PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXVIII, 21 June 1912, Page 5

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

MR ROOSEVELT'S CHANCES

THE CHICAGO CONVENTION

SCENE OF GREAT DISORDER

4Y CABLE—PRESS . ASSOCIATION -COrYJiIGH'Ji

CHICAGO, June 20

There is a general belief that the defeat of Mr Roosevelt is certain. The Taft forces are gaining power and Roosevelt is losing. There is a probability that Mr Roosevelt will refuse to accept the Convention's verdict and nominate himself.. A strenuous effort to prevent, this is certain, as it would cause a breach in the Republican ranks, and enormously strengthen the Democratic candidate's chances.

There is a more pacific spirit at the Convention, though Mr Roosevelt's speech has strengthened the belief that he will "call" the new convention if defeated. He informed his supporters that full opportunity must be given to the elected deputies to purge the roll. If they did not avail themselves thereof then the Convention's action was binding on no honest man.

The Convention debated whether 72 alleged, fraudulently elected deputies should vote.

On a motion excluding them Mr Elihu Root ruled that the contested delegates were unable to vote on a question of their own right to a seat, but had a right to vote in other cases. Otherwise a minority would be able to control the Convention.

Finally Governor Denneen, a Rooseveltite, proposed a compromise whereby the disputed delegates were referred to the Credentials Committee, on condition that the contested delegates were not allowed to vote unon the commit-

tee's report. This was rejected by 564 to 510.

The later proceedings were so disorderly that the reporters had a diffi-

culty in following them. They included a sensational demonstration in honor of Governor Hadlev.

Mr Roosevelt's delegation paraded the hall, carrying standards, cheering and yelling "We want Teddy." Mr Root was powerless for fifty-five minutes before the sergeants-at-arms restored order.

The disturbances were punctuated by cries of "Hadley should be the compromise President."

Other suggestions were that Justice Hughes shoiild be President and Hadley vice-nresident .

Later the Credentials Committee elected Mr Devine, a Taftite, one of the contested delegates, against a Rooseveltite by thirty votes to eighteen.

The Rooseveltites, failing to obtain satisfaction of their demand for a full hearing, thereupon bolted.