Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-31
HAYS SAYS ROLLER
WILL NOT BE USED

WILL NOT BE USED
CHICAGO, May 31.-Chicago today be-
came the center of republican national
politics.
With the arrival Of practically all Of
the national committee members in the
city. together with scores Of delegates
and other guiding powers Of the G. O. P.
the work preliminary 10 the opening OF
the national convention got down 20
brass tacks and was pushed with zip
and q bang.
One of the most important high
lights" at the opening Of preconvention
week was an announcement by VIII H.
Hays. chairman Of the national commit
tee. TO the effect that the famous G. o. P.
steam roller" would do no rolling in the
COLISEUM this year
7 wish emphaticaHy TO set at rest GER
tain reports that the national chairman
is interested in the candidacy Of any in
diNiduaI for the presidency" declared
Mr.. Hays.
TT is the business of the party or
ganization 10 elect the nominee, rather
than to elect the candidate. and every
candidate knows he will be given a fair
deal by the national committee.
#cu~ CARDS PLAYED
NCEDER THE TABLE.
Z have had conferences with all OF the
candidates and am in a position to say
that there can be no ground for rumors
in any camp that any cards will be
played under the table. "
Another important announcement made
BY Mr.. Hays was that sessions Of the
national committee during the hearings
Of contests for the temporary roll, which
opened today, probably would be open
10 newspaper men and TO spokesman for
each presidential candidate
This is a radical departure from the
policy which previously has guided such
hearings. The contests to be heard in
voIve fourteen states and 49, seats.
The question of admitting newspaper
men was placed before the committee as
the hearings began. with a statement by
Chairman Hays that the vote on it prob
ably would be IN the Affirmative.
FEWER NEGROES
IN THE CONVENTION.
A big majority OF the contests revolve
around seats allotted about the southern
states.
In connection with these it was stated
that there will be fewer negroes in this
convention than at any previous con
venlons Of the republican party, in line
ssh what were declared to be efforts Of
the G. o. P. leaders to break the BLACK
and tan" hold on the party machinery.
Lowden and Wood are the chief can
didates who will be affected by decisions
on the contested seats, with johnson and
Harding claiming a number Of the dis
puted delegates The formers main in
terest lies in the Minnesota contest Other
decisions of the committee will affect
the delegations in eleven states, where
more were chosen than was specified in
the convention call.
CONTESTED DELEGATES
NOT Powerful FACTOR.
While the vote Of the cOntesting dele
gates will be a powerful factor in the
choosing of I presidential nominee, II
viii not be so important as in number
II previous conventions, notably the Taft
Roosevelt fight in 1912.
Il is pointed out by close political
observers thai neither Wood nor Lowden.
the candidates most concerned in the
contest decisions. can gain enough dele
gates at the beginning Of the convention
to assure the nomination OF either, even
z the decision placed the whole block
Of contested seats at the disposition
Of one or the other
COMMITTEE PASSES
ON FIRST CONTEST.
The first contest heard by the commit
tee affected the Fourth district Of Ala
bana. and was speedily decided in favo-
of Delegate J. B. Atkinson Of Clanton
and alternate J. II. Atkins Of Hefin.
Representatives Of the contestors, William
H. Nixon of Selma and ]. A Martin, the
alternate, failed to appear at the hearing,
and their rivals we're placed without OBJ
lection on the temporary roll.
Just before this. an attempt was made
to obtain a rehearing Of the old contest
between Emile Kuntz. national commit
teeman of Louisiana. and F c. Labait,
former national committeeman who at
tackled the election of Kuntz. It was de-
cided to hold this dispute over until
n Louisiana was reached alphabetically.
ROxIEs ARE
BoTHERTNG LEADERS.
Many OF the national committeeman ar
rived with proxies. In addition to the
Senator Penrose proxy. brought by Ma
tionaI Committeeman King. which is re-
ported to be worrying the Wood camp
considerably. proxies were brought by
Joseph n. Healing for Senator Hemen-
way Of Indiana, James B. Reynolds for
Murray Crane of Massachusetts and by
a representative Of Senator Kellogg Of
Minnesota.
National Committeeman Herbert Par
sons of New York was not present at
the morning session, but it was an
nounced that he had arrived in Chi
cage
Among the .other arrivals today was
Gov. Goodrich Of Indiana, who announced
that his delegation would vote Off Wood.
according to instructions
Frank Hitchcock. Gen. Woods chief
political adviser, appeared at the meeting
early TO watch the southern state con-
tests He was observed holding a con-
AMle1ng, ousted last January as leader of
the Wood campaign, and this led TO ru-
mors that the Wood camp. possibly fear
ing hostilities on the part of King and
his Pennsylvania proxy, was opening
peace oyertures with the eastern com
rnitteeman, who has not been interested
in the success of the Wood campaign
since his displacement by Col. William
Cooper Proctor.
Despite the bitterness Of the cam
pnigns between rival candidates. pre-con-
- -