The Van Buren press., 1912-06-15
ROOSEVELT SEES
PARTY TROUBLE
Says Rank and File Of Repub-
IICanS Will Not Stand for
Committee Tactics.
ORGANIZATION AT STAKE
Calls Attention TO Fact That National
Committeeman Have Been Re
pudiated at Home,

Western Newspaper Union News Service
oyster Bay.--Tho Republicans Of the
country were called upon by Col Theo
dore Roosevelt to protest against the
action Of the Republican National
Committee in ruling upon the contest
for seats in the national convention
from the Ninth Alabama district He
declared that every man who wishes
to see the party continue to exist
should protest at once against those
who are deliberately trying to wreck
it."
THE leaders," said the colonel
speak as il they we're the regular
Republicans. / do not concede that
theft is a test Of regularity"
In view of the action taken by the
national committ.e in unsoating the
two duly elected delegates in the
Ninth Alabama district and replacing
them by men who nave no more title
to the Republican convention, than
they have to Sit In the Democratic
convention, would Ike to make as
serious an appeal as is in my power
to every good citizen who regards the
Republican party as an instrument
for good government which II is wick.
edly lightly to destroy,
Alabama is entitled to a delegates
IN the convention As regards several
OF the districts where there have been
contests, Il Is my sincere belief that
the right was as much on our side
az on the side Of our opponents. But
In these districts there was room for
honest doubt. and talking the mnttor
over with Senator Dixon, we both
agreed 10 advise the Roosevelt mem
bers OF the national committee to sup
port no contest In any district where
there was room for reasonable doubt
as TO the right Of the Roosevelt dele
gates to be seated Accordingly In
all the Alabama districts In question
the Roosevelt men IN the national com.
mittee voted with the majority, and
this In spite Of the fact that, as
have already said, we regard the
claims OF the Roosevelt men I'm Ger.
tain Of those districts as being as
good az those OF their opponents.
but IN the Ninth Alabama district,
two Roosevelt delegates had been un.
questIonably elected. The facts are
as follows:
THE Republican committee OF this
district, composed Of 30 members. mo-
to call the convention. Eighteen
members were favorable to my candl.
dacy 70 to Mr. Taft's. The Taft mon
cowede that this was tho regular
district committee convention. and he.
gan by participating IN the meeting.
but AZ soon AZ It developed that the
Roosevelt men were IN the majority
the ~ TAFT men left the meeting and
called convention Of their own.
leaving rs members, n clear majority
OF the regular committee, TO call the
regular convention, m which tho
Roosevelt delegates were named No
serious evidence was presented before
lhe national committee to contrayone
these facts The contest against these
two regularly elected Roosevelt dele.
gates had literally no foundation what.
over, even of the most flmsy dcscrlp.
lion, There was no moro ground for
unscoting those delegates than there
would be- for example, In unacaling
the Taft delegates from Rhode Island
or In any district In any state where
there ~ no contest whatever. Yet the
national committeeman who are sup.
porting Mr. TAFT, voted 10 unscat the
two men properly elected and 70 seat
IN he national convention two mon
who, As I have said, literally have no
more right TO appear ~ delegates In
that convention than they have 10 ap.
pear IN the Democratic national con.
yontIon,
Now ! wish to call the attention
not only OF all good Republicans, but
n all good citizens 20 Just what this
type Of action means ~ yet, there
s no law to govern national nominal.
Ink conventions, M there IN 10 govern
national elections although In Ger.
tain states the nomination OF cnndl,
dates h carried on under the law OF
lhorc states precisely az are the clcc.
lions
because u this lack Of federal law.
acts Witch ltdono 10 Influence olec.
lIonn would be- criminal can be- per
potfaled with lmpnulty 20 far ns na.
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