The Washington herald., 1912-06-02

Chicago, June l-Scarcely within the
memory Of Republican politicians has the
preconvention meeting OF the Republican
National Committee been charged with
the vital significance mat will face that
body when It convenes here June to
select the temporary role OF the Repub-
lican National convention.
Heretofore, the selection Of the Re-
publican nominee for the Presidency has
practically been cut and dried, the usual
protests from the Southern States
amounting to little more than an empty
form. But this year the old order Of
things Is changed, and to-day, five days
before the committee meeting, finds that
body an important arbIter in the fight for
nomination between Col. Roosevelt and
President Taft.
The vital Importance Of the commit
tees decision has led 20 a heated dis
cussion as to its probable action with
regard to the two hundred or more con-
tested delegates, whose cases viii be
brought before II next Thursday. Man
sger Mckinley. for President Taft, to-
day positively asserted that the majority
Of Mr.. Roosevelt's contesting delegates
will be thrown out by the committee,
and his predictions seem to be borne
cut by the makeup Of that body, which,
through Its machine appointed commit
teemen, is believed by Taft supporters
to stand at 50 to IS in favor of the Presi-
dent Manager Dixon, who is in charge
Of Col. Roosevelt's fight for the Presi-
Dental candidacy, is equally Arm in pre-
dieting that the contested delegates from
the South will be seated by the COM
mittee.
Cannot Forecast Actions.
In the light Of late developments In
the political field politicians here admit
that the action Of the committee is a
hard matter to forecast. 1t is believed,
however. that Secretary of State Knox,
the Taft choice for temporary chair
man, will be appointed, and that the
Taft men will control a sufhGent num-
Der of committee votes to oust the ma
jority OF Roosevelts contested dele
gates, leaving the final decision of
their right to sit in the Republican
National Convention up to the creden-
tials committee of that body. or, in the
last analysis to the majority vote of
the delegates on the floor of the con-
yention.
Both the Roosevelt and Taft factions
before the committee will be repre-
sented by some of the foremost legal
talent in the land, and both of them
will use every argument known to law
and every legitimate political ruse to
swing the National Committee.
In speaking of the coming fight Of
the Republican factions in the com
mittee on Thursday, Harry S. New, the
national chairman stated that the
committees deliberations on the seat
ing of the contested delegates would be
absolutely impartial, and that the de-
cisions Of that body would favor neith-
er candidate, but would be accorded
solely in respect to the legal merits of
the cases presented.
The attitude Of Manager Mckinley
of the Taft campaign committee to-
ward the coming committee meeting
was made public in a statepent by him
to-day. He said:
Wants Square Deal.
The only thing We expect and the
only thing We have a right to demand
from the Republican National Commit
taee when It meets on June 6 to con-
slider the contests for delegates TO the |
Chicago convention is a square deal
The Roosevelt faction has contested |
a large number of our delegates-par- |
from the South. But I can |
confidently state that the majority Of |
these contests will be overruled, and |
am certain that all rightly elected and |
appointed Taft delegates will be seated |
The statement has been made that |
we are depending on winning the ma
jority Of the contests to nominate Mr.. /
Taft. We are not We have enough |
delegates without the contested ones
At least, without those regarding whom |
there is the slightest doubt-to nominate
Mr.. Taft on the first ballot, and we will /
do it We are interested in the action
Df the national committee merely as
regards cur desire to get a square deal
In all matters and we do not consider
that such action will have a material
bearing on the nomination at Chicago"
On the other hand, Manager Dixon,
IN charge Of the Roosevelt fight for the
nomination at the Republican conven-
lion, expressed himself as follows:
Manager Dixon CONFIDENT.
What we want from the national
committee is a square deal.
There have been stories circulated-l
principally coming from the Taft head
the Taft faction would
control the committee and seat whom
hey please. This is not true. The Taft
people do not and will not control the
committee. and we are positive of seat
ng the delegates whom we have con-
ested on legal grounds.
In all there will be about zoo contested
ielegates-the number is impossible to I
letermine at present because our people
re continually digging up new evidence
which will be used in presenting the
lames Of delegates to the committee for
Investigation. The majority of the con-