New-York tribune., 1912-06-11
TAFT WINS INDIANA CONTESTS
National Committee Settles At.Large and Four
District Disputes in Presidents Favor.

Chica 90. June l0-When the Republican
National Committee met this morning POW
ell Clayton asked for correction OF news
paper statements concerning his alleged
in ward primaries in Little
Rock General Clayton sought 10 make IL
clear that il was his nephew, Powell Clay-
ton, to whom reference was made when
the Fifth Arkansas case was argued sat
urday
A proposal to put at the foot of the cali
endsr all cases passed over met objection
from Mr.. knight, of California, who de-
manded that he California case passed
over Saturday be taken up. Governor Par
dec and Francis J. Heney were present. he
said, and ready TO proceed
Il saw by the morning papers that the
California case was not 10 be taken UP TINS
morning" said Mr.. knight "Tf it is not. it
will confirm an impression that the decis-
ions OF this committee are reached some
where else than in this committee room
Messrs New and Crane, Taft adherents,
supported Mr.. knights request, and the
committee agreed 10 take up the 4th Cali
fornia District and set the Arizona cases
for Wednesday.
After the attorneys and delegates from
both sides had assembled at the tables. eN-
Senator Dick, the Taft attorney. declared
tha. certain pa pers had not been received
and again asked for a delay.
"Wc are inclined to think" said Mr. Dick,
that some OF the other California delegates
whose seats have not vet been contested
we're not elected in accordance with the
national committees call We believe that
the California primary law, in its state
wide primary requirements. does not con-
form With the principles under which the
national committee acts.
.It is a question Of whether We will
abandon tho principle of electing delegates
by districts, established in 1850. and return
TO the principle of choosing them b. state
units
Senator Crane moved TO delay the Cali
fornia case until Wednesday. Senator
Rorah said there was no reason for that
much delay.
On the rollcall demanded by Mr.. Borah
Senator Cranes motion to postpone cali
fornia until Wednesday was carred--SS
TO 13
Indiana Contest Taken Up.
gates-at-large from Indiana was then
called, and Bainbridge Colby, of New York.
who appeared as attorney for the Roosevelt
delegates. charged that the attempt to or
sanize the credentials committee OF the
Indiana state Convention on the night be-
fore the convention had been unauthorized
by the state committees official call.
Mr. Colby declared a rule OF procedure
had been adopted by the credentials com
mittee which gave five Taft members of the
committee the chance TO choose members
from the 3d. 9th and eth districts, so as to
give them control Of the full committee.
He declared the Roosevelt men selected
for the credentials committee from the
Sd and 9th districts had been unseated by
the Taft forces on that committee, which
then took up the contests and made up the
temporary roll for the next days convef-
.ion. In the Marion County contest. he
said. the committee had not even let the
Roosevelt men present their case.
The Taft forces had SiS delegates and the
Roosevelt side $751; Mr.. Colby declared The
Taft forces had secured control of the con-
yention through the medium OF contested
delegates, while the night before they had
secured control Of the credentials commit
tee by shutting out committee members
whom they claimed TO be contestea.
Mr.. Colby said the Roosevelt forces actu-
ally had seven Of thirteen members OF the
committee. out the rule laid
down by the Taft forces allowed the latter
to gain control
Horace G. Stillwel, Of Anderson, Ind,
continued the argument for the Roosevelt
contestants. He declared some unidentified
person had posted a notice on the night
before the convention postponing the 80
District meeting to select member or the
credentials committee from 7:S0 p m TO
II so y. m, but in the interim TAFT mem
ber OF the committee was selected and
given q seat.
Taft Mon Aroused.
In the midst OF his argument Mr.. Sni-
we'll, reading from manuscript. began to
throw remarks into the debate that aroused
the ire OF the Taft forces
Chairman Rosewaters gavel fell with
yhack. The counsel will confne himself
10 the argument Of this case he said
Resuming his argument, Mr.. Stillwell
said no opportunity had been given to him
IN the state convention TO nominate ex-
senator BeveridSe and the balance OF the
Roosevelt slate Of delegates t-larSe
Merrill Moores. of Indianapolis. began tho
argument In behalf Of the Taft delegation
st-large He said the alleged Anonymous
notice" postponing the Cd District meeting
TO select member of the credentials COM
mittee had been formally posted by order
Df the state committee by John Edwards.
Referring to the matter Of the control
Df the committee on credentials, Mr.
Moores said ten members had arrived at
the committee room at o'clock, when the
committee organized.
There were six Taft and four Roosevelt
men present" he said. 'and under the au-
thority Of a quorum the committee organ
zed and elected John B. Cochrum chair
man"
Mr.. Moores presented figures to show that
the vote in the indianapolis primaries had
been over 5000 for Taft ana something
over 400 for Roosevelt
He presented an affidavit by William r.
Wood OF Lafayette. to show that the
Roosevelt delegates, headed by ex-senator
Albert J. Beveridge had been nominated
al a rurnp state convention. held without
order IN the back of the hall.
james A. Hemenway. taking up the Taft
delegates arguments. said all delegates in
Indianapolis were selected directly by
wards. He declared all the 100 contests
,arried to the state convention from Marion
County, in which indianapolis is located,
were taken In by wards in the case OF
The fifteen wards OF Indianapolis each case
was presented separately. the elimination
Of any contested delegation. therefore, not
affecting the Taft control OF the convention.
Affidsvits Presented.