New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-11
EtFf MEN TO FIGHT
! THEFT Of ELECTORS
Presidents Managers Deter.
mined to ThWart Scheme of
Roosevelt Supporters.
BELIEVE TARIFF THE ISSUE
Majority of Mr.. Taft's Callers
Say This Will Be the Main
Feature of the Coming
Campaign.
Iron The Tribune Bureau. J

Campaign.
Iron The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, July 10--A determined fight
will be made by the Presidents campaign
managers TO thwart the plans Of Roosevelt
and his followers to procure the election OF
Republican electors who will betray their
trust, so that where President Taft is en-
titled TO the electoral vote OF a state by
popular vote the electoral votes will be
cast for Theodore Roosevelt. Republican
leaders are much concerned over this mat
ter and to-day Representatives Burke
Moore. Campbell and Mckinley, Senator
Gamble and several others discussed the
subject with the President and Chairman
Eilles.
The cardinal plank In the Roosevelt
platform is Thou shalt not steal but In
South Dakota the third party people have
already proceeded TO attempt to steal the
Republican vote of the state the plainest
and most rotten game of theft ever tried In
American politics" said Representative
Burke. The same game is being followed
IN ,other states, and the worst of IL is that
In, some places, possibly, the regular re
.pubhcans will be helpless.
Senator Gamble said that at the meeting
of the Republican State Committee OF
South Dakota, called principally TO nomi-
nate electors. Roosevelt men were placed
on the Republican ticket these men an
nouncinS that If elected they would cast
their vote in the Electoral College for
Roosevelt.
The Senator said the Taft Republicans
could by petition place regular Republican
electors on the ticket, and this would be
done. But under the Kansas law, should
Roosevelt defeat the President in the pri-
npaFies TO be held in that state on August 6
te nominate as Republicans candidates for
congress, the State Legislature and elect
ore. the Taft men would have no recourse
other than to vote for the Democratic
electors or let the state go to Roosevelt in
November. They could not pct UP another
ticket.
May Affect Congress Candidates
Representative Moore, commenting on
this subject, said:
If there are 70 be separate tickets for
electors Republican Congress candidates
may suffer in the states affected. We can
not fully comprehend this situation until
The Roosevelt party programme is an
nounced In Pennsylvania we now have
The assurance of the Republican state
tha!rman. Henry g WATSON, that regular
IL nominated Congress candidates are not
10 be interfered with by the Roosevelt
party, but that every effort will be made
10 uphold those Republican nominees whose
records on the tariff are all right.
'Mr. WATSON has declared against the
Democratic national platform, which means
that Democratic nominees for Congress are
not 70 expect help from the Roosevelt or
Finn Republicans. The present confusion
arises from the controversy over electors,
and We are in a fair way Of having that
Strengthened out. I have advised some Of
our Democratic friends not 10 bet too heav-
,ly on Wilson in PENNSYLVANIA just yet
The issues Of the coming campaign were
discussed at some length in the White
House to-day, the majority Of the Presi-
dents callers being Of the opinion that
the tariff will be the main issue. Senator
Sanders said:
Not only do I think the fight will be on
the tariff. but I believe that before No
vember the voters of the country will have
made up their minds to vote either the
Republican or Democratic tickets"
Tariff the Main Issue.
The tariff is already the main issue
ssd Representative Moore, and on that
Question Pennsylvania will go overwhelm-
ingly for Taft"
F'The Democrats made the tariff the is
sue" said Representative Campbell, and
We accept their challenge. Beyond the
tariff the issues will be the administration
Of President Taft and his enforcement OF
the laws without fear or favor
While ! am sure the tariff will be the
big feature Of the campaign, | think that
fairness and decency will also be an issue,
said Senator Townsend. "Mr. Taft has
either made q successful President or he
has been a failure He has not been
treated decently or fairly, and believe the
square deal idea Of the American people
can always be appealed to-"
Representative Willis said: The tariff
Is the big question ahead Of us, and must
b settled
This will be another Mckinley cam
psign, and on the tariff as the Republican
party upholds it, President Taft will be
reelected" said Mr.. Cameron of Arizona.
He is clear in his record on that question
The tariff looms up as the real issue
OF the campaign" said Senator Gamble.
Among the White House callers were
Senator's Smith and Guggenheim, ex-Sena-
tors Massey and Hemenway, Representa-
tves Howell, Anthony Booher, La Fol-
lette. Dodds Clark and Jackson and ex-
representative Watson.
.McKenna Finances Luncheon.
Pat McKenna, who guards the doors
To the Offices of President Taft and MS
Secretary, G. D. Hiles, became the most
At luncheon yesterday Of William Barnes
y, and S s Koenig president Of the New
York County Committee Mr.. Hilles was
The host in fact, but McKenna was the
fhancier OF the feast, somewhat to the
ehagrin OF his chief and much 10 the
amusement Of few spectators VINO VIII
nessed the affair.
Mr.. Hilles, just chosen chairman Oh me
Republican National Committee MI
Barnes and Mr. Koenig left the executive
cfnces Just as one Of the Presidents Dig
automobies came TO the door 10 await
heir orders The New Workers steppeo H.
followed by Mr.. Hilles, who began d PEI
tunctory search through his trousers pun
I cts before he sat down. As his mana huI
ned from pocket 10 pocket he looked more