Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-07
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press)
CHICAGO, June 6.-Although the rep
resentation was not complete, majority
Of the members of the Republican ma
tional committee assembled at the coli
scum today, prepared to enter the first
day of a ten-day series of meetings
which will determine what men shall
MI 254 contested seats of a total of LOIS
seats on the flooor OF the convention,
when IL Is called to order June IS.
The meeting today was expected to de-
velop a skirmish between the Taft and
Roosevelt forces which 7 might become
highly important as foreshadowing the
line of fighting that will he carried into
the convention.
Senator Boise Penrose, of Pennsylva-
mia, and several other Taft leaders ex-
pressed eagerness to get down to actual
work of hearing contests late today. 1t
is possible that the first contests on the
list, those from Alabama, will be called
before tonight.
On the question OF open or closed
sessions, members of the committee ten
tative had agreed TO admit two repre-
sentatives of each press association rec
ognized on the floors of congress. This
arrangement, II was urged by the COM
mittee, would assure publicity on the
elaboration of that body without compli-
cations.
Congressman Richard Bartholdt, OF
Missouri. carrying the proxy of Secretary
of Commerce and Labor Charles Nagel,
was among those who conferred with the
southern committeeman.
Director William B. Mckinley, of the
national Taft bureau, issued a state
ment unfolding the selection of Senator
Elihu Root, Of New York, for temporary
chairman of the convention.
Nathan B. Scott, West virginia's COM
mitteeman, has sent his proxy to Col.
Harry S. New, chairman of the sub
committee on arrangements who will de-
termine who will hold it.
Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon, leader Of
the Roosevelt forces, said he was offered
a proxy by a member of the Republican
national committee whose name he de-
clined to divulge.
TO DECIDE CONTESTS.
In an effort to expedite de-
cisions in the cases of contested
delegates to the Republican ma
tional convention, members of the ma
tional committee determined to urge
that the contests be taken up tmmedi-
ately after the preliminaries of organic
alton are disposed Of today.
The mass of contest caases confront
ing the committee involving the rights
Of more than % delegates to seats, has
convinced members that unusual meas
ures will be necessary to dispose Of
them all before the national convention
meets June Is.
The Alabama, California and Arkan-
sas cases were ready for submission to
the committee this morning. Attorneys
nd delegates were prepared yesterday to
submit the cases as soon as the COM
mittee should be ready to hear them. In
Alabama, the first state to be called by
the committee, there are contests by
the Roosevelt representatives for the en-
tire list Of dlegats at larg and from
the First, Second, Fifth, Sixth and Ninth
congressional districts.
In Arkansas there are contests for the
delegates at large and in all of the seven
congressional districts in the state, ex-
cept the Sixth. In the California cases,
the Taft contest in the Fourth district
is directed primarily against the Cali
fornia secretary of state, who refused
to issue certificates to Taft delegates who
received majorities in that district. His
action, it is understood, was based on
the ground that the state at large had
indicated a preference for Colonel Roose-
Welt.
The question of whether the meetings
of the committee should be opened to
newspaper men still was unsettled to-
day.. A tentative plan to admit a linn
tied number of newspaper men received
opposition from both Roosevelt and
Taft sources, on the ground that it did
not provide sufficient publicity of the
contest arguments. Frank B. Kellogg,
Of Minnesota, was expected to offer a
motion when the committee takes the
matter up, to make public the detailed
vote in the committee on each con-
test case.
HILLEs AND voRYs.
Early morning observers of the ma
tional committeeman found word for
thought in the meeting at breakfast of
Charles d. Hilles. secretary to President
Taft, and Arthur Vorys, national COM
on separate trains but met in a dining
room and after chatting as they ate con-
ferred with, members Of the committee
who had come in previously.
Another arrival was Charles F. Brook
er, of Connecticut, chairman of a sub
committee on rules appointed at the win
ter Meeting of the national committee.
He and W. M. Ward, of New York, and
Frank B. kellogg, of Minnesota, have
since then drawn up brief code for the
government of the governing body of
the Republicans.
RULES ARE READY.
THE rules are ready for presentation
said Mr. BROKER. but 1 am not at lib
erty to give them out They are brief
and simple, however and have to do
principally with the organization Of the
committee. Heretofore we have had no
code for that phase of our work, but
have had to depend upon precedent and
contingency as guides to action"
Three Taft supporters on the national
committee came in early and sought in
formation from colleagues OF similar
leanings. These men were E. g Dun.
can. North Carolina; Henry Blum, Jr.,
Georgia, and Henry B. Mccoy, who rep
resents the party In the Philippines.