The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-28
La TOILETTE
DELEGATES
MUDDLED

NIS ShiGhSO GOAlFSItllu4
Efforts / o heal the breach made in
Wisconsin ranks yesterday have failed
and Henry r. Cochems, the man who
presented LaFoIlette's name to the na-
tional convention in 1908, rendered his
resignation today as delegate In a LETT
ter to his friend, Gov. f. e. McGov-
ern, He asserts that "the policy adopt
ed by the Wisconsin delegation vas
the result Of a selfish, historical plan
to beat Colonel Roosevelt" This, say
the LaFollette managers, proves their
charge that McGoyern and Cochems
have been for Roosevelt rather than
LaFollette. They say it can war to
the knife between LaFollette and Nc
Govern in Wisconsin. Walter L. Hou-
with the strategic tactics of Roosevelt
men and to that extent has com
promised the candidacy of LaFHollette,
The governor harbors personal I'm
billions" said Houser today. "The
Roosevelt forces dangled the vice
presidential bait before his eyes. It
dazzled him and he bit"
That the break means battle in Wis
consin ver control of the state organ
zation and a possible desertion of sew
eral LaFollette votes TO Roosevelt be-
AAS 69O VIVA - ONSll - SOANCoGAs ##H n
NJ. Dakotans Surprised.
North Dakota's delegation, after be-
ing assured by Wisconsin that Gov.
f. e. McGovern would not be put
forward as a candidate for temporary
ball players say, when Henry f.
Cochens sprung the name of McGovern
ON the convention floor. North Da-
kota men had decided, after waiting
for word from the Wisconsin caucus
just before convention, to present
Judge w. S. Lauder for the chairman
ship, and understood that he would
have the support of Wisconsin, but
when McGovern's name was sprung
Lauder forebade his colleagues to vote
for him, and got up himself to second
the nomination of McGovern. The in
cident was one of the sensations of the
convention session and led to some
heated conferences among LaFollette
men. It left bad taste in their mouths
afterward and almost spoiled enjoy
ment of what they regarded as a vic
tory in the roll call that indicated a
strong possibility OF a deadlock in
which they would hold the balance of
power.
The difficulty with the position of
the LaFollette men is that they are
not agreed among themselves. North
Dakota delegates are more bitterly OPP
posed to Taft than to Roosevelt. That
Is the attitude of some Wisconsin men,
n they are at outs with Walter
Houser and John J. Harmon, LaFol-
iette's personal representatives, who
share LaFollette's hatred to Roose-
welt.
Say They Are For LaFollette.
The LaFollette managers are sus-
picious that men who pulled for Nc
Govern yesterday lean toward Roose-
welt but all wisconsin and North Da-
kota men continue to insist today that
they will stand by LaFoIlette, s.
Houser and Harmon do not indulge
openly in criticism.
Talk is going about freely that
Roosevelt managers have offered to
make McGovern candidate for vice
president and that McGovern and his
lieutenants have been tempted by the
bait. There is no doubt that tremen-
dousofeTs have been made by RooseVe-
welt to get some kind Of working
agreement with the LaFollette men.
They are bitter toward the irreconciI-
able wing headed by Houser and in
that these men + really Taft
allies.
North Dakota men are anxious that
their position shall be understood at
home,
Lauder Not Candidate.
Il did not want to be a candidate
for temporary chairman" says Judge
s. Lauder. II urged Wisconsin
to put up McGovern, and let
Roosevelt men vote for him if they
wanted to. They were at outs on the
matter and we waited for them to
come to a decision. They held a caucus
just before leaving for convention, and
came and told us that they had de-
cided not to present a candidate. They
told US to go ahead and put up a a
and that they would stand by us. So
our delegation decided to support me
and with that understanding we went
to them. We hard hardly entered the
Coliseum when Mr.. Cochems presented
Governor McGovern's name. / told my
colleagues Immediately not to vote for
me, and said / would regard any man
my enemy who would do so.
II think Wisconsin men who voted
for me made a mistake, but they are
in q different position from us. We
are for LaFollette, viii stand by him
n think he has a good show to be
nominated, but we r from a state
where hardly anybody is for Taft. We
could not make a campaign for him,
we could carry the state for Roose-
welt If he should be nominated, as he
has many friends in North Dakota. On
the question Of organization as be-
tween Taft and Roosevelt we should
have stood with Roosevelt"
Thinks LaFoIiette Will Win.
Thomas r. Marshall, national COM
declares LaFollette
his choice and that LaFollette's nomin-
alton is now very probable.
sHTNaft fa hnofonBs ha cofI 1oOt axyan-
ing, " and / believe the only way he
can prevent the nomination of Roose-
velt is to throw his strength to La
Toilette"
Mr.. Marshall declares that North Da-
kota will stay by LaFollette to the
finish and says he vas opposed to the
alliance with Roosevelt men on the
craftsmanship.
One of the North Dakota delegation
refused to vote for McGoyern and so
stood out against an alliance with
Roosevelt. r. M. Pollock of Fargo cast
his vote for Walter u. Honser.
When the fight on report of
the credentials committee, LaFollette
men will vote with Roosevelt men in
some cases, as a matter OF principle
and justice, according to John j. Ham
nons
we would not stand for the deci-
sion of the national committee-in a
case like that Of Washington" said
Mr.. Harmon last night. There are
several cases where we probably would
vote to overturn temporary roll, when
once presented to the convention, but
whether committees report In block or
separately, we would insist upon q
separate vote. 1T would not be fair to
ask us to vote yes or mo- on an en-
tire list Of contests"