The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-14


 drew from the contest.
 MT. Adams refused to consider with drawing until he had received the promise from Senator Penrose and other Hays supporters that George W. Perkins and his fellow Progress sives would be eliminated from active participation in the councils of the Republican party.
 This pact was kept up by the 'Old Guard'' when the committee in ses- sion tabled the resolution to continue the Campaign Committee, which con- sisted of the Executive Committee and six Progressives.
 Among the Bull Moosers were George w. Perkins, Harold I. Ickes of Illinois, Evert Colby of New Jersey James W. Garfield of Ohio and Ches- ter H. RoweQ of California.
 Chairman Wilcox, who presided at the conference, ruled that this Cam paign Committee automatically went out of business at the close of the last campaign. To make doubly sure of the elimination of the Progressives, the committee adopted rules taking all appointive power away from the newly elected chairman
 Despite the pro-German charges against Adams, which, it was agreed here, cost him the chairmansh1p, Adams was allowed to remain wee chairman of the committee. No effort was made to depose him.
 Friends of the Iowa aspirant for the chairmanship keenly felt the pro-Ger- man attack on the Hays contingent that if an attempt were made to re- move him from the vice chairmansh1p d. fight would be precipitated that would split the Republican party.
 Senaor Penrose, in behalf of the Hays faction, agreed to allow Adams to retain his post.
 Senator Penrose dominated the meeting of the National Committee. He led the Hays forces to victory and forced Adams to withdraw from the contest. The senator from Pennsyl- vania would not have been able to bring about the election of the h. diana candidate were it not TOT the able assistance of Frank H. Hitch cock former Postmaster General and former chairman of the Republican National Committee.
 Hitchcock Holds Balance
 Hitchcock lined up twelve Of the committeeman who were upleugeo and who favored a conCromlse can didate, He held them together dur ing all of the turbulent hours or the conference here during the last two days. He knew that neither Hays nor Adams was sure of enough votes to score a victory
 Until yesterday morning, MT. HIcn- cock was insisting upon a third man as the only way to prevent a bitter fight on the floor. When senator Penrose and the other Hays leaders submitted a plan for the withdrawal or MT. Adams to MT. Hitchcock, the for mer Postmaster General readily agreed to it, and promised the sup port of the twelve committeeman who were under his wing. After receiving Hitchcocks prom ise, conference was arranged by Penrose, at which Adams and his managers met Penrose and the Hays managers. The question of party harmony and party success was plac- ed squarely before Adams. At the same time, he was promised that George w. Perkins and the oth- | CT Progressives would be eliminated from active participation in the Re publican party. After considerable Wrangling, the Adams men capltu- lated, the Iowa committeeman agree | ing to place Hays in nomination. The Hitchcock men who held the balance of power in the conference were: Oliver D. Stuart Alabama; Alan B. Jones, Arizona; T. Coleman 1 du Pont, Delaware; George W. Bean, Florida; William P. Jackson, Mary land; Judge H. Purdy, holding the proxy of Senator Frank Kellogg Of Minnesota; Harry Kelly, proxy of Charles A. Spiess, New Mexico; Will | lis c. Cook, South Dakota; Earle S. Kinsley, Vermont; V. L. Highland, West Virginia; Alfred T. Rogers, Wis consin, and Patrick Sullivan, proxy for George E. Paxton of wyoming. | MT. Hitchcock declared after the meeting that the selection of Hays as Chairman had no significance, so far as Presidential candidates in 1920 was concerned.
 It was current gossip in the lobby of the Planters Hotel that Penrose and Hitchcock had formed an alliance in this fight, in order to even up old ' | Crane of Massachusetts and Senator Reed Smoot of Utah.
 In the 1916 campaign Crane and Shoot did everything possible to eli minate Penrose and Hitchcock from any active participation in the can- paign. They were snubbed at every opportunity, and were made to feel that their advice and suggestion were not needed.
 Many indignities were heaped upon ! Penrose by the Crane-Smoot crowd. The latter it is declared, even went so far as to intimate that Penrose was not the right kind of man with whom the Republicans should min gle.
 In the Wilson-Hughes campaign Hitchcock was sent to the far West, which kept him from the Republican headquarters in New York, while Penrose was seldom seen near Chair man Willcoxs sanctum.
 Members to Boss States
 Each member of the Republican