Taftmen were worried about Texas. Eisenhower supporters had carried the precinct and county conventions overwhelmingly for Ike, only to be unseated by the Taft-controlled organization at the state convention in Mineral Wells (TIME, June 9). The only Taft argument was the charge, based on assumptions, that the Eisenhower voters were Democrats. A wave of disgust at Taft's Texas "steal" had swept across the country. Something had to be done.
Some New "Contests." As the Texas hearing was scheduled to begin, National Committee Chairman Gabrielson read a telegram from Herbert Hoover, who said he had tried to settle the contested delegate fight. In his efforts, said Hoover, he had suggested "to Mr. Taft's supporters that protests should not be raised in New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington," and they had agreed. Now, he added, he hoped that the committee would arrive at "an amicable and equitable settlement" of the Texas dispute. Hoover seemed to be saying that the Taftmen had been generous; now the Ikemen should reciprocate. But the fact was that there were no real contests in New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington which could be balanced against the contests in Texas and other Southern states.
Gabrielson picked up a letter from Bob Taft. Now that he had fully analyzed the Texas situation, said Taft, he proposed a compromise: the delegation should be split 22 for Taft, 16 for Ike. The Eisenhower delegation from Texas stood 33 for Ike, five for Taft; the Taft delegation was divided 30 for Taft, four for Ike, four leaning to MacArthur. Said Taft: "While I will suffer a delegate loss in making this proposal, I am doing so because I think it is so generous that its equity cannot be questioned."
Actually, Taft was trading part of his Texas claim for the Georgia grab, and stood to gain votes in the process.
No Deal. After reading Taft's letter, Gabrielson recessed the hearing and urged the Taft Texans, headed by National Committeeman Henry Zweifel, and the Texans for Ike, headed by Houston Oilman Jack Porter, to get together. But the Eisenhower men refused to deal.
From Porter, Taft's analysis of the Texas situation later brought a hard-hitting statement: "In Senator Taft's letter to the national committee, in which he was permitted ... to appear as an advocate and judge ... he showed cynical disregard of morality ... In the 7th, 13th and 16th Congressional Districts, there were no contests. When the Eisenhower delegates from those districts walked out of the state convention and joined the Eisenhower convention, there were no delegates remaining to represent those districts. And yet Senator Taft claims in his letter that he won those districts."
Back in the packed hearing room, there was soon evidence to show why the Taft forces were fearful about Texas. The Ike-men brought on a parade of witnesses to tell what happened at the precinct, county and state conventions.