The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-14
NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
south Carolina and Texas Contests
Decided-TempOrary Officers.


Decided-Temporary Officers.
Associated Press Dispatch.
ST LOUIS, June 13-The national COM
mittee made somewhat more rapid progress
to-day than at former sittings in disposing
of the contests over disputed seats. The
day was given up largely to the considera-
ton of the vexed questions presented by
the Texas and South Carolina controvers-
ies involving the entire delegation from
South Carolina and the greater part of that
from Texas. The contests in both of
these States involved similar questions as
in both instances they grew out Of the ri
valry between the old and the new factions
of the party. There is in both States fac
ton known as the Lilly Whites" which rep
resents an element that is trying to build
up the Republican party among the white
people of their respective States. They had
in each of the States an Independent or
ganization, which sought recognition at the
expense of the old committees. In both in
stances the national committee refused to
recognize the new committees. The COM
mttee also decided upon Mr.. Fairbanks for
temporary chairman of the convention.
The members of the committee were not
very prompt in getting together to-day
after the long and somewhat trying session
til a quarter past TO- and there was scarce
| " quorum present Immediately after
| rapping the committee to order, Chairman
Carter warned parties to contests of the
| Importance of being present when their
cases were called, in view of the order
made yesterday, requiring cases to be pre-
sented in the order called, whether the par
ties at interest were present or absent. ex-
cept on unanimous consent. Mr.. Carter
said 1t would be. in order to expedite the
business. necessary to enforce the rule.
The Tennessee contests were promptly
taken up, the first contest presented being
that from the Sixth district of that State,
| which includes the city of Nashville. The
contestants were j. c.. Crawley and Daniel
Shofner. and the contestees J. B. Bosley
| and II. l.. w. Cheatham. All were McKin-
ley men. The contest turned on charges of
| Irregularities in the congressional conven-
ton. involving the conduct of the chair
man, Mr. Cheatham, one of the contestees
having occupied that position. 1t was as
serted. on the other hand that the conve1.-
ton was entirely regular, and that the bolt
had no other excuse than that a colored
| man was made chairman. On motion of
| Mr.. Manley, Bosley and Cheatham were
seated.
| From the Ninth district, which followed
David A. Num- and Henry E. Austin were
the delegates chosen by one faction and
*. r. Walker and Robert W. Neeley those
of the other. the latter two appearing as
contestants. The contest turned on the al
| legged arbitrariness of the chairman of tie
district convention in ruling for the unit
rule from counties. Notwithstanding there
had been no instructions from the counties
TO this effect. Mr.. Walker. one OF the con-
testants. who appeared for himself and Mr.
McNeeley, said that knives and budgeons
were freely displayed, and much confusion
ensued- After the split in the convention
the seceders met in the same hall. Mr.
Walker declared that his convention con-
| tanned a small majority OF the delegates
Num- and Austin were seated. They are
for Mckinley.
From the Tenth Tennessee district W. NJ.
Randolph and Zachary Taylor were seated.
They were contested by w. A. Fields and
William Porter.
The Seventh South Carolina contests
were then taken up. The entire delegation
including four delegates at large and four
teen district delegates, was contested 1t
grows out of the question of organization
There are two distinct organizations in
South Carolina, that which is known as
the regular. being headed by E. a. Web
ster, the chairman of the State committee
The other organization is known as the
Lily Whites" and is headed by. T. l..
Melton. member Of the national commit
tee- The delegates of the Webster faction
We're admitted at Minneapolis four years
| ago. The State committee did not call
convention in 1894 nominate a ticket
and therefore assume that they still exist
as the State committee, since State con-
vention was held in 1894. 1t was by the call
OF this old committee that the convention
was held which elected the delegation. all
Of whom are for Mckinley. The delegates
OF the Lilly White faction are, in most
cases, Mckinley men. The same question
| involved in the case OF delegates at large
was involved in all the district delegations
An arrangement was therefore entered on
TO group them and have the entire case
presented IN one hearing. giving half
contestees were as follows Delegates at
large. Robert small. coIored fAiilsoT); w.
D. crum, colored fAlltson): T. r. johnson
Mckinley. L. A. Webster (IcKin1ey):