The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-12-26
"a DELEGATES
OBJECT OF
STRUGGLE
Control at Cleveland
At Stake; big 8"
Center Of Fight
By WILLIAM HUTCHINSON
international News Service

A free-for-all Republican con-
test for control OF New York's
"a votes in the Cleveland conven-
ton was assured today after Rep.
Hamilton Fish, jr., announced he
would campaign for q Borahin-
structed delegation from the
Empire State.
The contest will attract the at
tention Of every political leader,
as the nomination Of Senator
William E. Eorah, Idaho's consti-
nationalist, would be certain If he
won New York's delegation. Con-
sequently, even the Democrats
will be watching the battle.
Thus far, friends of other Re
publican possibilities have been
working in New York under
cover" With Representative Fish
out in the open, fishing for a
Rorah instruction, friends Of other
candidates will have to enter the
contest or face the possibility OF
conceding the delegation to the
Idahoan.
NOtables Seek Places
One Of the most interesting
features Of the pending contest
will be the struggle Of prominent
Republicans for places among the
States big Eight" delegates-at.
large. Four years ago, there were
II of these positions of honor, but
the State lost three Of them by
going Democratic in 1882.
Seeking these eight posts will
be men like Representative Fish.
Charles D. Hilles, the national
committeeman; Ogden L. Mills,
former President HooverS New
York leader; Col. William j. Don
ovan, reported to be Col. Frank
Knox'S Eastern leader; Represent
alive Bertram Smell, Republican
leader of the House; Melvin Eaton,
Republican State chairman; w.
KingSland Macy, former State
chairman: William Zeigler, jr.,
former party treasurer; James 8.
Parker and William H. Hill. long
Republican powers in New York.
Many Of these will be left at
home, since the women leaders
will demand representation on the
big eight" The women had
three places at the 1882 ,conven-
ton and will ask the same number
next year.
The struggle for this honor
was reflected at the Republican
National Committees m ting
here recently, when Mr.. HilleS
led a futile fight to have New
York retain its old quota Of
II delegates-at-large. He was
beaten by the Young Guard. led
by Mr.. Fish, and John Hamilton.
the committees new general
counsel. Some wise observers
said then that Mr.. Hilles' defeat
might result in his losing q place
on the "big eight"
The contest, however, will be
directed primarily to capturing
the States whole "a votes. Mr..
Fish said here he had called q
conference of 30 prominent New
York Republicans" to meet shortly
to draft campaign plans for a
Borah delegation. In this, it was
said, he would be joined by
former State Chairman Macy.
LandOn, Knox Strategy
For the present, observers here
believed, friends Of ALI Landon,
of Kansas, and of Col. Frank
Knox, of Illinois. would join in
fighting merely for an unin-
structed delegation. This would
be their wise course in order to
avoid q direct clash with Senator
Borah and possible loss Of his sup
port at Cleveland If the Idaho
Senator is not nominated.
Aside from that, the New York
contest will be q battle to drive
Mr.. Hilles out Of power. This
would be in keeping with Senator
Borah's frequently expressed
views. Time and again, in CONVEX.
sation, he has declared Mr.. Hilles
to be the symbol of all he Is fight
ing against in the Republican
party.