The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-03
FIRST REAL TEST OF TAFT'S STRENGTH
 COMES THURSDAY
Howell Will Ask to Be Seat ed in Victor Rose
 waters Place
COL. NEW BELIEVES
 HE WILL BE SEATED
Chicago Is Now Storm Center of Po- litical Battle in Republican Party. Leaders of Both Factions
 Beginning to Arrive

Beginning to Arrive
 Chicago, June 2.-Friends of Colonel Roosevelt announced today that the first real test of strength between their can- didate and President Taft will come next Thursday when R. B. Howell of omaha, national republican committeeman-eiect from Nebraska, wlll demand to be seated as the successor of Victor Rosewater act ing chairman of the national republican committee, prior to the nearing of contests by that body.
 The Roosevelt managers are prepared to make a determined hght to have MT. How ell seated, and if they succeed they will demand that Borden D. Whiting of New Jersey. Thomas K Niedrlnghaus of Ms souri and other national committeemen- elect chosen either by direct primary or state convention, be seated.
 By this means they may succeed In con trolling the national committee and decid- ing whether Senator Elihu Root of New York shall be recommended as temporary chairman of the convention.
 New Believes Root Will Win
 Harry S. New. chairman of the sub committee on arrangements for the con yerton, declined to discuss the plans of the Roosevelt leaders. but intimated that he believed the national committee would not seat MT. Howell or any other com mitteemen-eleet until after the adjourn ment of the convention. He also expressed the opinion that the national committee tro nf nf ator Root as temporary chairman and ln- dorse the plan adopted for the distribution of convention tickets.
 MT. Howell arrived here today armed with certificate signed by Governor Al- d. ich of Nebraska and the secretary of stnte, auditor, treasurer and attorney gem eral of that state, setting forth that he was regularly elected to the office April 9, 1912
 | M MT. Howell after conferrine with secre- tarv .slins.ot the patioilal Aeosevalt cam mittee, issued the following statement: l "I have heretofore made no public state- ment as to my intentions In the matter of claiming a seat in the republican national committee when that body meets next Thursday to consider the claims of con testing delegations. However, some time ago l did communicate my views to the managers of the Roosevelt campaign re- specting my right to immediate recognf- ton as the national committeeman from Nebraska.
 Howell Claims Place There can be no question that I am, under the laws of the state. the only person entitled to act as national com- mltteeman from Nebraska. have cer- tihcate of election issued by Nebraska's secretary of state and I have qualified to assume my duties national com- mitteeman. as provided by law.
 s'As to whether I will be allowed to per- form the functions of the office will de- pend solely upon whether the national committee. when present my creden- tials. will recognize the primary laws of the state of Nebraska.
 "As I understand 1t, the national com mittee had already adopted rule rec ognizing such laws of the various states; hence 1t would appear that the commit tee must grant mo my seat or else it will make an exception in the applica- ton, of the rules in the favor of its act ing chairman.
 "I am not making an application for permission to sit as member of the national committee at this time for per- sonal reasons. My course Is dictated wholly by what l consider to be my duty in this emergency.
 "As l am the first and only national committeeman from Nebraska to be rec ognized by the laws of the state and to be elected by the majority of voters of the republican party throughout the state, believe I would not be doing my full 1satsf | H1aH .Jat,f f.I~ time and offered to take part in the de- Alterations of the republican national com mittee when it sits in judgment upon the contests before it at it's meeting on and after June next
 Chicago Now Storm Center
 sBeginning tomorrow Chicago will he the center of the fight for the nomination for President, as the headquarters of Taft. Roosevelt. LaFollette and cummlns Will be opened here.
 Senator Joseph M Dixon. campaign mar'ager Of Roosevelt and Congressman W. B. Mckinley in charge of Presi- dent Taft's campaign, are expected from Washington tomorrow. Tuesday or Wednesday Charles D. Hiles. secretary 10 President Taft will arrive to remain until after the convention.
 Members of the national committee arc gathering to attend the meeting of tha,. DOdy next InnfSdaY ana IL IS eNpectcti that by Wednesday every member will be here.
 Five members of the committee aireadv are here, They are Harry & New of Indiana: David W. Mulvane of G<ansas, Pearl Wight of Louisiana. Ralph F. VII. Hams of Oregon and Frank O. I.owden of Illinois.
 Boise Penrose of Pennsylvanla and a number of other members of the national committee are expected Tuesday Contest Managers to Arrive Former Senator Charles Dick of ohio. who is to handle the contests for Presi- dent Taft before the national commit toe, will be here tomorrow morning. and Ormsby McHarg. who Is to repre- sent Colonel Roosevelt in the matter of contests, Is expected to arrive to- morrow evening.
 Both will remain here until after thc national committee concludes the hear ing of contests.
 Secretary William Hay ward of the na- tional committee received one new con- test today. IL was another list of del- egates at large from Florida. which makes three sets chosen at large from that state. two Taft delegations and one Roosevelt The following list of 230 contests has been prepared by the clerks fin the office of the secretary of
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