The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-04
His Suggestion Follows
Similar One Made by
Roosevelt.
PROBABLY MEANS
WIDE OPEN DOORS
At Least Newspaper Men Will
Re Admitted When National
Committee Takes Up the
$50 Contests, Which 1t
Must Settle Prior to
Convention.


Chicago, June ga letter from Pres
den, Taft to Chairman Harry :. New.
Of the subcommittee on arrangements
for tho Republican National Conven-
,ion. suggesting that the meetings OF
the national committee at which con-
tests are heard be public. was received
at the national committee headquar
iers to-day,
The President suggests that Mr..
New take up with the committee the
matter OF open hearings. and that il
the committee finds 1t possible the
deliberations over the contests. 23o
o; which already have been prepared
Tor submission. De carried on in open
sessions.
Chairman New tonight said the
suggestion o: the President will have
great weight with the committee.
This. taken in connection with the
previous request of Colonel Roosevelt
for publicity or the contest arguments.
indicates that the doors probably will
be thrown open, at least to newspaper
men. when the committee takes up
contested delefate cases Friday morn
Ing.
mittee had reached Chicago tonight,
and of those here none would make q
prediction as to the action Of the
committee. The Presidents letter was
the chief subject OF discussion at Re-
publican political headquarters to-
night and his declaration for publ
city OF the hearings is declared by
his supporters now here TO Indicate
that the TAFT managers believe their
contest cases are strongly prepared.
Taft Headquarters Opened.
Taft headquarters were opened to-
day by Joseph B. Healing, OF Indiana
Up TO late hour tonight only two
Eastern representatives of the Presi-
dent had reached Chicago-John
Ryan and A a. Early, OF the publicity
bureau. Mr.. Healing wired Congress
man Mckinley, the Taft campaign
manager, to hurry to Chicago. He is
expected 10 reach the city tomorrow.
The Roosevelt and the Taft head
quarters have been established in the
same hotel. Alexander H. Revelle.
head OF the Illinois headquarters. who
returned this morning from oyster
Bay, gave out a statement tonight
outlining what he said was Colonel
Rooscvelt's attitude toward convention
organiza ton:
I'VE are assured absolutely that
there will be clear majority for
Colonel Roosevelt o.. INC first ballot"
said Mr.. Revelle.
The only proposition In sight is to
develop the strength throughout the
convention preliminaries go that 1t ul-
timately will be concentrated in the
nomination of Colonel Roosevelt Abb
solutely nothing else has or will be
considered by Colonel Roosevelt or by
his friends prior TO or during the con-
vention."
Edwin w. Sims. who is acting head
of the Chicago Roosevelt headquarters
until the arrival OF Senator Dixon.
made public a telegram received from
Oscar r. Hundley. Roosevelt leader
in Alabama Mr.. Hundley said that
the Two delegates from the Third Ala
bama District instructed for President
Taft. had given out written state
ment that they would support Roose-
Welt because they believed 90 per cent.
of their constituency favored his nomi-
nation.
The Southern delegate situation wa
discussed by two members OF the ma
tional committee who reached Chicago
to-day. Henry :. Chubb. committee
man for Florida. declared 1t was "a
reflection upon the integrity of Flor
Ida Republicans to hint that they
would not stand by their instructions
for President Taft.
"Fiorida's twelve delegates are In
structed for TAFT" said Mr.. Chubb.
and they will vote for him through
out thick and thin"
VIII Fight Reduction.
General powell Clayton. committee
man for Arkansas. said Southern COM
mitteemen and delegates would or
ganize before the convention to tight
any proposal to reduce the represen-
tation OF Southern States. The at
tempt made four years ago to reduce
representation to the basis of the Re-
publican vote cast In the Southern
states caught the Southern delegates
and committeeman unprepared. he said.
but If it be attempted again ii would
he fought In the convention.
Among tho committeeman who ar
rived to-day besides General Clayton
and Mr.. Chubb. were Cecil Lyon, OF
Texas. and Sidney Bciber. OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia, both Roosevelt sup
porters
Victor Rosewater. OF Nebra ska, act
ing chairman of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. is expected 10 ar
rive to- morrow, when tho leading lig-
ures in tho various campaign head
quarters will also arrive. The nght
be made by n, b. Howell, recently
elected national committeeman ini
Nebraska, to take MT. Rosewater's
seat when the committee organizes
next Thursday is not expected to oc-
cupy that body long.