The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-26
Pro-Taft Credentials Com
mttee Provides a Taft Ma
jority Which Carried All
Before 1t.
A ROOSEVELT SLATE
WAS MADE HOWEVER
After Convention Roosevelt
Followers Hold a Special
Convention and Elect their
Delegates.
(Nationaf News Association)

(Nationat News Associationo
INDIANAPOLIS. March 26.-By the
action of the credentials committee Of
the Republican state convention, held
here today for the purpose of electing
four delegates at large to the national
convention. seating all Taft delegates
who had been contested, including the
1877 from Marion county. thus giving
a Taft majority in the convention, the
Observation-Disclosures steam rol.
Ter was able to crush the Roosevelt for
ces into a pulp. Four Taft delegates-at-
large, Charles w. Fairbanks, James T..
Watson. Harry s. New and Joseph
p. Oliver. were elected, the majority
report of the credentials committee ad.
opted, and resolutions denouncing the
referendum, initiative and recall and
a third presidential term. and praiaing
the administration OF President Taft
were indorsed. All this was done by
viva voice vote, the demands for
roll call being ignored.
After the Taft steam roller had
ceased work the Roosevelt delegates
held convention, effected an organi-
zation and elected four delegates at
large. Albert J. Beveridee. Edwin M.
Lee, Fred K. Lands and Charles M.
Campbell. After this meeting the
Roosevelt leaders adjourned to the
English hotel where they outlined the
plan Of campaign they will pursue IN
seating their delegates In the national
convention at Chicago next June.
Met First Defeat.
The Roosevelt forces met their first
decisive defeat when by a vote of IT,
to 667 the motion to lay on the table
the minority report of the credentials
committee was carried.
All the Taft delegates who had been
contested were permitted to vote on
this motion. including the 127 In dis
pute in Marion county.
The steam roller was then cranked
and worked magpificently. The major
lty report on credentials was declared
adopted by a viva voce vote, needless
of the demands for roll call. ResOlu-
ticns denouncing the initiative, refer
endum and recall: denouncing the
third term for president; praising the
administration of President Taft and
approving his denomination were
quickly adopted by viva vocc vote.
as was also the selection of the four
Taft delegates at large.
Roosevelt Convention.
Discouraged at the pressure of the
road roller the Roosevelt followers.
who easily held a majority Of the un-
contested delegates. elected pcrma-
nent chairman OF their own in the per-
son of Alya o. Reeser and proceeded
to elect their set of delegates-at-larse.
State Chairman Sims raped for or
der in the Republican State conven.
ton at 10 o'clock this morning, with
Ernest Bicknell, of Ft. Wayne, a. tenn
porary secretary with VIII Wood, of
Lafayette. chairman. BY previous
agreement the temporary officers
were made permanent by the conven-
tion.
The convention floor, balconies and
gallaries were filled beyond comfort
by delegates and spectators.
After prayer Chairman Wood be-
gan his speech referring to the '.un-
avoidabIe pressure of business" which
prevented William l.. Taylor OF In
dianapolis from being present. A
short suspense, then q litter and a hur-
rah greeted the reference and finally
the convention broke loose with a
storm of applause.
Wood 10 Hooted.
Chairman Wood began his address
by saying the Republican party has
been the party Of progress from the
time OF the"mighty Lincoln TO that Of
,, the just Taft"
Il believe we have q man occupying
the Presidential chair today who
knows not but justice" declared Wood.
After speaking OF the prosecution OF
the sugar trust. beef trust and Stan
dard Oil company as evidence of the
| sturdy justice OF President Taft, Wood
shouted. Are the people Of this coun-
try going to condemn William Howard
| Taft"
At this point the convention broke
into pandemonium and Chairman
Wood could not be heard shouts of
yes" aye and whoOps of various
sorts rent the air for sevef1l minutes,
while the band played lively airs -
an effort to bring order.
Sims Wouidn't Clear tsies. Y
When the uproar had continued thir-
ty minutes John B. Cockrum insisted
that the state chairman have tha
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