The Sentinel=record., 1912-06-04
HEARING ID
 BE PUBLIC
BOTH TAFT AND ROOSEVELT AGREE TO PUBLIC HEARINGS
 OF ALL CONTESTS.
Powell Clayton Says Southern Dele gations Will Organize to Pre- vent Cutting Down the
 Representation.

Chicago, June 3.-A letter from President Taft to chairman Harry s. New. of the sub committee on arrange- ments for the republican national con vention, suggesting that the meetings of the national committee at which contests are heard, be public, was re- ceived at the national committee headquarters here today
 The president suggests that Mir. New take up with the committee the matter of open hearings and that if the committee finds 1t possible, the deliberations. ever the contests. 230 of which have already been prepared for submission, be carried on in open ses- sions
 This, in connection with the prev ious request of Colonel Roosevelt for publicity of the contest arguments, in- dicates that the doors probably wi'l be thrown open, at least to news paper men, when the committee takes up contested delegates cases Friday morning. Few members of the nat ional committee had reached Chicago tonight and of those here, none would make prediction as to the action of the committed
 The presidents declaration for pub- licity of hearings Is declared by his here to indicate the Taft managers believe their contest cases are strong ly prepared.
 Taft headquarters were opened to- day by Joseph B. Kealing of Indiana. Up to "a late hour tonight only two eastern representatives of the presi- dent had reached Chicago, John Ryan and A. A. Early, of the publicity bureau. Mir. Healing wired congress- man Mckinley the Taft campaign manager to hurry to Chicago. He Is expected to reach the city tomorrow.
 The Roosevelt and Taft head quarters have been established in the same hotel Alexander H. RevesI, head of the Illinois headquarters, who returned this morning from Oyster Ba:', gave out statement tonight in which he said:
 We are assured absolutely that there will be a clear majority for Colonel Roosevelt on the first ballot"
 Edwin w Sims. acting head of tho Chicago Roosevelt headquarters, made public a telegram received from Oscar R. Hundley Roosevelt leader. in Alabama. Mir Hundley said the two delegates from the third Alabama district. instructed for Taft, had given out a written statement that they would support Roosevelt because they believed ninety per cent of their con- stituency fovored his nomination.
 The southern delegate situation was discussed by two members of the national committee, which reached Chicago today. Henry s. Chubb, com mitteeman for Florida, declared it was "a reflection on the integrity of Florida republicans. to point that they would not stand by their in ,tructions for President Taft. "Floridas twelve delegates are in- structed for Taft" said Mir ChuBo. "and they will vote for him through thick and thin"
 General Powell Clayton, committee man for Arkansas. said southern com mitteemen and delegates would or ganize before the convention to fight any proposal to reduce the rap.v- sentation of southern states
 The attempt made four years ago to reduce representation caught the southern delegates and committee men unprepared, he said, but if it was attempted again, 1t would be fought in the convention.
 Among the committeeman who ar rived today besides General Clayton and MT chubb, were Cecil Lyon sf Texas, and Sidney Beibers of the Dis trict of Columbia. both Roosevelt sup norfars