The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-06-13

|I4AFOId1ETTE COMMITTEEMAN
VOTES WITH IAFT ON CONTESTS,
Chicago.-Sumner Curtis says in
the Chicago-Record Herald:
AS a pure matter of impartiality in
reporting the day by day develop
ments in his unparalleled PRESIDENT
ial contest. it is essential to state at
this stage-as a news fact and not a
political writer's opinion-that of the
e%ighty-fOur contested seats thus far
passed upon by the national commit
the claims of only four contest
ants have been regarded as sufficient
ly meritorious by the minority mem
bers of the committee to warrant a
division Or protst. These contests
Were from the ninth Alabama and the
thirteenth Indiana districts. In both
of these cases National Committee
cluded in all lists showing the Taft
man Alfred 7. Rogers of Wisconsin.
a LaFollette leader. who has been in
opposition, voted with the majority.
Mr.. Rogers, while declaring there
the merit in both these contests, be-
ilieved the weight of evidence Il be
on the Taft side.
Roosevelt members of the NATIONAL
committee declared that it was un-
fortunate for their side that so many
contests had been allowed to reach
the commitee-that no contest should
have been filed unless the preliminary
examination showed absolute merit
1t was admitted that the presentation
of so many Eases that never should
haze been brought in the first place,
would have a tendency to convince
an impartial public that steam roller
charges are less warranted than 9TH
|erwise would be the case, when lines
are drawn and the dominant element
prevails oyer the Roosevelt faction.
But the Roosevelt managers at
headquarters do not take this view
of the situation. That differences
over the question of making a
record" in all cases have been devel-
oped in the conferences of tn Rose
welt leaders during the last two days
that conferences in short, have
been held because OF the clash of
opinion among the anti-Taft folk
is not only clearly shown in the de-
velopments in the national commit
tee yesterday, but is authenticated by
information from other sources. jar
Chairman Dixon has been a firm
believer in the equity that rests with
the Roosevelt side in all contests that
have been developed. Members OF
tn committee who are heart and soul
with him in his main effort-the nom
~ination of Colonel Roosevelt for the
presidency-have heard the cast SO
far presented, and have given the
chairman OF the national Roosevelt
committee to understand that no mat
ter what the Taft men may do in
cases that may not, in their opinion,
have a Taft leg to stand on, they will
go guided throughout by the eyi.
dence as it appears, and go on record
against the majority only when con.
WINGED that right and justice is or
their side.
The LaFollette forces, as related in
the condensed statement at the head
of this article. are becoming intensely
interesting to the leaders of the
Roosevelt anI Taft camps, because O.
the stragetic position the Wisconsin
senator's aggregation of thirty-sis
delegates may occupy when the rea
work of the convention is begun. As
Yet there has been a little timidty
about approaching the LaFollette
people for the purpose of ascertain
ing just what attitude they may be tx
pected to assume, but slight advances
\ havn haan mnda anh hnl1ar nunr
lures are expected within the mex
day or two.
Careful observation tends to thu
conclusion at this time that the Lii
Toilette strength will play its owl
game to the finish. Observation leads
to the further conclusion that Sena
tor LaFollette's control of his dele
gates will be SO secure that they wi
vote as a unit on all propositions
coming before the convention, despite
rumors that individual member,
would break this way or that on Ger
tain propositions.
A most interesting feature of the
situation is the evident determine
ton of the La Toilette forces to sticl
through the convention in ease the
bolt that has been declared probable
If certain conditions prevail actually
occurs. 1t should be kept in mine
that the only reason as yet advanced
for a prospective bolt has been the
organization Of the convention t.
elect Taft, and defeat Roosevelt, by
throwing out or keeping out delegates
Claimed by the colonel.s managers tc
be entitled to seats.
There are no contests involving LIZ
Toilette delegates. And if the l.;
Foiletteites believe that the contest
decisions are in the main just the,
can have no grievance.
Neither does a bolt of the La Fol
lette force on account of platform
principles seem likely. AS to THU
platform matter the impression il
growing that if the Taft forces con.
troll the convention and see the Presi
dents denomination assured attention
will turn from the hostillities of the
moment to the question of electine
the ticket in November, and tina,
pains will be taken to put forward
a platform that will appeal to pro
gressiveS throughout the country