Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-30

not elected by the convention which
sent the Taft delegates or by any 9TH
| er. They only contended that II the
| Roosevelt forces had had majority.
| they would have been elected. There
were 1856 delegates summoned
to the convention by its call.
There were 449 of these whose seats
were contested If all of these had
been conceded to Roosevelt, it would
have made the Roosevelt vote 297
votes less than majority. The appeal
to the committee on credentials from
the decision Of the national committee
was abandoned, as it ought to have
been.
Michigan.
In Michigan the state convention
had in 1t about 1900 delegates There
were only two counties in dispute or
contest One was Wayne county, in
which Detroit is situated, and the
other was Calhoun county. The evil
dence left no doubt that the Taft men
carried by a very large majority
Wayne county, but it was immaterial
whether this was true or not, because
leaving out both Wayne county and
Calhoun county, the only counties In
contest, the Taft delegates outnum-
bered by several hundred the Roose-
welt delegates, and they had clear
majority out Of the total number Of
votes that should have been in the
convention. The contest was so weak
as to hardly merit recital.
Texas.
In Texas there were 249 counties, OF
which four have no county govern
ment. The 245 counties under the call
of the convention were allowed to
have something over 1000 delegates
them, who were given
to cast 243 votes. OF the 245
counties, there were ninety-nine coun-
ties in which the total republican vote
was but 1000, In fourteen Of which
there were no republican voters, IN
twenty-seven of which there were less
than ten each, and in none Of which
was there any republican organization,
and in none Of which had primary or
been held. It was shown
Colonel Cecil Lyon, to whom had been
assigned as referee the disposition OF
The patronage of the national republi-
IAN administration for ten years In
he state, had been in the habit Of con-
rolling the republican state conven.
ion by securing from two federal Of
ice holders in each of these ninety
line counties certificate granting a
proxy to Colonel Lyon, or friend OF
ais, to represent the county, as II regu-
arly conferred by republican county
The national committee
Ind the committee on credentials and
he convention, after the fullest inves-
igation, decided that these ninety-nine
counties in which the republican vote
vas 50 small, and in which there was
10 republican party no convention. no
no organization, was not the
proper source for proxy to give
,ote equal to that to be cast by the
'ther 146 counties in which there was
republican organization, and IN
which primaries or conventions were
leld. The two committees therefore
leld such ninety-nine proxies to be
Illegal and not the basis Of proper rep
The two tribunals who
leard the case decided that they |
should deduct the ninety-nine votes
rom the total OF 245 and give the rep
to those who controlled
he majority Of the remainder. The re.
nainder was 152 votes, and out OF that |
he Taft men had carried eighty-nine
counties, having ninety votes. This
rave to the Taft men a clear majority !
n the state convention, and with 1t
tight delegates at large.
Washington.
The contest in Washington turned
IN the question whether the Taft dele
rates appointed by the county COM
nittee In King county, in which |
Seattle is situated, were duly elected
O the convention. or whether pri.
nary which was subsequently held, and
It which Roosevelt delegates were
elected, was properly called, so that its
esult was legal. Under the law, the
county committee had the power to
lecide whether II would select the
delegates directly or should call a
primary. In some counties Of the state,
me course was pursued, and In other
the other. In King county, the
committee consisted of $50 men, the
majority of whom were for Taft, and
hat majority. acting through its
Executive committee, selected the TAFT
delegates to the state convention.
Ieantime, the city council Of Seattle
ad redistricted the city. 1t before had
so precincts. Now. substantially, the
anne territory was divided up into 381
recincts. The chairman OF the county
ommittee was Roosevelt man. He
ad been given authority by general
esolution to fill vacancies occurring |,
a the committee. A general meeting
( the committee had been held after Il
he city council had directed the re- f,
istricting of the city, in which it was
esolved. the chairman not dissenting 4
hat representatives could not be Il
elected to fill the 131 new precincts ,
ntil an election was held in Septem.
er, 1912. Thereafter. and in spite OF i
his conclusion. the chairman assumed
he right by his appointment to add to
ne existing committee 131 precinct
and with these voting ,
I the committee, 1t is claimed that a
was ordered. There was SO
luch confusion in the meeting that
MS is doubtful However, the fact is L
nat the Taft men protested against ]
ny action by committee so consti-
lted, on the ground that the chair