The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-07
Session of Republican
National CommitteeIs
Without Friction.
FULL PUBLICITY
FOR ITS ACTIONS
Victor Rosewater Elected Per.
manent Chairman and Rules of
Four Years Ago Adopted.
Contest of Howell for Seat
on Committee Fails to
Materialize.

, Chicago. June e.-PubIicity will
| govern the Republican National Com
| mittees deliberations upon the con-
tests for seats in the national con-
vention. This was decided without
! opposition al the opening session 81
| the committee to-day in accordance
! with the expressed wishes OF President
The public and the newspapers Will
| be represented by the five press as
| sociations recognized by admission of
| their reporters TO the cor lof the ma
| tional House OF Representatives at
| Washington. TWO men from each such
press association will be permitted to
| be present during all deliberations
! and decisions of the committee. There
Will be no executive sessions
Thus declaring cmphatically for
| publicity in all its proceedings. the
| committee also elected Victor Rose
water, OF Omaha, permanent chairman.
and adopted the rules Of four years
ago. which are to govern the hearings
preliminary to the national conven-
ton which begins June IS.
Significance of Vote.
Opinions differ tonight as to the sig
nficance of the only vote taken dur
ing the meeting which might be con-
strucd test of strength in the
committee as between Taft and
Roosevelt adherents in the committee.
That vote of 80 to is was on the ques
ton of conining the representa- ton
of the newspapers to the press asso-
ciat ons. The Roosevelt people con-
tended for complete removal of the
lid by admitting also at least one
representative of every" newspaper
having recognition in the press gall
| ler'es of Congress. This was moved
by Commute Kellogg, of Mime
sofa, as a substitute for the recom-
mendation of Committeeman Hart, of
Iowa, but 1t was defeated. as stated
above, and the roll call showed the
success OF Nr. Harris motion.
The only other vote of r. significant
character was on the propose! OF SEN
ator Borah. of Idaho that eight mem
bers should be sufficient to order a roll
call This WAS defeated. and the old
rule providing for twenty for this pur-
pose was re-enacted.
The Taft adhercnts did not object TO
the widest publicity, but argued that
the committee did not nave facilities
for admitting all. and urged that
while no part OF the committees SEES
slons should he executive, stenSGra-
phic reports should he given to the
press. Secretary William Hayward.
after the meeting, declared that there
was not In to-day's session a sugges-
ton from any one that any part of
the future proceeding should be kept
secret. On the contrary, he declared
that the committee would assist in
giving the widest publicity to its work
4 plan 10 give out daily a stepogra phic
report of the proceedings came up
through the adoption of motion By
Committeeman Shs ckelford, of Alaska.
and this will be done.
Expected Friction Fails.
One subject which was generally OK
ted n r.elN
mentioned. That was the expected eff
fort 10 seat the new national commit
tee recently chosen by various State
primaries and conventions. It was eX-
peced TO come UP especially in the
case of r. B. Howell, of Nebraska, who
will succeed Victor Rosewater. The
latter was elected without opposition
to be chairman In place of the late
John F. Hill, OF Maine. and to serve
until the close of the national commit
tee.
No contest was taken up. though
there had been some talk of beginning
their consideration late this afternoon.
The committee adjourned at 1855 r.
NJ. until tomorrow morning, when the
contests will be taken up in alpha beti-
cal order, beginning with Alabama
The old rule, giving thirty minutes to
each side in contests over State dele
cations at-larse. and fifteen minutes a
eG without opposition. With 23S con-
tests pending. IL is plain that the COM
mit,ee will need every available hour
from now until the convention meets
at noon on TUESDAY. Juno is.
The committee met Tor its first ses-
sion soon after o'clock this afternoon
in the Coliseum Annex. Except for the
preliminary organization and adop-
ton of the rules which governed the
contests four years ago the committee
transacted little business.
The report of the special committee
appointed at Washington last Decem-
her proposing general rules to govern
the committee, was received. but action
was deferred. ON resolution OF Harry
S. New. OF Indiana. the basis OF repre-
sentation in the convention was con-
tinued as at present. The roll call of
the committee showed that tho proxies
o. the absent members were held as
fellows:
Senator William T. B1rah. Idaho. for
George a. knight. of California (Sen-
ator Borah thus held two votes in the
committccl.
Thomas II. Devinc. Of Denver. for
CONTINUED on Third Page)