El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-04
Republican Contention
History of 81 Years

D
THE 18th annual Republican con-
1 vention was the most turbulent,
the most spectacular, and the
most tragic OF any on the list Early
{ ia the year lines were tightly drawn
from coast 10 coast between adherents
Of president Taft, seeking a renomi-
nation. and adherents OF Theodore
I Roosevelt. seeking 70 prevent this
ragged violently in almost every
state. As a result, out OF 1913 seats
! in the convention. 254 were under
contest when the time came 10 make
the temporary convention roll
The national committee assembled
in Chicago June g. 1912, and heard
these contests until June IS. The Bit
/ terness displayed in these hearings
] accentuated by the presence OF Roose-
welt himself in hicago-clearly pro-
phesied the ultimate breach which
occurred a week later. And when
the national convention assigned 2S5
I OF the 254 contested seats 20 Taft
I delegates. and only 10 to Roosevelt,
/ the probability OF breach became a
certainty
The convention itself gathered IN
the Chicago Coliseum on Tuesday,
June IS, 1912-the s7th anniversary
Of the battle OF Waterloo The
I initial skirmish between the forces
I Of the two chief political gladiators
] came at once. The national commit
I tee offered EIihu Root. OF New York.
as temporary chairman. The Roose-
welt forces nominated governor
Francis E. McGovern. OF Wisconsin
After a spectacular five hour battle,
Root won by a vote OF SIS 10 502
and five days later was made perma-
nent chairman OF the convention
The next day. an attempt by the
" q D.
temporary roll the names OF dele
[ gates rejected by the national COM
mittee, was beaten by a vote OF 564
/ TO 80. By this time, the impossibility
/ OF pacific union between the two
! contending forces was so obvious
| that there was much talk Of effort
/ to agree upon a dark horse" and
/ the names Of governor Hughes. Of
| New York, and governor Hadley. Of
[ Missouri, were freely discussed But
the convention was destined TO 90 to
ITS bitter conclusion talong the lines
I originally drawn.
Two days were now consumed by
I the committee on credentials listen
I ing 20 arguments all over again in
/ connection with the 254 contested
seats-with the same net result pre-
viously recorded But this time the
talk Of Roosevelt bolt was open
and generally threatened In the
early morning hours OF June 20
Roosevelt himself told his DELEGATES
not to submit TO a majority having
no title in law or morals" The Taft
forces and the national committee
however insisted from first TO last
that they were strictly within their
rights and equities.
All OF the preliminary sEirmish-
ing was finally done on Saturday
morning. June p, 1912. One OF
Roosevelt's leaders read a statement
Il
himself. stating; Il hope the men
elected as Roosevelt delegates viii
decline 10 vote on any matter before
this convention"
Pursuant to this mandate, further
war within the convention itself sub
sided, and the conventions work was
quickly finished Mr.. Taft was re-
nominated on a single ballot. He had
DOL Votes-Zl more than necessary to
nominate him. Roosevelt had l07
votes; senator Cummins OF Iowa. II
votes; senator LaFoIlette Of VISION
New York, 2 votes.
There were 344 delegates who fol-
. lowed the Roosevelt instructions and
did not vote Immediately therea fter.
wee president Sherman was renonf-
mated on a single ballot. and the con-
Vention quickly adjourned
Ihat same night. the Progressive
party was born in the same city.
among the men prominent in 1920
convention calculations who figured
IN the 1912 affair, are senator Wat
son OF Indiana who was convention
1loor manager for Taft; senator
Harding Of Ohio. who made Taft's
nominating speech; governor Henry
:. Allen o. Kansas. who presented
I Roosevelts final statement 10 the
convention advising his deleEates
not 70 vote, and senator Johnson OF
california who was the head Of the
California delegation and active Tor
roosevelt from first to last, and who
prominently participated in the birth
I OF the new party.
Before the electoral college could
meet, vice president Sherman died
ana the name OF DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler, president OF Columbia uni
/ verslty OF New York. was substituted
/ oy the national committee. DR.. But
Ter also figures in 1920 prospects as
a possible recipient OF New York's
preliminary convention votes
! Continued tomorrow. with the
I story Of the 18th convention.-Copy
| Service.