Evening journal., 1912-06-18
Bv The United Press.

CHICAGO. June ts.-When the
oavel of Victor Rosewater, chairman
Of the National Republican Commit
tee. fell at noon today. calling TO or
der the fifteenth National Republican
Convention, political history had
reached a crisis. For weeks Taft and
Colonel Roosevelt haze been battling
throughout the country for delegates
Today. with the entire representation
of every state and territory on hand
for the opening of the convention in
the massive Coliseum the uncertainty
was greater than when the fight cuen-
ed weeks ago.
The Taft men had fatty refused the
demand of the Roosevelt forces that
thev agree to a proposition that nc
vote on the temporary organization be
valid unless it received the affirmative
vote of $40 delegates, Ga majority
whose right to seat vas unquestioned
This was a novel program and ar
ranged at a session of the Roosevelt
delegates that lasted until nearl,
daylight today.
The Roosevelt men declared It wal
and also because il was desired tha
the proceedings Of the Convention h'
such that they would reunite the par
ty The Taft men declared that th'
presentation, if adopted, would meal
simply a deadlock. They also claim
ed that the real reason back of tn
suggestion was the desire OF tn
Roosevelt men for further delay an
TO proselyte delegates.
Original Program.
The Taft men insisted that thei
original program was going through
Turned down by the Taft leaders. Oh
Roosevelt men sent a protest TO Pres
ident Taft and demanded that he n
terfere and compel his represents
lives on the ground to accept tn
\ Roosevelt proposition. The Taft Lead
ers insisted, however, that the Pre-;
ident could not interfere as it wa
matter for the delegates to dispos
4 OF.
Colonel Roosevelt arranged with hi
managers TO keep him informed at al
= times on what was going on in tn
convention hall. The report that h
planned to lead his fight in person tn
moment such action became necessar
manager refused to affirm or den
s this
Equally secretive we're the Taft FOL
lowers: Mckinley. Barnes. Hemen
way Fairbanks. Hilles and score {
lesser leaders were scurrying aroun
all morning previous to the openin
of the convention. President Taft wa
+ in constant telephone touch with e'
4E-4 m dfTnnffn
his own fight in many instances. an
his managers frequently counselle
with him on knotty points.
u Cummins Expects Deadlock.
Probably the most confident men
Chicago were the managers Of Senate
Cummins and Senator LaFollett
They believed that the convention va
certain to deadlock and that when II
break came it would be away from n
two leading candidates and to the
man. They refused to make an
deals with either side. although u
Cummins men finally decided to vo
with the Roosevelt forces on the que
tions of temporary organization an
the word went out early that If Roos
welt was near enough to the nomin
tion 20 be swung over by the Cummil
vote he would get them.
The crowd started for the Coliseu
early. The morning was cool with
brisk breeze, but II was torrid In 4
& great hall where the delegates gst
cred
Police on the job.
Great lines Of uniformed policem
we're scattered about the structu
and massed at every entrance. Grou
ed With them were 400 special depu
sberiffs especially commissioned
tbo sheriff of Cook county to see tn
there was no disorder. Plain cloth
vnen we're scattered through the cro'
~ curiosity seekers that had flock
to the scene. hopeful that the Rooi
Valt forces would make good tn
fNreat and storm the entrances, tn
N unalrine wav for all without ticke
r H7par tha coliseum we're automon
81 patrol wagons.
at to16 O'Clock. AS each ticket he
al er approached the deslehaVeu
trance his pastboard was inspec
6rst bv a uniformed policeman
ticket takers. In the balcony OF
s Coliseum we're massed two bands
b a couple of glee clubs who hlled
:W the time from lO Cloch uh'''
E In the Spotlight
The delegates themselves were
verbally slow in gathering. The
wheel horses Of the party, the
whose names are intimately connet
with its history. delayed as much
X they could They wanted the 81
LIGHT. the handclapping and che
Men of the Depew type. TO whom T
lie recognition means everything
gered in the corridor so that