New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
H|LLES PLANS TO GUST
D|SLOYAL PARTY MEN
Charges To Be Made Against
Several of the National
Committeeman.
HEARING HERE NEXT WEEK
Chairman Says Work in the
States Should Be in Hands
of Men in Sympathy
with the Party.

Steps were taken yesterday by Chair
man Hilles Of the Republican National
Committee 10 purge that body OF MEM
bers who have not shown disposition
10 stand Loyalty by the action OF the ma
tional convention in nominating President
Taft and Vice-President Sherman and
have failed 10 give those nominees their
hearty support.
Chairman Hilles issued yesterday call
for a meeting of the committee at the
Hotel Manhattan in this city a week from
to-day TO hear charges that certain men,
hers OF the committee were acting In
disloyal manner not only 10 the ticket,
but to the principles enunciated In the
Chicago platform.
1T is alleged that several members OF
the committee are disloyal to the ticket
and the platform" said Chairman Hilles
last night. II have called the committee
together to take up these charges.
The subcommittee appointed by the
national committee has power TO act on
these charges. but We have preferred 10
call together the whole committee IN
order that the situation may be thor
oughly disclosed TO every Republican in
the United States and the fullest public
ity be given TO our proceedings"
Committee Has Power to Act.
One of the last acts of the Chicago
convention was TO pass a resolution CIV
ing the national committee power TO de-
clare vacant the seat OF any member or
that committee who did not support the
ticket and platform OF the convention
The national committee also received the
power 70 i'll vacancies so created. IT is
under this resolution that the committee
is now to act
Mr.. Hilles did not want TO he too hasty
in invoking that power. He wanted 10
give every member of the committee a
full opportunity to show where he stood
in the campaign, for the old Roosevelt
followers 10 change their allegiance, II
they so desired. The time has come TO
act, however. in the opinion Of the ma
1ional chairman, as II is Of the greatest
importance that the campaign in the
various states should be in the hands OF
those entirely and enthusiastically in
sympathy with the nominees and the plat
form.
1t is understood that no formal charges
have been prepared as yet, although the
chairman has been advised by letter of
the attitude taken by various members
Of the committee. Before the committee
meets formal charges will probably be
drawn UP against half dozen or 80 OF
the members of the committee, probably
in each case by prominent members OF
the organization in the respective states.
II has not been decided yet whether the
hearings will be open. but IL is the inten-
ton 10 give the fullest publicity 10 what
ever may be done.
Chairman Hilles said he did not care
10 go into details as 10 the members OF
the committee against whom charges
might be heard. II was learned, how
ever, that they are Borden d. Whiting
of New Jersey; Richmond Pearson. Of
North Carolina: Walter r Brown. Of
Ohio; G. c. Prestley, of Oklahoma, and
William S. Edwards. of West Virginia
1t is not at all improbable that charges
may also be made against Henry q.
WATSON, of Pennsylvania, and there may
be others
Mr. WATSON was made a member of the
national committee and elected chairman
Of the Pennsylvania state committee at
the instigaton OF William Finn, the
Roosevelt leader in that state.
After the Chicago convention he let il
be understood that as an officer of the
regular Republican organization he would
support the action of that convention. 1t
has become more and more evident, how
ever. that he has placed the interests OF
Colonel Roosevelt and Mr.. Finn before
those OF President Taft and Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman. Chairman Hilles has tried
through Chairman WATSON, to get the
electoral situation in Pennsylvania
Strengthened out, but so far has been un-
able to do so. On Monday Chairman
IIilles took the management of the Con-
gress campaign in Pennsylvania out OF
the hands of Chairman WATSON.