The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-07-13
PETITION TAFT
TO DROP FIGHT
President Requested to Refuss
the Nomination.
SOME FAVOR REAOUNCING HIM

Representative Rees Of Kansas Pro.
pares Request to Executive Asking
Him to Decline to Be Nominee Of
Republican Party-ProsressIves Are
Divided Over Two Propositions.
Washington, July 10-Two concrete
propositions are under consideration
by progressive Republicans who are
opposed to Msssrs. Taft and Sherman.
They are:
First-That President Taft shall be
asked to quit the race.
4 Second-That the progressives shall
issue statement, in which 1t shall be
set forth that Mr.. Taft is not the legal
nominee of the party, that 1t is his
duty to retire, and, failing to do SO,
that every progressive shall be al
liberty to support any national ticket
that may suit his fancy.
The progressives are divided. Some
OF the supporters of Robert M. La Fol.
lette are certain to line up behind one
or the other Of the propositions above
outlined. In the absence of evidence
to the contrary, It is assumed by party
leaders here that Mr.. La Toilette will
stand pat in the campaign. 1t is the
general expectation that he will re.
main in the Republican party, but will
not give active support to Mr.. Taft.
A petition addressed to the presi-
dent, asking him to decline the nomi-
nation on the ground that he was
named in part by delegates who had
no moral right to sit in the Chicago
convention, has been prepared by Rep
resentative Rollin R. Reese Of Kansas.
A like petition has been prepared by
other progressives. Mr.. Rees said
that his petition would be circulated
in due season, and that he was hopeful
that it would be signed by many Re-
publicans.
Text Of Rees Petition.
The text Of the petition follows:
! Mr.. President: The Republican par-
ty, in our Judgment, Is in perilous
| position by reason Of the unprecedent-
ed proceedings of the Chicago conven.
ton. 1t is freely charged that the Re-
| publican national committee, In pro.
pairing the temporary roll Of the con
vention, ignored the expressed viii
of the rank and file of the Republican
voters in choosing their delegates
to that convention, and in many III
stances seated delegates who had new.
er been elected to that body: and
that these high-handed proceedings
were carried to the extent of turning
q minority into a majority, and that
this illegally constituted majority pro-
ceeded to ratify the action OF the
committee, and to make nominations
for president and vice president Of the
United States; and that you, Mr. Pres
ident, owe your title to the Repub-
lican nomination to the presidency to
the votes of those illegally seated del
egates.
This charge, II made by few dis
gruntled ones, might be lightly ~
nored; but whether true or false, even
II without the shadow of justification,
when made by more than third OF
the delegates who participated In that
convention, and believed to be true by
millions Of people, who read the pro.
ceedings, 1t becomes 50 serious that
II involves in doubt not only your cleo
ton but that Of the entire Republican
ticket and threatens to disrupt the
party itself.
Urge Taft's Withdrawal
Under the circumstances. we, the
undersigned Republicans urge upon
you the patriotic duty of considering
plan to avert the threatened dis
aster. We would respectfully request
that as q means Of relieving yourself
Of any odium attendant upon tho ac-
ton Of the convention that Won de.
cline to accept q clouded title 10 the
Republican nomination to the presi-
dency, and that you lead in request
to the national committee to call
new convention in order thar the
coming campaign may be conducted
along tho lines of the great and fonda
mental questions Of public policy. in.
stead Of descending into a quarrel
within our own party over your right
To be regarded as our lawful nominee.