Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-05-02
Because Taft Leads in MasSa-
chusetts Primary Each Man
Left Free as to Course He
Shall Pursue at Chicago,
EIGHT DEMOCRATS
PLEDGED TO F0SS
Clark Carries All Congressional
Districts in Bay State; Un-
precedented Condition in Re-
publican Party,

rBy Morning journal Special Leased Wlre.l
Boston, May l,--After two confer
ences today the eight Roosevelt dele
gates at large elected at the primaries
Yesterday to the national convention
decided not to take any joint action
on the attitude adopted by Colonel
Roosevelt in releasing them from OBJ
legation to vote for him, but to leave
each delegate free to act as he sees
fit.
A statement issued late tonight by
Matthew Hale, chairman of the
o. Roosevelt committee says:
I'm view of the complicated politi-
cal conditions following cur state pr1-
mary. I decided to call a meeting or
The eight delegates at large to dis-
clrss the situation. | had not then
heard anything about Colonel Roose-
veit's statement regarding the dele
gates at large. The delegates who as
sembled here ! believe, saw the news
paper accounts Of the colonefs state
ment.
with the knowledge on the part of
each of the delegates that he had
been fairly elected and squarely, by
a large majority over the Taft dele
gates it was the unanimous opinion
that they should stand tSgether and
vote for Roosevelt Consequently
Joint statement to this effect was
signed by each delegate present.
Later in the day and after care
fully considering the position so for
DnpcHNalt the
situation was again talked over with
the delegates and they decided TO take
no Joint action, but to rescind ther
agreement and leave each delegate
free to decide for himself his respon-
sibility to his constituents and to act
accordingly"
The situation is acknowledged by
party leaders to be without parailei
in the history of the commonwealth.
Although the republicans of the
state selected President Taft as their
candidate for denomination by a ma
toritv of 1855 over Colonel Roosevelt
on the presidential preference ballot,
at the same time they elected by
decisive vote the entire slate of eight
delegates at large pledged to the for
cured ten delegates in the district
elections and President Taft carried
nine districts. with eighteen votes, SO
that Taft and Roosevelt each nave
eighteen delegates from the state to
the national convention.
A similar situation was created on
the democratic ballot. Speaker Champ
Clark, who had no pledged delegates
on the ticket, won two to one VIC
tory over Governor Wilson in the
presidential preference contest. Al the
same time delegates at large pledged
to Governor Foss of Massachusetts
were elected to attend the Baltimore
convention though the name of Fcss
did not appear an the presidential
preference column.
The total preferential vote for the
three republican candidates with re-
turns from the town Of Gosnold sun
missing tonight was as fallows; La
Toilette. 1,756; Roosevelt, 7l,l53
Taft. 74.S0s.
Roosevelt followers have an
nounced their intention OF asking
recount in the Eighth district, while
the Taft men will do likewise in the
Ninth on account of the closeness OF
the vote.
In his statements to the delegates
at large Colonel Roosevelt declared
il his wish to abide by the will of the
people and that therefore the dele
gates. though elected as pledged To
him. should vote for Taft. who had
received the presidential preference
vote.
one by one the delegates as they
were heard from today protested that
under no circumstances would they
cast their ballots other than as tie
had been pledged.
Charles II. Baxter. who heads the
delegation. said he had always been
n Roosevelt man. was elected as
Roosevelt man and expected to re- |
main Roosevelt supporter. Arthur
L. Mason and George w. Coleman de- !
clared they would absolutely refuse |
TO abide by any such request"
James =. Magenis took the position |
that he had been elected as R"ose-
Welt delegate and he could see no I
way Of evading the direction"
The other delegates expressed 1
themselves similarly.
Both the Roosevelt and TAFT head
quarter managers remained silent to-
night on the announcement of Colonel
Roosevelt.
slightly different Interpretation
of the primary law as respecting dis
trict delegates was brought forward /
by Judge Thomas r. Riley. Chairman
OF the democratic state committee
Judge Riley said that ali district dele !