The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-05-29
WHY THAT PILGRIMAGE
TO SYCAMORE HILL?
I. X. Mum as TO the Coming Of
Sc Illinois Delegates
in a Bunch.
ANTE CONVENTION corp?
Colonel Will Be Back From
Gettysburg in Time to Re-
cpivc Them on Saturday.

OYSTER BAY. l.. l.. May rs. Col. Roose-
welt confirmed to-day the announcement
from Chicago that the tifty-six Roose
welt delegates from Illinois of the fifty
eight are coming to Oyster Bay on Sa:ur-
day for a conference with him. He was
mum as to what was behind this unusual
proceeding.
Those how are trying to keep tabs on
the strategy of the Taft and Roosevelt
forces for controlling the national com
mittec were left to their own surmises
about the pilgrimage. One of the Illinois
delega ties, a pronounced Taft man. de-
clared openly just after the victory of the
Colonel that he would be bound by the
Roosevelt preference only on the first
ballot and would do what he pleased after
that. The delegates in Illinois were not
chosen by the popular vote that expressed
the Presidential preference. buC were Sc
lected later by the Republican State organ
ization. 1t is known that Col. Chauncey
Dewey, the Roosevelt Illinois leader. has
kept close watch on the delegates and it
may be that the pilgrimage is for the p,,r
pose OF holding them more firmly in line.
Another view is that they are coming
because Of the effect that the spectacular
march of this big body Of the faithful 10
the shrine on Sycamore Hill will have.
particularly on the weak and foppy
brethren from the South. Fifty-siN dele
gates in the flesh look a whole 'o' more
real 10 the wavering black delegate
brethren in the swamps of Louisiana
than "fifty-siS delegates" looks in news
paper type
The question is a lso raised whether IN =
hfty-six are not coming TO confer with
the Colonel on the proposition to fire out
bodily as national committeeman from
Illinois the present incumbent. Frank q.
Lowden. n stanch standpatter and Taft
supporter. and elect in his stead and be-
fore the convention meets Col. thaunoey
Dewey the Roosevelt State manager
Men in touch with the Roosevelt movement.
say ihat this isa likely thing for the Roose-
volt men to do. Though il has been tho
custom for state delegations 10 elect
their national committeeman after the
national convention in times past. it is
pointed ont that the new direct primaries
have brought entirely new conditions
and no longer is il necessary. these men
ar.,,e. for the national committee or con-
ven'ion to oratify the delegates from State
where they had been elected NV direct
primaries. There is no question about
tho standing of these del gates. They are
Ally elected and they have the States
official stamp as the only Ia wful delega ties.
II this plan is carried ont successfully
II means the control by tho Roosevelt men
of IN" subcommittee Of arrangements Of
the national committed the kevston" of
convention control. through the over
throw of Norys of Ohio, Rosewater of
Nebraska Murphy of New Jersey il the
Colonel wins the State. and also Duncan
of North Carolina and Mulvanc Of Kansas.
| in both Of which States the Colonels =
delegates are unqu"stioned
toi. Roosevelt to-day at the Omlooi:
Office spent two hours in close conference
with William l.. Ward, New York national
COMMITTEES situation. The Colonel
motored to Oyster Bay lato this after
noon.
I'm feeling like buIl moose. h" said
when he arrived here.
Mr.. Roosevelt leaves New York for
Gettysburg. at 1890 tomorrow nigh, TO
make the Memorial Day address there
before the convention of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers a long standing
engagement.
CHICAGo. May 2s-Col Roosevelt to-
day invited the members OF the Illinois
dele cation to the Chicago convention
to confer with him at his house in oyster
The invitation was extended through
Mediil Met orinick.
| Politicians say that Col. Roosevelt
lis fearful about the organization of the
convention and wants To have heart
to heart talk with the Ilinoisans Twenty
or more of the iifty-eight IN the dclcga
'ion ar. said TO be- ready TO stand pat
for Senator Root for temporary chair
! man
! Mccormack says in his invitati ion that he
} will get tickets for the delegates to leav.
here on Friday on the Twentieth Century
Limited. When the Illinois delegation
met here last Wednesday il turned down
! "A proposition put by Col. Cbauncey Dewey
! calculated to bind them to act as unit
as Col. Roosevelt might direct on al
! prOpoSiti ions