Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-04
HI. o. L.
The Radical Caucuses In Atlanta
Indulge In = Hot Time-A Row, n
Riot and q Rumpus-The COIored
Rank and File Rebel Against Ghe
White Onace-HOlders.

White Oface-HOlders.
The Georgia Radicals have had in Atlantis
what the Hon. Bsrdwel Slote would truly
call a b. o. ia high old time. Already an
white wing under Longstreet, H. Potash
Fsrrow ct a., and the colored wing under
Piedger and his followers, have been given
our readers by telegraph. Full details OF
the disgraceful rumpus, however. may be
gathered from the following "extra" OF
The National, a colored paper published in
Atlanta:
"It becomes our duty to chronicle one of
the most disgraceful riots ever known in
| this city. On Tuesday night Qast night
there was In the United States court room
caucus of about one hundred delegates to
the Republican State Convention, to assem-
bic In this city to-day, assembled for the
purpose OF considering matters to come be-
fore the convention. It was composed of
about equal portions of whites and blacks,
there being at least one hundred delegates
present.
"JudRe j. r. Wikle, Of Barlow county,
was Chairman OF the meeting. General
James Longstreet, Henry P. Farrow. and
about one hundred OF those opposed to the
reelection of Mr.. PIedger as Chairman OF
the Republican STATE Central Committee,
composed the meeting. Mr.. Pledger being
the Collector of Customs at this port, and
ex otficio custodian of the building, had IN
the afternoon ordered the janitor of the
building not to permit the caucus to meet in
the court room, and at the same time he and
his friends called q caucus in another part
OF the city, and when the hour arrived for
fbo mn kHrarr 0sQn nA1.1 Ill Il.
ness, and the janitor announced to all par
ties that it was Mr.. Pledger's orders not to
open the doors, and they couldn't get In.
General Longstreet and Colonel Farrow
arrived and found nearly one hundred men
in darkness. General Longstreet being
United States Marshal, has control of the
court room, anG ordered the room opened,
and 1t was opened. The meeting had organ
iZed and was sitting with closed doors. None
were admitted except those who favored a
reorganization of the State Central Commit
tee with a new Chairman. In other words,
there is one wing of the Republican party
known as the anti Pledger party, and one
favorable to Pledger's reelection as Chair
man, and this was caucus of those opposed |
to Pledger's reelection as Chairman.
For this reason Mr.. Pledger sought to |
lock them out, Notwithstanding he had |
himself presided over q caucus yesterday |
afternoon composed of all the delegates |
who had arrived in the city. His effort to |
prevent the caucus was a failure, and he /
then attemp' ed to break it up. The caucus |
was proceeding quietly when all at once |
fifty or seventy-fve persons. all colored, |
rushed into the building, led by Mr.. Pledger |
and j. Fl. Brown, and seized the door
keeper, Mr.. Chap. Norris, and violently |
threw him aside and forced open the door /
aud rushed into the court room,
yelling and cursing in q fearful
manner, threatening violence to all who /
should attempt to hold a caucus without
them. Mr.. Ple1ger and Mr.. Brown were
both drunk, IS were many Of their followers.
They Immediately took violent control of
the court room, and Mr.. Pledger announced
that he was custodian of the building. and
ordered the Chairman, Judge Wikle. to
'vamoose But the Judge, not being
accustomed to such proceedings, was en-
barrassed, and failed to 'vamoose.' Gen
aral Longstreet promptly sent one of his
Deputy Marshsls for the police, and in five
minutes the police appeared and arrest ed
Pledger and Brown and quelled the riot.
They had completely possessed the court
room Tor brief period, and, being drunk.
came very near dressing OUT the old
General and his Lieutenant. But Long
street and FaFrOw were protected until
the arrival OF the police, by friends who got
between them and the rioters. It looked at
one time as though Brown would whip Far
row anyhow, II he could. The police soon
restored quiet and carried PIedger and
Brown to the station house for drunken and
disorderly conduct. where additional charges
will be lodged against them for riot The
meeting was then restored to order and Col.
FarroW explained that It was a caucus of
Republicans who desired to reorgauiZe the
party on working basis, and were. there
fore, opposed to Mr.. Pledeer's re election
IS Chairman OF the State Central Com
mlttee. and that for this reason Mr..
tledger mad nrst attempted to
having failed In that, had led a mob To
break up the meeting, and as nothing more
could be done with the room full of unin.
vited persons, he moved to adjourn. and
the caucus adjourned. It was the most
disgraceful riot that ever occurred in this
city. 1t now remains to be seen what &C
ton will be taken by the State Executive
Committee, now in session, relative to the
drunken conduct of the Chair
man OF the State Central Committee, who
drst attempted to lock the doors of the
court room against those who do not wish
him for Chairman any longer, and fail
Ing in that attempt, to break mn
. Republican caucus by riotous storm
ing of the building. It now he
comes a question whether he shouId
be expelled from the committee which IA |
now In session. The general impression last
night was that he should Immediately re-
Sign or be deposed. 1t Is proper to say that
every white delegate who had arrived in the |
city, with the exception of about four or
i've ana ABOUT half the colored delegates
who had arrived. were In the caucus which
Mr.. Pledger attempted to break up. 1t is
lot question between the whites and
)lackss Tor there were as many or more COL
)red men In the caucus as there were white
men. The issue is now fairly presented to |
whites and blacks whether they have enough
'elf-respect to refuse to counteuance such
conduct as Mr.. Pledger perpetrated last
hight"
As sequel to the above the white office
holding wing OF the party issued and caused
10 be distributed the following circular:
REPUBLICAN, STATE CONVENTION.
At meeting Of the Republican State
Executive Committee, at the United States |
court room, at q. m. this daY, August ID.
-S02, the following resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, The Chairman of the state
central Committee led a mob last night to
Freak up Republican caucus; therefore |
De It
ResOlred. That he is an improner nerson
o organize the convention to-day. and that
committee OF three be appointed by the
jnalrman of this committee to announce
Vhere the convention shall meet at 10 NJ.
o.day, and to arrange for its peaceable and
'rderly organization.
In pursuance OF the above resolution the
chairman Of the Committee, Mr.. John n,
)eveaux, appointed the following com
nittee: Henry P. Farrow. John Few and
Iohn l.. Conlev.
By authority Of the duly constituted State
executive Committee, the Republican State
Convention, duly called, will be convened
It the United States Court Room this day.
lt IL m and all duly appointed delegates
will take due notice thereof. and oovern
themselves accordingly.
HENRY p FARRow.
JOHN Few,
JOHN L. CoNLRY,