The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-28

what was the pleasure of the con-
vention. After a short interval, Mr..
Henderson arose and addressed the
Chair, there being at the time no
one else on the floor claiming rec
ognition. Mr.. Henderson was in
hearing distance of the Chair, and
was beyond doubt heard, for the
Chairman looked in his direction.
Mr.. Henderson again addressed the
Chair, still appealing for recognition,
but was given none. His purpose in
this was to present to the conven-
ton our recommendations
He stood there in this attitude for
several seconds, until Mr.. Eslick, of
Giles county, arose, addressed the
Chair and was at once recognized
by the Chair. Mr.. Eslick put in
nomination Mr.. N. B. Cehairs, of
Maury County, for temporary Chair
man of the convention.
Mr.. Stewart at once, and in great
hurry, without calling for other
nominations or waiting an instant
for any, and refusing to recognize
Mr.. Henderson, who was still APP
pealing for recognition for the pur-
pose Of placing Mr.. Berry In nOmi-
nation, called for the ayes on the
nomination of Mr.. Cheairs, and,
without calling for the noes, de-
clared him elected temporary Chair
man. This was done in a high
handed manner, over protest of
| ~ Of
who insisted on their right to pre-
sent other nominations and for a
fair vote on the names presented.
When the delegates instructed for
Col. Cox found that they could get
no recognition and were being de-
MED a voice in the temporary
organization of the convention, they
went, many of them, to the stage,
and appealed to Mr.. Cheairs in per-
son to decline such an unfair and
revolutionary election, and assur-
ing him if he would do so and let
Mr.. Stewart again call the cOnven-
ton to order, and permit the pre-
sentation of such names as the diff
ferent delegates might desire to pre-
sent for temporary Chairman, and
have fair vote in the regular way,
and he should be elected, they
would cheerfully submit. This he
refused to do, and while these dele
gates were there endeavOring in a
peaceable way to reason with him,
for no other purpose than to secure
harmonious action, number OF
policemen were brought in, who
forced these delegates from the
stage, threatening them with i'm
prisonment, although they were
violating no State law or town ordi-
! nance.
1t might be stated in this connec-
ton that one of the members of this
committee had, previous to the con-
vention, suggested to the Chief of
Police that he should have police
men present to preserve order in the
event they were needed. But it was
not contemplated that they should
interfere with the delegates, when
they were in peaceable way prose-
cutting their rights.
Shortly after this, some Of the dele
gates returned to the stage and again
demonstrated with Mr.. Cheiars, and
this time informed him that if he
persisted in refusing them vote on
the temporary organization, they
would be compelled, in order tC
maintain their self-respect, to with
draw from the hall. He stated that
he would confer with conservative
men and report back to the protest
ing delegates the result of his con.
ference. He was informed it was
not the desire of these delegates that
he should announce their purposes
to the convention, but that they
would do this themselves, if he
should decide to hold the chair, af.
ter comforting with his friends. He
had his conference with his friends
came back to the stage, and without
notifying the protesting delegates of
the result of his conference, he adj
dressed the convention, declaring
his purpose to hold the chair, anC
assumed, without authority, to state
for these delegates that they had an
nounced their purpose to bolt, al
though these delegates had used nc
such language in the declaration OF
their purposes to him. Then it was
that these delegates, seeing every
hope of recognition and fair treat
ment gone, called upon the dele
gates favorable to Cox to meet a
once at the Bethel House. WheI
they met they decided to go to tn,
court house and hold a convention il
a regular and orderly way.
This was approved by us, and wheI
the delegates met at the court house
we as members of the Executiv,