El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-04
CONTEST FOR
TEXAS HAS
STARTED
Cecil Lyon Begins Campaign
For Roosevelt; McGregor
Leads Taft Forces.
COLUMBUS SPEECH
INJURIES ROOSEVELT

Austin. Texas, March "A contest
IS now on as 10 which faction Of the
Republican party in Texas shall con-
troll the 40 delegates to the next ma
tiOnal convention
The announcement Of Roosevelt that
he VIII accept the nomination If it is
rendered TO him, started what prom ises
TO be one Of the Warmest political
fights in the ranks OF that party that
has ever taken place in the state. Not
even n the days when there was a
fight for supremacy between the So
called LillyWhites and the negro ele-
ment has there been more evidence OF
activity evinLed than is now being dis
played by both the Taft leaders and
supporters and those who are devoting
their energies to bringing about the
success Of Col. Roosevelt
on the Roosevelt side Col. Cecil
Lyon, who occupies perhaps an adyan-
tageOus position in being the chairman
Of the state Republican executive COM
mittee and national committeeman
from Texas is the accepted leader,
was officially designated by secretary
Charles D. Hilles to look after presl-
dent Tafts political interests in this
state, is vigorously onto the job.
Mr.. McGregor was formerly promi-
nently identified with the LilyWhite
movement, and this is being urged
against him among the negroes, but
Of late years the negro element Of the
party in Texas has been q very small
factor in the work Of the organization.
Under the operation OF the new cleo
ton law which requires the payment
Of poll tax as a prerequisite Of TOt-
ing, a great number Of them have been
disfranchised. Even in conventions
this Poll tax requirement is enforced
Of delegates and this virtually elimin-
ateS the power which the negroes
once held in the party in this state.
It is now the white mans party, and
Col. Lyon IS largely responsible for
the result While he was not active In
the Iilywhite movement that made
direct fight against negro domination
several years ago. he has shown BY MS
acts since that time that he is in
strong sympathy with the purposes Of
those who sought TO place the party IN
control Of white Republicans. 1t is
therefore not expected that Mr. Nc
Gregor and tho Taft movement VIII
suffer to any extent by the revival OF
the old Lilywhite charges.
Lyon Makes Tour of State.
Col. Lyon is making a tour of the
state rounding UP the Roosevelt men
and strengthening his organization
wherever possible He asserts that a
DELEGATION of nOn-Office holders will
be sent to the convention and that II
will be instructed for Roosevelt On
the other hand, Mr.. McGregor and mis-
lieutenants are just as emphatic in
their claim that the 40 votes OF Texas
a possibility that the convention for
the selectio no fthese delegates viii
end in q split and that two contestlng
DELEGATIONS may be sent to the national
convention. This talk Is already being
made and il comes chiefly from the
side of the Roosevelt faction
Columbus Speech Hurts Roosevelt
That RoOsevelts Columbus speech
lost him q great many admirers ana
possible supporters in Texas can not
regarded as worse than the doctrine
Of the Populists who formerly INFESTED
this state and wrought II IS C4diInSu'
a-Ereat injury and hindrance TO the
wealth 1t took Texas several years
to get over the blighting influence OF
Populism, and the conservative ele-
ment Of the Republican party OF ne
state say It is not willing TO follow
the standard of Roosevelt as an
nounced in his recent utterances-
It Is a noteworthy fact that the ma
jority Of business men OF Texas are
Republicans. This applies 10 ilAsI9.
merchants and persons engaged II
manufacturing and commerce genera
". These men. however, have hereto
fore taken only enough interest IN
politics to vote in presidential eleC-
tions. and many of them have not
even done that much They have lSIt
the control Of state affairs 10 LHs
Democrats, who are in such big ma
iority as to make any contest for state
offices d hopeless undertaking N
+bis ROoseyelt-Taft fight, however, II
is expected that great numbers OF
Republicans will throw off their
apathy and become active in their sup
port Of Taft for denomination
RooseveIts popularity in this state
as well as in the southwest generally
is largely among the ranch people, and
men who have a natural admiration
for one who is able to accommodate
himself to all sorts Of conditions OF
life. such as is claimed that Roosevelt