own.
Conferences Next Week.
Secretary Hilles. who is to repre-
sent personally President Taft at Chi
cago. without interfering with the au-
thority OF Director Mckinley. is sched-
uled for a number OF conferences with
Taft men from all the states the next
week He began these conferences to-
day, his object being to get a good
grasp of the situation in all directions
Mr.. Hilles will be in Chicago June G.
the day the national committee begins
its labors in making up the temporary
roll Of the convention by passing upon
the many contests
Republican Senators Call.
There was no important general polit-
zeal conference at the White House today.
but a number of republican senators who
have supported President Taft for re-
nomination called individually and talked
with him on both business and politics.
These included Senators Root. Crane,
Penrose, Bradley, Townsend and Smith.
There were no developments as q result
of the talks, the visitors having little to
say for publication.
II hadn't seen the President in a.
month"; said Senator Penrose. land wish
ed to confer with him a matter OF
legislation. ! spoke only briefly of poll
tics"