The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-19
BATTLE GOES ON
Both Sides in Chicago Claim
Victory.
Taft Managers Insist That
They Have Won.
MORE TALK OF A BOLT
Roosevelt Managers Threaten
to Hold Own Convention.
That in Case Contested Dele
gates Are Allowed to Vote.
Root Calls Convention to Or
der at 11:15.


stubborn fighting ahead and the out
come of the contest for the presiden-
tial nomination no nearer the eye
than it was yesterday.
Four major possibilities doomed
large in the foreground. These were
the denomination of President Taft
the nomination of Colonel Roosevelt
nomination of a third candidate, and
the possibility of a second or double
convention.
Scores of men could be found in the
convention crowds who would back
any one of these possibilities with hard
cash. Taft, Roosevelt and third can
didate partisans each claimed the
strategic advantage as result of yes
terdays election of United States SEN
ator Root of New York as temporary
chairman of the convention.
1t was a wonderful opportunity for
the political prophets, who wandered
in this maze of chance in condition
of acute statistical intoxication. The
vote of sos to 502, by which Senator
Root was chosen temporary chairman
over Governor McGoVern of Wisconsin,
was construed in SO many ways by
those armed with pad and pencil that
the average mind became confused
and finally rejected all of the fore
casts.
Hadley ON the Job.
But one thing seemed sure and GER
tain as the time for the reassembling
of the delegates at IL o'clock approach
ed. And that was that Governor Fl.
S. Hadley, of Missouri, would take ur
the fight for the Roosevelt forces by
renewing his motion to strike from tho
temporary roll of the convention, as
prepared by the national committee.
the names of 80 Taft delegates seated
by the national committee in contested
election cases and substitute those OF
Roosevelt men.
Then 1t seemed equally certain, the
Taft leaders would move to refer Gov
ernor Hadley's texpurgated' list to this
credentials committee and that on this
motion tIere would be a roll call
all delegates, individually.
Governor Hadley, floor leader of
the Roosevelt contingent, arranged with
former Representative James E. Wat
son of Indiana, the Taft floor leade
for an hour and a half of debate by
each side on the question. This, with
the time necessary for the long roll
call, would take this one phase of the
bitter fight into the late afternoon.
Whatever the outcome. it was plann.
ed to appoint committees before ad-
1ourn1ng the session and then take
brief recess until or o'clock tonight.
The night session, it was expected,
would be short. At this adjourned
session. it was planned simply to re-
ceive the reports of the committee on
rules and possibly that from one other
committee. AS now laid out by the
leaders, the convention will be organ
lied to proceed to business on Thurs
day morning. 1t is expected by them
that the credentials committee and
platform committee will report Thurs
day night. At this time the Roosevelt
followers can renew their demands for
a 'purging' of the roll of the conven-
ton and have another individual roll
call on the question.
Then, if the Roosevelt partisans are
beaten, may come the much talked of
double convention.
In this connection it was frequently
rumored that Colonel Roosevelt had
urged his managers to take steps to-
day to force the issue regarding the
demanded revocation of the action of
the national committee in the contest
cases.
Also it was said that the Roosevelt
forces would refuse to recognize Sen
ator Root as the legally elected tenn
porary chairman of the convention.
The Roosevelt mana gers claimed TO
be extremely confident of their ability
to swing the situation to their candi-
date. They declared that they would
have many additional votes in future
roll calls. To support this claim they
said that they would have eight votes
from Maryland, which went to Senator
Root on the temporary Craftsmanship
decision and additional votes from
North Carolina, Pennsylvania Illinois
and Oregon.
Dixon Is Confident.
I'VE will win out beyond question. %
said U. S. Senator Dixon, Roosevelt's
campaign manager today.
Senator Miles Poindexter of Wash
ington was among the Roosevelt lead
ers who intimated that the possibility
OF bolt by their forces was imminent
I'm case these contested delegates
are allowed to pass on their own
claims said Poindexter, Colonel
Roosevelt will be a candidate" This
assertion was construed meaning
but one thing, a bolt if Roosevelt
finds himself in the minority.
Although Roosevelt may visit the
convention as a spectator, Taft lead
ers today insisted that he could not
under the regulations imposed by the
national committee, take any part in
the deliberations from the floor.
There is but one way that Colonel
Roosevelt could get on the floor and
actively participate in the conven-
ton" said one of the Taft managers.
That would be by resolution of the
convention. itself. And if he could
get the vote on such a resolution, he
could, I think, control the convention.
And I don't think there is a ghost of
a show of that"
Mckinley Says Taft Has Won.
The Taft leaders, particularly the
presidents campaign manager, Con-
gresham William B. Mckinley, were
just as confident of final success in the
convention as were the Roosevelt men.
Mr.. Mckinley declared that Presi-
dent Taft had won over a number of
Roosevelt delegates through the me-
dunn of the roll call son the temporary
craftsmanship. He said that nearly all
the Roosevelt delegates who voted for
Senator Root would remain with the
Taft organization through the remain
der of the convention.
1t was evident that the forces of the
president were placing great depend