The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1912-06-07
UNRESTRICTED
men CONTROL
Leaders in Republican Con-
test All at Sea.
COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK

Takes Up the Question of Temporary
Rule and Maps Out Line of Pro-
cedure In Handling Contests-Belief
General That Taft Contestants VIII
Be Seated.
Chicago, June with both factions
In the Republican party claiming pub
licly everything in sight and privately
admitting that the outcome was "cer-
tain to be too close for comfort" the
national committee met to consider
the temporary rule of the convention.
The Taft forces were in control or
the committee. The majority of the
contests, IL is believed, will result in
the seating of the Taft men. Publicly
the Taft leaders were declaring that
IL was ''all over but the shouting"
The same contention came from the
Roosevelt supporters.
But neither Senator Dixon, leader
of the Roosevelt forces, nor Congress-
man Mckinley, in command of the
Taft warriors, would take pencil and
check the delegates that he claimed
would stand behind his candidate
when the actual fighting began.
The committee did not take up any
OF the contests. Instead the meeting
was devoted to organization, the Sc
lection of a chairman and to defining
rules of procedure during the coming
ten days.
Compromise Plan Declined.
Believing that the followers of the
president had gotten out and thor
oughly oiled up the steam roller popu-
lsrized by Colonel Roosevelt's lieuten-
ants four years ago, when the claims
OF the "allies" were ruthlessly shat
tered, the Roosevelt leaders are sug
gesting that the committee should
seat all of the contasting delegations
and split the vote between the so
called regulars and the contesting
representatives But the Taft people
declined to consider any such sug-
gestion
There will be few split delegations
this year" declared Victor Rosewater,
vice chairman of the committee. THE
issues are too plainly involved. This
committee cannot dodge. 1t will con-
slider each case on it's merits and will
issue the certificates to the men that
are entitled to them"
Incidentally the committee at the
outset made II very plain that it had
no intention of rattling the political
skeleton. 1t will not go back of the
face OF the returns Where contest
ing delegation can seriously assail the
legality of the election of the regular
delegates II will have a chance to
win, but where the claim is of fraud,
intimidation or juggling of roll calls,
the committee will take the position
that 1t has not the power to review
the acts of convention.
Party War Horses Puzzled.
While the committee met to wres-
tie with the temporary roll of the con-
vention the big party leaders were
In almost constant conference at their
hotels. Not In years-since 1880, to
be exact--has the outcome of con-
vention been as doubtful and the par
ty war horses have FASTENED to the
scene far in advance of their usual
time to render first aid, IL possible.
The corridors of the Congress hotel,
where headquarters have been estab-
lished, are thronged with men who
have gained renown In the councils OF
the party, and while the majority in
sist that President Taft will be re-
nominated and will control the COM
mittee on resolutions, thus writing his
own platform, they admit that the
wish is father to the thought and that
they do not know what will happen.
Control OF the convention Is in the
hands OF the uninstructed delegates,
and while both sides claim them, and
will continue to do SO. 1t will not be
until the roll Is called on the makeup
Of the temporary organization that the
suspense will be ended
1t seemed certain that the selection
Of United States Senator Elihu Root
for temporary chairman would be
ratified by the convention.