The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-25
NOW IN COURT
Delay in Settlement of Missouri
Trouble.
Roosevelt Forces Not willing
to Accept a Compromise.

st. Louis, April 25.-Roosevelt and
Taft factions unable to agree, delay71
the opening of the Republican state
convention here today. The subcom-
mittee, which is hearing the contests,
resumed it's session at o'clock with
the jackson county contest before It
The subcommittee was in session until
after 3 O'Clock this morning.
Early this morning Gov. H S. Hadley.
leader of the Roosevelt faction, refused
to consider a compromise to end the
party row, and decided to continue the
fight before the state committee which
is to complete the temporary organiza-
ton of the convention after the sub
committee reports. The compromise
presented by the ST. Louis City COM
mittee was that Governor Had1ey and
Mayor F. H. Kreisman, of St. Louis.
Taft adherent, be named as two dele
gates-at-large, the other two to be
chosen in some manner to be agreed
upon, one to be a Taft man and the
other a Roosevelt supporter.
State Chairman Chas. D. Morris fav-
ored the resolution in the interest of
harmony. Governor Hadley said he
had no authority to bind the Roosevelt
delegates. The governor declared he
expects serious trouble at the conven-
ton. The state committee which on
two propositions favored the Taft fac
ton, and on one voted for a Roosevelt
motion yesterday it is said today, will
now vote to unseat the Roosevelt dele
gates where contests have been filed.
This. according to a Roosevelt leader,
VIII mean two conventions.
The subcommittee without going
into the merits of the Jackson county
contest, went into session with the
state committee. Joseph f. Black of
Richmond a Taft member of the sub
committee, in reporting said he con-
sidered the subcommittee a farce.
Black then for the Taft adherents
made the same proposition of the st.
Louis city committee to Governor Had
ley of a split uninstructed delegation
to the national convention, Hadley for
temporary chairman and the national
committeeman to be elected by the
state delegation to Chicago.
Governor Hadley, replying to the
compromise, said he had no authority
to accept any proposition and that it
was matter for the convention as a
whole to decide. He closed by saying
the subcommittee should be instructed
to proceed with the contests and make
a full report. The Taft faction secured
an additional vote on the state COM
mittee when Circuit Judge McQuillan
refused to issue writ of mandamuS
to compel the state committee to seat
Thomas K. Niedringhaus as a mem
Der. Niedringhaus is the Roosevelt
campaign manager in st. Louis. He
was ousted at the meeting yesterday
and a Taft adherent was elected. The
committee adjourned at 10 o'clock I'M
til 2 o'clock and instructed the sub
committee to proceed with the Jack
son county and other contests and re-
port later. This will delay the open
ing of the convention.
The Roosevelt delegates voted unani-
mously to make no compromise with
the Taft leaders.
The subcommittee was unable to
agree on a decision in the Jackson
county contest. referred it back to the
state committee. The state committee
reconvened and then adjourned after
least three hours more would be re-
quired to hear the eight other pend
ing contests.
After the subcommittee submits its
report the state committee as a whole |
will have to pass on the contests. The |
state chairman was unable to predict |
what hour he would call the conven-
ton to order.
Appeal to Courts.
Missouri Roosevelt leaders late Wed |
nesday sought the aid of the courts to
secure a possible balance of power in
the Republican state convention, where |
Governor Hadley in person directed the |
fight against Taft delegates.
The court action resulted from the |
unseating as a state committee member |
of Thomas K. Niedringhaus of st. !
Louis, a Roosevelt leader, who was |
Der by the Eleventh district congress |
siOnal committee several days ago. BY |
a vote of Is to Is, the state committee |
members selected H. L. Weeke, Taft |
adherent, for the vacancy on the COM |
mittee which Niedringhaus claimed had |
been given him legally by the congress |
sional committee
Niedringhaus Immediately asked the !
circuit court for writ of mandamus |
to compel the state committee mem |
bers to recognize him, instead of |
Weeke, as a regularly constituted MEM |
Der of that committee.
When the court fight was postponed, |
Taft and Roosevelt members of the |
state committee entered a struggle for |
each possible advantage in attempting |
to settle contests between opposing |
delegations from Jackson county and !
fourteen other counties The Jackson
county delegation, which contains the |
delegates from Kansas City, holds 80 |
votes in the convention.
Although the Taft men won the first
two skirmishes before the state COM |
mittee, the Roosevelt leaders took the |
third round when Governor Hadley |
secured equal representation for them
on a special committee of six named |
to make recommendations regarding |
contests to the full committee. Taft
leaders sought to have a committee of
four Taft men and three Roosevelt |
men appointed.
TITO ANFRF NVNTHHNY