A NAKED FIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3552, 18 June 1912, Page 5

A NAKED FIGHT.

ACAINST POLITICAL THIEVES. MR. ROOSEVELT MAKES A BITTER SPEECH. REJECTION OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE'S FINDINGS DEMANDED. A CLAIM FOR PRESIDENT TAFT. “ELECTED ON THE FIRST BALLOT.” [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT! (Received June 17, 9.40 p.m.) CHICAGO, June 17. . Mr Roosevelt’s arrival was excellently timed—when popular indignation at t-lie Committee’s modus operand! was at its height. The Committee lias allotted "President Taft 234 of the contested seats and Mr Roosevelt 20. Mr Roosevelt, addressing the crowds, said it was a naked fight against theft, hut the thieves were not going to win as the people would refuse to countenance the theft of their votes fey professional politicians representing what was most corrupt in the country’s political life. He demanded that the Credentials Committee should reject the findings of the National Committee, and, failing this, he will appeal to the convention. President Taft’s managers claim bo s votes in the Convention, which would elect President Taft on the first ballot.

Mr Roosevelt’s supporters concede only 535, which is insufficient. They state that Lafollette cannot be nominated, and his votes will fee delegated to Mr Roosevelt.

If Mr Roosevelt fails to dominate the Convention his followers will found a new party. Every doubtful delegate is being feted by both parties, this particularly applying to the. negroes. Prominent negroes have been brought to Chicago in order to induce the negro delegates to support Mr Roosevelt.

[Writing to a friend in Wellington. Mr. W. H. Russell, of the Hansard staff, now travelling in America, gives some interesting impressions of the Presidential election. He says:—“Public interest at present centres in the two Republicans, who a little while ago were friends and allies. Now they are attacking one another verv bitterly, the speeches being mainly devoted to personalities. However, this quarrel may result in neither the President nor the ex-President securing election at the polls next October._ assuming one secures the Republican nomination at the Chicago Convention in a fe'w weeks’ time. Some writers hold here that the Democrats may have their chance this time with Mr. Bryan, who may at the finish he nominated for that party in place of Champ Clark, the latter standing down in Bryan’s favor. Bryan’s hat is not yet in the ring, but it nmv get there, as lie is the logical choice of the Democratic party, representing as it docs a more advanced police than that usually propounded by the Republicans.]