Evening star., 1948-06-16
Republicans Face
Six Delegate Contests;
Three Called Serious
By the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, June 16.-"The
myth that Republican presidential
nominations are decided in a smoke
filed room will be buried here next
week." Chairman Walter S. Hallanan
told members of the Republican
Arrangements Committee today.
I'VE al know that smear has been
invented. nourished and spread by
willful propagandists with New Deal
axes to grind" he told the COM
mittee as it met to complete plans
for the largest convention in the
party's history.
1T never did have any foundation
in fact" he added.
Meanwhile, the convention Con-
test Committee faced six delegate
disputes. two of them involving
Negro recognition. The Platform
Committee prepared to start dis
cussions tomorrow. And out at Con-
vention Hall, where 10000 delegates,
alternates and favored spectators
will gather Monday, the finishing
touches were put on the physical
aspects of theaconclave.
Three of Contests Serious
Ezra R. Whitla of Coeur D'Alene,
Idaho, chairman of the Contest
Committee, said at least three of
the delegate disputes - Georgia,
South Carolina and Alaska-are
Serious contests"
Mr.. Hallanan said there will be
more delegates and alternates
(2189), more Republican Governors,
Senators and Representatives than
we have had for 20 years" and
twice as many representatives OF
press, radio and television as have
ever attended national political
convention.
"At this convention we will have
S45 representatives of the daily
press: 355 representatives of the
weekly and periodical press; GAS
commentators and techniclans rep
resenting the radio industry; 319
representatives of television, and 125
newsreel men, he said.
Mr.. Whitla said in addition to the
Georgia, South Carolina and Alaska
delegate disputes, there are contro-
versies on representation from Mary
land. Mississippi and the District OF
Columbia.
After his 40-member committee
considers the various disputes today,
he'll send its recommendations to
entire National Committee tomorrow
morning. The National Committee
sits as a jury in the contests.
Two Sets From Alaska.
The Alaskan dispute involves two
sets of delegates. Mr.. Whitla said.
One was named by the Republican
Central Committee of Alaska and
the other by the Republican clubs.
Each named three delegates and as
many alternates at separate con-
ventions.
In South Carolina two groups OF
SIX Q6leRdleo dIlu o1tSAAiae>S AK y
been named-oneHb by a faction head
ed by j. Bates Gerald of Charleston,
and the other by group headed by
B. L. Hendrix of Estill and I. S.
Leevy of Columbia. Mr.. Gerald won
for his group in both the
1910 and 1914 conventions. Both
delegations include Negroes.
The Georgia dispute is between
a 16-vote delegates headed by Roy
G. Foster of Wadley and another
group in charge of w. R. Tucker OF
Jacksonville. Mr.. Wadley's faction
is said to be favorable to the nomi-
nation of Senator Taft while the
Tucker group leans toward Gov.
Dewey.
Mr.. Whitla said the Mississippi
dispute involves two factions, one
headed by Perry Howard, colored
national committeeman from
Mississippi.
Two sets of delegates have been
named in the District of Columbia
and in Maryland 20 delegates IN
stead of 16 were selected, Mr.. Whltia
ID