The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-08
Claimed Regularity


 Roosevelt attorneys, led by MT. McHarg and MT. Hundley, claimed complete regu- larity for their delegates. They asserted that J. O. Thompson and his delegates had been recognized by the republican national convention of 1908 as the regular or Thompson wing.
 Mir. Hundley charged that the Long or Taft delegates had not been chosen at the regular convention in his state.
 Mir Hundley said so far as the selection of national delegates was concerned the choice was illegal. State Chairman Thomp- son, he averred. had been elected in 1908 for a term of four years, and could not be superseded except by the election of a successor by a regular republican state convention in Alabama called by the state committee.
 Roosevelts attorneys declared the con vention of August 3l 1911 of which Pope M. Long was ostensibly elected state chairman. resulted from an arrangement with President Taft to settle questions of patronage. The action of the republican national committee in Washington last December in declaring illegal the Long delegates selected at the August 31 con- vention invaldated all other acts of that convention In connection with the selec- tion of Col. Pope M. Long as state chair man, also, MT. Hundley contended. The Roosevelt attorneys claimed that Thomp- son in an effort to avoid the contest at Chicago proposed to Long state primary for national delegates, but that Long would not agree to this.
 Senators Interrupt
 Senator Borah. Senator Penrose and Frank B. Kellogg interrupted ire uuently with questions as to regu- larity of the Thompson convention of May II, 1912. and as to the number of extraordinary delegates who joined with MT. Thompson's movement.
 'Is there any law in, Alabama regulat- ing the election of a state. committee2' asked F. B. Kellogg.
 No"
 Did Mir. Thompson. in July, 1911. call a convention to settle local affairs?"
 "Yes."
 "was there anything to prevent the selection of now state committee at that convenient"
 Mir Hundley replied no. but that the coiiventions actions had been invalidated bv the call of the republican national committee issued in Washington last De- cember
 Mir. Hundley admitted that a majority of the old Thompson committee had an- swered the call of Pope M. Long, the new chairman. for the convention at which the Taft delegates were elected.
 R. M. Harding and William Latham, who participated in the Taft meeting, in- voived the question of whether they were legally entitled to seats. MT. Hundley presented Mir. Hardings resignation. on the strength of which a new man and q Roosevelt delegate substituted. MT. Birch presented an affidavit from Harding that he had tried to withdraw his resig nation before the district committee met but was refused. The Alabama district chairman said he believed he had the right to appoint a successor.
 When the Taft side took up the cudgels the Roosevelt wing ertreated after the Second Alabama district was decided. O. L. Street charged MT. Thompson with Irregularities The Ninth district contest in Alabama was Withdrawn because no appearance of contestants was made.
 MT. street said MT. Thompson had signed a written agreement to abide by the convention of August 3l, 1911
 ssWhen the convention met" Mir Street said, "Mr. Thompson called it 10 order There was no protest from 1 anywhere. The Long committee, chosen fby the convention, was recognized by fllI factions. When the republican na : tionaI committee invalidated the sec Ion of national delegates made by the zuRust convention Chairman Long. lnuary 2. 1912. called another state M.