The Washington herald., 1912-01-07


slve wing OF the committee. which il ex'
pected to crowd around the Wilson and
Hearst banners, OF he can stand pat, a
! he Is DOW doing. and let the war
| ring factions fight II out 10 suit them
selves. And be may do that Anyhow
every one is waiting on Mr.. Bryan.
Besides the two contests for the Penn
sylvanIa and Tennessee seats. there are
three questions over which there may be
heated debates. They are the prefer
entail Presidential primaries. the wisdom
OF retaining the twe-thirds nominating
rule for the 1912 convention. and the Sc
lection Of a chairman for the all-lmpor-
tant subcommittee on arrangements.
besides the designation OF q convention
city.
Eject ON Primaries.
The altitude OF Bryan is expected to
have no slight bearing on the prefer
entIaI primaries question. The eonserva-
mean the big three combination, VIII
oppose any advanced stand on the part
of the committee in so far as Il can
direct such opposition quietly. Wilson
and his followers will work for the most
pronounced possible action in favor of
preferential primaries for the committee.
Bryan's every tendency win be for such
an advanced stand. and his influence may
be lent In that direction.
With most OF the national committee
men on the ground. they began to button
hole each other as to their views concern
ing a Presidential preference primary.
1t has been stated all along that the
Bryan men and the Wilson men in the
committee viii precipitate IN to-morrow's $
meeting OF the committee resolution
calling upon all State committees 10 adopt
Presidential preference primaries.
After a day Of consultation and inter
change OF views, the opinion was ex-
pressed last night that the National Com
mittee at its meeting IN this city may
adopt a resolution leaving the whole mat
ter in the hands Of the State committees.
As matter OF fact. II such a resolution
Is adopted II would be due TO an effort
70 save the faces OF the Bryan and VIII
son men, for It is declared by those COM
petent to speak that a vast majority Of
the committee are absolutely opposed to
Presidential preference primaries. They
cost too much. One member OF the com
fnittee said:
VIII Cost SI,0oO,Oeo.
II Brother Bryan and Brother Wilson
will hand us s1,ooO.OOo we will adopt the
preferential primary resolution. II would
cost. that much to have these primaries
in all the States this spring. The aver
age cost per State would be about 5000.
Why. do you know that II cost Ollie
James over $500 to be elected a United
States Senator. Just think OF that"
The fight on the preferential primaries
question probably will be precipitated by
a resolution prepared by Senator Cham
beriaiu. Of Oregon. The resolution viii
seek TO commit the committee TO
greater extent. 1t is believed. than the
conservative element will sanction
The Wilson forces will open up the
ing rule in the Forthcoming convention.
according to report last night The Will
son forces feel that their man can win
on the first ballot II the two-thirds bar
rIer Is removed in favor Of a 50 per cent
nominating vote. In this fight. II II be-
leved. the Wilson forces will have little
outside support, and IL is more than pos
sible the movement will be dropped be-
fore the committee meets, at least in so
far as 1t is intended to affect the 1872
conYentiou -
There is a big question over the selec-
ton OF a chairman for the subcommittee
on arrangements. II is possible that, fol-
lowing the custom instituted when Tag
CART was chairman OF the committee the
present chairman. Norman E. Mack, OF
New York. who will not be d candidate
for reelection. may take the post. Also
there Is much talk of Taggart for the
job. There will be much opposition to
Taggart's candidacy. but IL the steam
roller wants him in, Il is generally con-
ceded he will 20 In.