New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-25
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
NOW STORM CENTRE
Fiqht of Taft and Roosevelt
Leaders Over Contest Cases
will Be Bitter.
COMPROMISE STORY DENIED
Report Circulated from Colonel S
Headquarters Declared To
Be an Absolute
Falsehood."

WASHINGTON, May 24.-The bitterness
Of the fight that is to rage about the
Republican National Committee when IT
begins consideration Of contest cases IN
Chicago on June 6. was emphasized to-
day by a statement from Representative
William b. Mckinley, head of the Taft
campaign forces.
Mr.. Mckinley declared IT was becom-
ing apparent that Colonel Roosevelt and
his followers will resort to every known
means to terrorze the Chicago conven-
ton"
The Mckinley statement was given
out as the result of widespread reports
that Colonel Roosevelt desired the re-
moval from the national committee Of
certain members whom he knew to be
strongly opposed to him.
Mr.. McKinleys statement was fol-
lowed by another from the Taft bureau,
in which II was asserted that kilograms
circulated by the Roosevelt headquar-
tiers tending to show that the Taft sup
porters we're considering q compromise
candidate were without foundation, add
ing
First, last and all the time, President
Taft is in the present fight to stay. and
his friends will stay with him until he
is renorrinsted and reelected President
OF the United States for second term.
The statement by Manager Mckinley
of the attitude OF the national commit
tee toward the contest cases, which in
volve the seats Of a large number Of
delegates at Chicago, was most open and
direct.
Predicts Denuncistions.
IL must be expected that those ma
tional committeeman whose consciences
may force them to disagree with Mr.
Roosevelt will be openly denounced by
him" said Mr.. Mckinley, and the whole
committee will be misrepresented and
villifed. collectively and individually. by
Mr. Roosevelt exactly rs he has misrep-
resented and denounced those who have
hitherto disagreed with him during his
public career"
II was reported here tonight that
George A. knight. Of California, national
committeeman from that state, is to
have charge on behalf OF the Roosevelt
forces of the contests before the national
committee.
Mr.. McKinley's statement in regard
to the national committe" follows.
According To newspaper reports Theodore
Roosevelt would like TO institute the re
call upon the Republican National Com
ton. Here IL ample evidence not only OF
what the recall means TO Mr. Roosevelt
namely, the removal from Office OF all who
disagree with him-but also OF the fact
that Nr. Roosevelt knows he has not
enough delegates IN the Chicago conven-
tou To bring about his denomination for a
third term, and tnat ne - determined, with
defeat staring him sQuarely In the face, To
wrcSt the nomination for the Presidency
from the Republican National Convention
10y any means. fair OF foul.
OF course, there - no known means by
which the recall can be applied tn the
present national committee. hut the mere
fact that the recall system has been sug
gestcd as a means OF giving Mr.. Roosevelt
control of that body indicates the limit to
which he would like To- go, and will 20. IL
possible. TO attain his present ends.
The principle involved IN this suggestion
IL one over which the American people
would do well TO ponder. Mr. Roos"N cit
wants those national committeeman who
are opposed 10 him recalled because they
ar" opposed To him. and because they may
not agree with him on his contests before
that body. Whether they can be recalled
or not. IL must be expected that these ma
tioual committeeman whose conscienccS
may force them TO disagree with Mr.. KOoSe-
welt will be- openly denounced by him, and
the whole committee will be msreprcsented
and yilihcd. collectively aud Individually
by Mr. Roosevelt. exactly ~ he has mis-
represented and denounced those who have
hitherto disagreed with him during his puA-
lie career.
Then, II President Taft shall control the
convention, as he has every right To expect
he will do on tho basis OF delegates elected
~ date. Mr.. Roosevelt may again he cN-
pc"ttd, ba ked up lN a string OF new -
papers. whose owners have a personal in
ter"St in the outco me. To attack the national
committee aud To attempt to bully the con
veutIon itself That ho and his followers
Will resort To every known means Ia terror
lie the Chicago convention is fact which
grows more apparent day by day.
n