Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-15
TAFT WILL WIN
ON FIRST BALLOT
/ VIM. Barnes, Jr., Chairman OF New
} York State Committee, Says Pres
ident Will Have 555 Votes.
ROOSEVELT WILL HAVE 46s
Says He is Confident These Figures
Are Accurate.
ROOSEVELT MEN TALK BOLT
Taft Leaders Laugh at Threats to
Form New Party.
FLIRTING WITH LA TOILETTE
Real Test of strength Is Expected to
Come on Adoption of Report of
the COMMITTEES on Gre
dentials.
ROOSEVELT WILL HAVE 46S
Says He is Confident These Figures
Are Accurate.
ROOSEVELT MEN TALK BOLT
Taft Leaders Laugh at Threats to
Form New Party.
FLIRTING WITH LA TOILETTE

CHICAGO, June l4-After a careful re-
view of the situation William Barnes,
Jr.. the New York state chairman, to-
day asserted that President Taft would
be nominated on the first ballot.
The president will have 555 delegates
on the first ballot" he said. Roosevelt
vii! have only 46S. I am confident that
these figures will represent accurately
the first nominating vote in the conven-
ton"
AIr Barnes was asked if he woul con-
duct the campaign in New York as state
chairman if Colonel Roosevelt was NOM
mated
There Is no question about that" he
replied Roosevelt will not be nonli-
mated"
Roosevelt Men Talk Bolt.
Delegates to the convention, in antici-
patton of the coming to Chicago Of Col
onel Roosevelt and a history making
episode in American politics, today went
back to the first nomination of Abraham
Lincoln in 1860, in efforts to find a paral-
ltl lOI tllS llSIt pclllS WdSCu hcic'
Roosevelt men, kept at a high pitch by
frequent conferences and mass meetings,
In which their leaders attacked the ac-
tions of the national committee with bit
terness, pointed to the death of the old
whig party as their theory Of what may
happen in Chicago next week.
Taft leaders, declaring that the action
Of the national committee in seating the
Roosevelt delegates from Missouri was
indicative of its fairness, laughed at the
predictions of Colonel Roosevelt's fol-
lowers and the continual talk of a bolt
The Roosevelt managers today an
nouhced that if all the remaining con-
decided in favor of President Taft he will
lack fourteen votes of the number neces-
sary to nominate. These figures and
others compiled at both Taft and Roose-
welt headquarters brought the situation
down to point where discussion Of a
deadlock and q possible dark horse"
candidate loomed large.
Figures of Roosevelt Men.
clared that as the situation now stands
the Taft forces actually count less than
ten votes in their favor. Others insisted
the yesterdays developments in seat
ing Roosevelt delegates from Missouri
left the president eleven short Of bare
majority on the temporary roll.
The fight for the uninstructed delegates,
the southern delegates and the thirty
six La Toilette delegates from Wiscon-
sin and North Dakota today became in
tense. Every possible argument is be-
ing used by the campaign managers on
both sides to get the advantage in these
quarters
The Roosevelt men directed an effort
toward the southern delegates in attempt
ing to make them believe that they would
represent an absolutely certain majority
against President Tafts side both as to
the nomination and matters pertaining to
organization of the convention.
AS a result Of the tightening Of the
Taft-Roosevelt lines, the La Toilette dele
cation looms larger than ever as a strate-
gic force and in the calculations of the
managers of the other camps it ranks
a close second to the southern and unin-
structed vote in the convention.
Flirting with La Toilette.
It was pointed out that if President
Taft is not in control of the convention
from start to finish, La Toilette will hold
the balance of power. The question of de-
bate among leaders was whether or not
this possible balance would be used.
Roosevelt leaders frankly said they ex-
pected the aid of the La Toilette strength
in combination to defeat United States
Senator Elihu Root as temporary chair
man. To this end the Roosevelt forces
have suggested that they would be will
ing to support any candidate for the tenn
porary craftsmanship that the La Toilette
men might choose.
Walter T. Houser Senator La Toilette s
campaign manager, today. however, re-
peated his assertions to the effect that
the La Toilette delegation would posi-
lively avoid all combinations of any char
acter with any other candidate. Mr..
Houser declared that the La Toilette or
ganizaton is looking ahead only to the
senator's political future and the success
of the policies which he has advocated
in his fight through the various state
primaries.
William Barnes, ir., of New York, in cal
cuiations tabulated personally. announced
that President Taft would have STA votes
on the temporary roll call of the con-
vention If this claim be found correct
when the national committee complies the
nearing of contests tomorrow the presi-
lent would have a majority on paper of
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