The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-06-17
The Lilly Whites" Lose.

At II 80 the special order. The coz
sideratioa of the South Carolina con-
tests, vas taken up, and a large dele
CATION representative Of white and black
Republicans of the State fled into the
room. The contest vas between
Irregular" Republicans and the social
ed "I.ily Whites"
Col. Lawson D Melton, of Colum.
bia. 4he recognized leader Of the Lilly
Whites" opened for himself ADD his
associate contestants, taking the posi-
,ion that the disfranchiecmeut or other
wise Of sc GOO South Carolina Repus-
licars depended upon the action of the
com mittee.
The State, he said, was enthusiastic
for protection, and while this contest
vas net one of Presidential preferences,
vet favorable decision for his side
would bring the State into line With
Ropublican Kentucky. Ex Congress.
!naa Thompson, Of Oaio, gcoera! couo-
sci for al contestants of Mckinley pre-
feseoces, submitted the facts IN the case
cf the opposite delegation, ~a;ch 10
c:udes, Robert Swalls, the ~e!-kuo@c
leader, aod Eugene Webster, soc years
at The bead of the dominant Republican
fscticn IL the State
In bis own behalf Robert Smalls
made bitter attack upon bis oppc--
pen,s. TIE Lily Whites, be insisted,
had no standing 10 tie State, :hey had
20 excuse for existence, and they we're
entitled to neither the recognition nor
the sespec. of the Republicans of the
raliop.
In the City Of Charleston, where Col.
Melton had said $500 white men will
be ready to join the Lily White party,
the facts were, said Smalls, that perhaps
that number of men, or more, were
willing to joiu-not so much the Re
publican party as any party that would
help them to down Tillman and his
dispensary Law and give them free rum
10 their city and their homes.
National Committeeman E. NJ. Bray.
ton, also ooe Of the contestants. spoke
in his dual capacity. He was repeat
edly interrupted by Senator Thurston,
who at one point asked wbe.her the
Lily Whites had not adopted the Club
or black and white club system.
Col. Brayton replied iu the afirma-
tive and Senator Thurstoo rejoined that
''neither the Republican party nor the
Republican Convention would ever
tolerate system of organization that
did not permit every man to take part
in all preliminary proceedings.
"What about the League of Repub.
lican Clubs Of which you have been
president 7" retorted Col. Bravton.
That's another matter, " replied the
Senator, and laugh went around the
room.
The rival delegations having with
drawn Mr.. Long, of Florida, promptly
moved the seating Of the Webster
Smalls delegation.
Col. Settle, proxy for Cowles. Of
North Carolina, proposed as substl-
tute the seating of the Brayton-Melton
ouartette. The roll was called amid
considerable excitement 1t resulted
in the rejection of the substitute 9 to
2l. This vas first blood for the Anti
Lilly Whites, but when the motion to
seat the Webster Smalls delegates was
about to be put Mr.. Fesseuden, of Con.
necticut, moved that the Delaware pre-
cedent be followed aud both sides be
excluded from the temporary roll Del
egate Catron, of New Mexico, moved
that each delegation be seated with a
half vote each. The proposition to seat
kotL Jo'orot;onc vae defeated-16 TO |