Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-19
ROOSEVELT TO CONTEST
SOUTHERN DELEGATIONS
Effort viii Be Made to UnSeat
ALL Taft'S Dixie i7
Delegates
(Rx Associated Press.D

WASHlNGTONs March ilo.-COnIeSIS
against Taft delegates from all south
ern states to the Chicago Republican
convention will be taken before the ma
tional committee in June by the Roose-
yelt forces, according to statement
given out here today over the signature
of Senator Joseph M. Dixon, Colonel
Roosevelt's campaign manager. The
announcement makes the definite state
ment that Sin every southern state, and
in almost every district in those states
which have elected delegates to date,
contests will come before the national
committee"
The purpose of the Roosevelt man
ayers to attempt the overthrow of all
of President Taft's southern strength
before it can be seated in the Chi
cago convention, is further borne out
by tables contained in the Dixon state
ment. The Dixon statement estimate
gives Colonel Roosevelt "A delegates
and comedies but IA to President
Taft. The Taft delegates from south
ern states, "a in number, are placed
in the contested" column.
Director William B. Mckinley, of
President Taft's campaign committee,
who also published a tabulated esti-
mate of strength today, claimed 131
delegates for the president and con-
coded but 13 to Colonel Roosevelt. The
only item upon which the widely d.
vergent statements of the campaign
managers agree is the concession of two
delegates from the Seventh Iowa dis
trict to Senator Cummins.
IN ALL STATES.
Senator Dixon's statement declares
that contests will be made in all south
ern states because most of the con-
ventions have "been called and con-
trolled by office holders and have been
illegal and fraudulent both in charac-
ter and in the methods and tactics pur-
sued
Convincing proof of this fact will be
presented to the national COMMITTEES"
added the senator, by the delegates
instructed for Colonel Roosevelt, none
of them office holders, elected by le-
gal and proper methods and in accord
ance with the call of the national COM
mittee.
1T is apparent that the Taft man
ayers propose to carry the plan of con-
testing delegates into northern states
in order to cloud conditions. This is
demoralizing to the party, but the is
sue, as thus made, will be met with
vigor. In adopting this plan the Taft
managers have assured a decision of
the contests on their merits.
Northern states and districts will
never submit to the man-handling Of
their delegations through bogus con-
tests. When the national committee
is confronted with the necessity of
making fair decisions in northern dis
tricts, it will establish presidents that
must insure fair decisions in southern
districts also"
THE TAFT CLAIMS.
The Taft claims, as given out by Di
rector Mckinley, concede contests in
the following congressional districts:
First Georgia, Third Virginia, Sec
and and Fifth Missouri and Third ok
lahoma. This makes a total of ten
delegates. The Roosevelt statement de-
clares that the following delegates,
now claimed by the Taft forces, will
be contested: Alabama, IA; District of.
Columbia, 2; Florida, 70; Georgia, 20;
South Carolina, 6; Tennessee, 10; Vir-
ginia, Is.
"The conventions in the southern
states were all called and held strict
ly in conformity with the call issued
by the national committee said Mr..
Mckinley tonight. $50 far as we know
the Roosevelt supporters went into
these conventions and made their fight;
if they have held separate conventions
and elected other delegates, we have not
been advised of the fact" --<