The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-11
PRE-CONvENT TON
FIGHT TAKING
ACTIVE SHAPE
Chicago Delegates To Be Chosen
Soon Will "ShOw Something"
SOME ELECTED AL FAD Y
Selections Thus Far have not Been
Made from stronghoIds of
Republican Party
SOME ELECTED AIR EADY

Washington, March 10.-The real
contest for control of the Republican
National convention at Chicago next
June Is about to take active shape.
Within the next two weeks there will
begin the election Of delegates to that
convention generally in that part of
the country where there is real Re-
publican party and where the election
of delegates counts for something sub
stantial.
In that section of the country the
instructions given to delegates by the
conventions or primaries which elect
them usually have a solid significance
which differentiates them emphati-
cally from the delegates who come
from the always Democratic states of
the solid South. Thus far very few
delegates have been selected from ter.
ritory where the Republican party is
legitimate faction in elections.
In one Iowa district, one Michigan
district, two Missouri districts, one
Oklahoma district and in all of the
New Mexico districts delegates have
been chosen. The Iowa, Michigan,
and Oklahoma conventions instructed
their delegates to vote at Chicago for
the denomination of President Taft.
In one Missouri district, the third, the
delegates were chosen at a conyen-
ton. There was a rough and tumble
fracus over this convention, and it
resulted in a split into two conven-
tons, each of which elected two dele
gates. One convention instructed for
Taft, the other instructed for Col
Roosevelt.
The net results is merely founda-
ton for a contest to be determined
when the National committee meets
at Chicago on June IL to make up the
temporary roll of the convention.
In the other Missouri districts, the
fifth, a primary was held at the call
of the regular Republican committee
This primary resulted in an over
whelming verdict for Col. Roosevelt.
although the total vote cast was only
about one-fourth OF the normal Re
publican vote of the district. The
Taft men declared the primaries lille
gal, held rump convention consist
ing of about thirty-five appointed del.
egates, and went through the form of
electing two delegates in the Chicago
convention and instructed them for
Taft. Thus the foundation for an
other contest was laid
In New Mexico both the Progress
ives and the regulars held conven-
tons, which finally coaesced and
elected eight delegates, but gave no
instructions The Taft headquarters
here conceded three of these dele
gates for Roosevelt, but claims the
other five for Taft. The Roosevelt
managers say they have authentic in
formation that all eight will vote for
the nomination Of Col. Roosevelt.
The degree of reliance to be placed
upon Republican delegates from the
Solid South has been demonstrated in
several national conventions, notably
that OF 1888. when John Sherman
went to the convention In the belief
that he had the entire lot, but show
ed up on the first ballot without any
OF them. The Taft managers here are
claiming 9S instructed delegates and
uninstructed, giving them a grand
total of i05 out of los elected. The
Roosevelt managers are making no
public claim as yet.
The real Eight for the control of the
Chicago convention is yet to be made,
and II will be based almost wholly
upon the question of whether or not
Republican voters I'm the different
states where there is a real Republi-
can party shall have an opportunity,
through primaries, to express their
preference as to presidential candid.
ates.
Seven states now have regular pre-
ference primary laws. These states
and the dates upon which the prlmar.
les will be held are: North Dakota,
March 10; Wisconsin, April 2; Nebras-
ka, April 49, Orogan, April 10; Cali.
fornla, May IA; New Jersey, May 81,
and South Dakota June 4.
In the North Dakota primary which
comes on next week. there il practic.
ally no expectation even by the Taft
managers that the president will re.
ceive any considerable vote. The
fight in that state Is almost wholly
between the Roosevelt and la Fol.
lotte men and the information obtain.
able here is that Il is about nip and
tuck. The Roosevelt men emphas.
lie their demand that the Taft men
cooperate with them In securing pri.
mary elections for delegates as
widely as possible
At the election OF 1910. when the
| Progressivos captured the state adl
minstration and the legislature OF
California. provision was made where
by they could select the delegates to
the Republican National convention
this year That put the situation en-
tirely in their hands. and enabled
them to send solid antl-Taft dele
cation to Chicago. They voluntarily
surrendered that advantage and Gov
johnson called a special session OF
the legislature which enacted the
presidential preference primary Law
that will receive It's FIRST test on May
Ina.
The Taft managers are now assert
ing that there has been a great i'm
crease in Taft sentiment IN Califor
MIA recently and that they will Ger
tainly carry the state and elect q