Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-16
mated the Roosevelt delegates that they
were paid off at the door as they went
out 81 each and expenses"
Vote to Seat Taft Men.

,
but one or two mays" were sounded
when the vote was taken. The delegates
credited to Taft by the decision included
four at large and two each from the
first. second. third. fourth, NTH. sixth,
eighth and tenth districts.
The Washington contests were then
called by the committee. Eight delegates
at large and two each from the first. sec
ond and third districts. fourteen seats in
all, were embraced in the consolidated
case, to be argued at once.
For the Roosevelt contestants in Wash
ington Loren Grenstead of Seattle said
the argument would be based on the con-
tention that primaries and conventions
had shown the state to be pro-Roose
welt"
The state convention held at Aberdeen
May -, at which the Roosevelt delegates
at large were selected. he declared. was
attended by pa Roosevelt delegates, 100
Taft delegates and 304 contested dele
gates, representing the thirty-nine coun-
ties. The day before the convention, said
Mr.. Grenstead. the Taft members met
and agreed to vote for the Taft dele
gates in all the contests.
Not Given Chance, He Says.
when the convention was called the
uncontested Roosevelt delegates were not
given an opportunity to secure tickets.
he declared. The unheard-of practice of
keeping our delegates from the conven-
ton has brought ridicule upon the party
in the state. The Roosevelt faction de-
cided TO hold their own convention after
they discovered they were not going TO
receive a square deal"
Senator Miles Poindexter of Washing
ton declared the Washington contests
will be tried before the people of the
country. whichever way it is decided
here"
1T will be tried again. he said.
An objection against the jurisdiction OF
the national committee to settle any OF
the contests was made at the outset by
Senator Poindexter.
Il do this TO protect our rights" he
said. This committee has really as
stunned the power which it now exercises
in settling these contests. The commit
tee does not today represent the repub-
lican party in the United States
Senator Poindexter said the Washington
state convention had refused a statewide
primary, and had called a state conven-
ton. In King county (Seattle) a primary
was authorized by the county committee.
convention. which would in turn select
delegates to the state convention.
Calls Action Lawless.
Later. he said. small minority of
the county committee met, as an "execu
tive committee" and proceeded law
lessly and without authority to rescind
the action ordering primary. This COM
mttee, he said. then appointed dele
cation to the state convention.
Upon this rests the sole claim of the
Taft delegation to a seat in the national
convention" declared Senator Poindexter
Had the Roosevelt King county dele
cat at hpon
recognized in the state convention, he
added Roosevelt would have had a
clear majority there. He named other
counties in which he claimed Roose-
welt delegates had received majorities
and should have been seated in the
state convention.
when the convention met Senator
Pondexter said. force and fraud were
used by the state committee to pre-
vent a majority of the Roosevelt dele
gates entering the hall. They barred
the doors and windows.
1T is said by some friends of Mr..
Taft that the national committee will
take the position that 1t cannot go
back of the decisions OF the state COM
mittee. If that is true. the state COM
mittee becomes a complete dictator.
IF. contrary to the wishes of people of
Washington. their votes are cast in the
national convention. the people of our
state will not stand for ii" he exclaimed.
1T will not be representation, but mis-
representation, tyranny"
W. T. Dovell of Seattle. representing
the Taft delegations. declared the repre-
sensations made by his opponents were
the worst misstatements of facts that
had ever gone forth.
Senator Poindexter is not responsible"
he said. for he was not there. nor in
thy state. but the gentlemen who pre-
coded him is responsible for those state
mentS."