Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-08
NOT YET DECLARED
Attitude of Taft Maryland
Leaders Unsettled.
AWAIT OFFICIAL CANVASS
Do Not Concede the National Dele
cation to Roosevelt.
FIGURES OF RECENT CONTEST
Roosevelt Has 3,115 Majority on
FIGURES OF RECENT CONTEST
Roosevelt Has 3,115 Majority on
Preference Count, and Clark
1887 Plurality Over Wilson.

BALTIMORE, Md, May S.-The atti-
tude of the Taft leaders in Maryland
toward the peculiar situation that
might develop through the working Of
the new state primary law was still
undeclared today and still the subject
OF some speculation. While the dele
gates selected to sit in the state conven-
ton appeared on the primary ballots
with no designation to indicate their
affiliation, complete unofficial returns
indicate that, leaving the matter Of
instructions aside, a majority Of them
will be personally friendly to the
President. Some Of the Taft leaders
say there will be sixty-eight such Taft
delegates to sixty-one known to favor
Roosevelt.
Claims Of Taft Leaders.
Although the unofficial returns de-
clare that the counties and Baltimore
city by their preference vote have in
structed these delegates to choose a
delegation to the national convention
bound to vote for Roosevelt, the Taft
leaders, according to their claims.
could control the organization OF the
state convention and the personnel OF
the national delegates.
The Roosevelt leaders assert that they
have no fear such a complication would
rob them of the fruits of the victory they
claim on the preference vote. The Taft
managers have made no statement be-
yond the declaration that they will not
concede the national delegation to Roose-
the result of the unofficial count. No ap-
plication has been made thus far for a
recount in any county.
The figures, complete for the republican
vote and practically complete for the
democratic, show that the preference
vote of the state as q whole was as fol-
lows:
northumberland 29,14; Taft,
&c, OO9; Roosevelt's majority, BIB.
Democrats-Clark, "a, 2S5; Wilson, q, 436;
Harmon. 7168; Clark's plurality over
Wilson, 11,S41.
Lawyers View Of the Law.
Three Baltimore lawyers-former At
torney General Isaac Lobe Straus. George
r. Gather and David NJ. Newbold. jr.-
expressed the opinion, apropos Of Col.
Roosevelt's victory in Maryland, that
both the state and national conventions
are required under the Maryland presi-
Dental preference primary law, to sup
port to the last degree the candidate for
President who received the majority OF
votes at the polls in the respective units
Mr.. Straus opinion is of special i'm
portance, because it was he who drew
the Harper presidential primary bill that
was passed by the. recent session Of the
legislature and became a law with the
signature Of the governor.
President Taft's managers claim that
the President is entitled to and will re-
ceive the votes of four of the delegates
from the state Of Maryland . to the re-
publican national convention. The pres-
Dental primary in that state Monday
gave Col. Roosevelt apparent control of
the state convention, which Is to select
Maryland's entire delegation Of sixteen to
Chicago; and reports from Maryland have
indicated that the delegation would be
solid for Roosevelt.
The Taft managers claim that the nam
ing of a solid Roosevelt delegation by the
state convention would defeat the ex-
pressed preference Of the electors of
two districts. 1t is understood this point
will be pressed, and the national commit
tee asked to rule upon 1t unless four dele
gates are given to the President.