The Washington times., 1912-05-26
THE FIGHT FOR CONTROL AT CHICAGO


Colonel Roosevelt in his speeches in New Jersey
yesterday, made perfectly clear that he expects no
quarter in the fight for control of the national con-
venton, IL his enemies get themselves in posi-
ton to slaughter him, by fair means or foul. He
indicates further that he doesn't ask and doesn't in
tend to need quarter. He intends to win the fight by
fighting, not by 6nesse.
1t was bold program that the Taft managers
announced in the statement of delegate strength
which they put out on Saturday; program calculated
to make earnest Republicans, with concern for their
party, catch breath and wonder if the Taft cam
paign is in the hands of loyal party men or a band
of pirates.
In order to show that Mr.. Taft will be nominated
his bureau put out the boast that il ABSOLUTELY
OWNS the national committee. If ltgant at bar
should formally announce in advance Of the taking
Of testimony, that it sure to win, because it CON-
TROLLED THE COURT, this case would be accu-
rately paraleled
The national committee is the general council of
the party; save only when the national convention
is actually in session, it is the supreme court. 1t
IL the intent of the Taft managers to make the
mttee SUPERIOR TO THE CONVENTION, SU-
PERIOR TO THE MILLIONS WHO CONSTITUTE
THE PARTY ITSELF, BY HAVING THE COMMIT
TEE MAKE UP THE PERSONNEL OF THE CON-
VENTION.
That is exactly what the Mckinley statement of
Saturday means; for it presents NO COLUMN OF
CONTESTED DELEGATES.
II does not concede that there is a contest pend
ing
1t counts for Taft EVERY SINGLE CLAIMANT
TO A SEAT AS A TAFT DELEGATE.
1t counts for Taft all those who hold credentials
questioned by the Roosevelt forces; and likewise it
counts for Taft all those who are questioning cre-
| dentialS held nv Roosevelt sunnorterS
There can be only one explanation Of this. The
Taft managers are daring to claim that the national
committee is so completely controlled by them that
it will decide any fake contest in their favor, Ut
TERLY REGARDLESS OF MERIT.
Even in the case of Washington State, no sugges-
ton is made that there is contest. The Washing
ton delegation is coolly set down for Taft yet Taft
has no right to it than Captain Kidd had the
plunder he took from his victims. Taft knows that;
Mckinley knows it; the national committee will
know it.
Such effrontery is without parallel or the posi-
bility of comparison, in any political history of our
times.
1t represents the desperate designs of men who
frankly would rather wreck the party than to see it
restored and victorious under the man whom the
people have designated as their leader.
| AS this matter stands today, it is Penrose Lori
mer, Galnger, Charles P. Taft, Barnes John Kean
Cannon, Mckinley, and a few more big bosses,
against the millions of the party membership. Shall
these few bosses be allowed to control-as Mckinley
badly announces they do control-a national COM
mittee with the express unblushing purpose of max
ing up a convention roll that will have NO RELA-
i TON WHATEVER TO THE WILL AND PUR.
POSE OF THE PEOPLE, but that will represent
and represent only, THE DETERMINATION OF
THESE BOSSES TO RULE AT ANY COST?
That is the question which the Mckinley state
ment of Saturday, May rs, raises. 1t is question
as big as the very existence of the party. Colonel
Roosevelt plainly recognized all the implications Of
the Mckinley pronouncement, for he replied to it
in his speeches yesterday afternoon in Jersey, ir
terms that left room for error. For few bosses
personally repudiaed by their people, to undertake
now, through national committee to undo the work
of the people, is thing abhorrent, so impossible
that it is manifest the people, the party and the con
vention will never yield to it.
; The Chicago nomination might perhaps be stoler
, from a weaker man than Theodore Roosevelt. L
, will not be stolen from him because he is not the
sort Of man to look pleasant while his house /:
robbed, The people behind him not the sor
to play the part of casual bysanders while the rape
5 is afoot, either.