The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-31
CONTESTS
ARE OPEN
TO PUBLIC
Closed Door Policy Ruled
Out in Settling Dia-
putes Of lS7 Case,

Chicago. May 31.-By . unant.
nous vote, the Republican nAtion6y
committees first action today Wna
to throw open the hearings on con-
tested delegations, thus preclu1tng
the old steam roller methods.
Chairman Hays made the recom-
mendation, ~ he previously A1-
nounced he would, and there Wao
no opposition in the committee. Il
was decided to take M contests IN
the alphabetical order Of states.
The committee was ready to 50
ahead hearing contests when It -
sembled, but some delegations AId
their attorneys were delayed by
late trains. and the committee man
went on with other business Wills
waiting.
Negroes Arrive Early.
Many Of the c0ntesting negro
delegations from the southern
states were ON hand early. even
before the doors were opened.
Chairman Hays was an early ar
rival. Frank H. Hitchcock also
was on hand early and had Q SER
les of conferences with committee
men and contestants. He had
nothing to say concerning q meet
ing of Wood managers called for
tonight at which 1T is understood
the differences in the Woods forces
are to be taken up and Mr.. Hitch
cocks future connection with the
generals candidacy decided. The
arrival of John T. King Of Connec-
ticut, bearing the proxy Of Senator
Penrose Of Pennsylvania, has ad-i
ded more speculation to the gem
eral discussion Of the Wood mama
gers plans.
May Delay Contests.
During the opening hour OF the
committee session II appeared that
the actual hearing on contests
would not begin until later In the
day.
The first contest to come before
the Republican national COMMITTEES.
that from the Fourth district OF
Alabama, was abandoned when the
committee called it.
Calendar First Up.
The executive session Of the
committee, which opened today's
business, with the compilation OF
the calendar was expected to take
all the morning and part OF the
afternoon.
The first contest involving onei
delegate from the Fourth Alabama
district. is not expected to be reach-
ed before the middle Of the after-t
noon.
Two uninstructed delegates are
contesting for the seat, with the
Wood and Lowden forces interest,"
ed to the extent that their CAM
paign managers testified before the
senate investigating committee that
each had spent $1,000 in the state.
As usual in past conventions. vir-t
tually all the contests originate bel
tween Lilly White" and BLACK and
Tan" groups in southern states. In
the alphabetic order in which they
will be heard. the other contestst
are:
Eoutherners First
Contests from three southern
states-Alabama, Arkansas and
Florida-probably will be heard to-sl
day, committeeman sxid.
When the committee met this
morning its first action was to pre-
pare q calendar and FIX limits on
the time to be devoted 10 oral argu-j
ments by attorneys for the cdn-I
testants.
Announcement BY Chairman NllIl
H. Hays yesterday that the con-
test sessions would be open, marke
. new departure In Republican
procedure and was hailed in tlte
camps Of the various candidates -
the passing Of steam roller" meth.
DDS
Besides the contestants them
selves. attorneys and friends Of the
various candidates and newspaper
men. representing the public. have
been invited to attend.