The Washington times., 1912-06-16
AN APPEAL TO THE RECORD.


lberations as crooked, and its actions as theft
II is a terrific arragnment of that committee
when twelve leaders of the same party, from va
rious sections Of the country, four OF them COVER
nors, join in public statement accusing the commit
tee of prostitutng their positions violating every
tenet of fair dealing and decency" and committing
overt acts that illegal outrageous and arcenous
Have the actions Of the Republican National
Committee in passing upon the 254 contests de-
served such Characterization? Leave out Of the
equation the complexion OF the committee Simply
consider the work Of the committee on its face.
II began by announcing all contests would be de-
cided upon their merits and according to justice 1t
made ruling that where delegates had been select
ed in a regular manner and had their credentials
vouched for by the regular organization, they would
be seated.
The first test came in the Ninth Alabama dis
trict where the regular" convention was controlled
by Roosevelt men and the delegates held credentials
signed by the regular organization The committee
Immediately reversed its ruling, charged that the
Roosevelt men had secured control Of the conven-
ton by fraud, and therefore, the Roosevelt delegates
must be unseated, their credentials .ishonored.
Then came Indiana. The Roosevelt zen offered
to prove that the convention was controlled by the
Taft forces by fraud and the aid OF the police. The
committee turned about face and announced it could
waste time listening to the proof and that it could
not 90 back Of the returns it had done in the Ala
bama case Therefore, it seated the Taft delegates
Kentucky was called. Roosevelt men offered to
prove and did prove that the conventions were a
travesty, packed by men bought at so cents head,
that the Taft officers did not permit the Roosevelt
men to offer their nominations. Committee ruled
it could not 60 back of the returns. Seated Taft
delegates.
Michigan was called. Proof submitted that the
Roosevelt men controlled the State committee, con-
troed the organization, had 800 out of 800 dele
gates. The Taft men kept them out of the State
convention hall by the aid of the State militia, and
elected Taft delegates to the national convention
National committee ruled the regular" organization
controlled by Roosevelt men, had no standing, and
seated Taft delegates.
California was called Roosevelt carried the
State by 1900, under State law which binds all
delegates to abide by the popular decision. Taft
men claimed they carried one district and that as
the call of the national committee provided delegates
should be elected by districts they should be given
two delegates from this District National commit
tee decided its call is paramount to State primary
law and agreed to hear the contest for the Taft
district The Taft could not submit the slightest
proof that they carried this one district. Sub.
mited no returns Of the election. Nevertheless the
| Taft delegates we're seated.
Alaska was called. Roosevelt men claimed con-
test but committee disallowed its presentation upon
the ground it not filed twenty days in advance.
Seated Taft delegates. 8
Texas was called Roosevelt men claimed there
is no contest because the Taft men had not filed their
contest until within twentyfour hours Of the hear
ing. Committee reversed its decision made in the
Alaska and permitted the Texas contests Roose
welt men then proved they had the regular" organi-
zaton and all delegates have regular credentials
| Some of the Taft contests were made up in Chicago
after the national committee began its hearings
Committee reversed its ruling to seat all regularly
elected delegates, and seated Taft men from Texas
Arizona was called Roosevelt men proved they
held regular State convention, had fftyfour dele.
gates to Taft's fory-two, elected the national dele.
gates and adjourned without even squabble. Later
the Taft machine framed up contest Committee
reversed its rule regarding regularity" and seated
the Taft men.
i Washington was called. The Roosevelt men helc
regular State convention, with delegates elected
and instructed by the people, The convention elected
Roosevelt delegates. Taft men did not even attend
Held rump convention elsewhere, composed o
delegates appointed by Taft henchmen, like Richarc
Ballinger. National committee threw out all the
) Roosevelt delegates from Washington and seated
Taft delegates.
On the face of its actions is the Republican ma
tional committee guilty of the crimes charged agans
it? Have the delegates necessary to Tafts success:
been stolen?
\ A