New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-10
lRv relegraph 70 The Trlbnno

fBv Telegraph to The tribune
Rochester, April 0.--After a long dis
cusson tonight in the Committee on
| Resolutions. resolution was adopted
which in effect instructs not only tho
"big four" to be chosen at this Republi-
can state convention to go TO the ma
tional convention to support President
| Taft for denomination, but also the dis
| trict delegates already chosen at direct
| primaries.
This resolution was offered by Senator
! Brackett. It recited that IT was the
overwhelming sentiment of the delegates
to the state convention that President
Taft should be renominated. Therefore
Il was the sense of the body that thu
delegates to be elected by the conven-
ton and the district delegates already
elected should be urged TO- respond TO
this sentiment by supporting Presiden.
Taft.
! Technically the resolution. which will
be adopted by the convention to-mor-
row. meets the objections raised by
State Chairman Barnes and his follow
ers. because it does not contain the
word instructed" The delegates Will
not be instructed" in the purely tech
nical sense. They will be urged TO
vote for President Taft
DO you consider this instructions 70
the delegates?" Samuel S. Koeng, presi-
dent of the New York County Republi'
can Committee. was asked
Il certainly do he replied.
Then this is satisfactory to you and
the Taft men?"
1T is, absolutely"
Advised by President.
As a matter of plain fact, hard IA
fast instructions undoubtedly could havs
been adopted If Senator Root, Mr..
Koenig and the other Taft leaders had
insisted on such a course Ii was due
very largely TO President Taft himself
that matters were not carried TO this
length Both sides-the Barnes Wood
ruff -Wadsworth- Merritt side and ths
Root Koenig Parsons Greiner contin-
sent-were in frequent communication
with Washington to-day over the tele-
phone. 1t was made perfectly clear 10
both that the President believed New
York States convention ought 20 take a
stand consistent with the sentiment IL
the delegates and the state. which he
understood to be overwhelmingly tOr
him. At the same time he did not want
TO bring on fight in the committees,
much less one on the floor Of the con-
vention.
For that reason Mr. Taft was willing
TO waive technicalities and would not
stand on the etymology or the construc-
ton Of instruction resolutions. He told
the Barnes people that If the word in
struct" was unsatisfactory he would be
content with the substance and not stand
on the letter of the law. He had the
same information conveyed to Senator
Root Mr.. Koenig and others. To-night's
action was the result.
The resolution offered by Senator
Brackett thus had the Presidents virtual
approval. Vt had been phrased carefully
by Ray b. Smith, an adept user OK
words: Mr.. Barnes and others. so It
would not offend the susceptibilities OF
upstaters who rebelled at positive in
structions" Thus II was a sufficient
compromise to be acceptable 10 botn
sides to the threatened controversy.
When the resolution came TO a vote
there were only two OF the committee OF
forty-four recorded against 1t. These
were Roosevelt votes. The Roosevelt
men are against instructions or indica-
tions of preference for President Taft.
The fight in the convention tomorrow
on this point, II one is made, will be
made wholly by the Roosevelt men.
This is what not only the ardent TAFT
men but the "old guardsmen' Of the
Barnes camp have been wanting.
Platform Displsases Some.
The platform will be a document dis
pleasing not only to the Roosevelt BOOM
ers but to some of the good Taft men
who In state matters have fought
against the Barnes wing Of Republican,
ism in other years under Governor
Hughes. II will follow the lines Of the
keynote" speech Of Dr. Butler, deliv-
cred this morning, which aroused the irs
of more than one Of this class Of Repub.
licans. 1t will be a Constitutional apo<