New-York tribune., 1912-05-30
Roosevelt Managers Will De-
mand Immediate Seating of
Their New Members to
Hear All Contests.
CONTRARY TO PARTY RULE
Harry S. New Declares the Pres
ent Committeeman Will Not
Be Bullied Into Failure
to Do Their Full
Duty.

Chicago May 19.-N ORD mat ~ =
Howell. recently elected Republican Ne-
tional Committeeman from Nebraska "
direct primary, would come to Chicas"
on June 6. when the national committee
meets to hear contests and demand MS
seat caused stir to-day among mem
bers of the committee.
Mr.. Howell is a supporter OF Theoaor'
Roosevelt and was chosen at the dlrc.'
primary as the successor of Victor Ros'-
water acting chairman Of the Republi
can National Committee. whose ollCl'I
duty il would he to call the hauoH"
convention to order on June II and IN
troduCe Senator Elihu Root as tempo
rary chairman.
At the local Roosevelt headquarters II
was said Mr. Howell had been advised
that under the law he was entl'ieo ~
immediate possession OF his seat as q
member Of the Republican NauonaI
Committee from Nebraska, and that ne
would insist on recognition when tE'
committee met to hear contests on
June e.
Thomas X Niedringhaus, elected Re
publican National Committeeman from
Missouri under the direct primary. ara
others similarly elected will. it is said.
demand their seats when the commi--
tee meets.
Roosevelt managers here declare there
are at least five new national commit
teeren who will attempt to assume their
official duties before the question OF con-
tests is taken up by the committee.
operation Of the direct primary law ~
several states where the national com
mitteemen are chosen by popular vote
instead Of by the delegates presents a
new problem which in all probability will
have to he dealt with either by the ma
tionaI committee or the national con-
VentiOn.
Rule as Old as Party.
Harry 5. New. chairman Of the sub
committee on arrangements of the cor
vention, said:
THE term OF national committee
man beqins with the adjournment OF
the convention, when the new members
always are called upon to meet and as
sumo their official duties. This is the
rule and practice OF the party, and is
as old as the party itself There is no
Just demand nor reasonable excuse for
a departure from this rule in my opin-
ion.
"A candidate for President who re-
ceives ajority o. the votes might
with equal propriety go TO the White
House the minute the vote is canvassed
and demand the office on the ground
that he wanted the office so bad he
could not wait until the incumbent's
term expired.
The Republican party has a right -
an orderly convention. and It is the duty
Of the Republican National Committee
~ see that il has one. The committe
exists for that very purpose.
1t is the duty of the committee t.
provide rules for the conduct OF the CON
vcntion and provide temporary officers
This is necessary to Identify the con.
vention with the party and 10 differen-
tiate that convention from any irrcspon-
sible gathering that might attempt to
constitute itself a Republican conyen-
tion without authority.
The members Of the national com
n1ittee are men Of character and stand
ing and are entitled to some respect
They are not 20 be bulied nor threat
ened into failure to DO their duty as
they see IT. ! have no doubt that the
committee Itself will show some respect
for precedent and orderly methods and
insist on their observance"
The time limit set by he national COM
mittee in its call for the filing of con
tests expired at midnight, and the briefs
in all the cases are now in the hands o.
Secretary Hayward, and will he tabu-
lated for the consideration Of the nd-
tional committee on June ..