The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-15


His Faction Scored---Two White and
Two Colored Delegates.
COLUMBIA, s. c.. April S-There
was very little of the Lily White"
about the Webster Republican conven-
tion which assembled in the hall of
the House of Representatives yester'
day. 1t mostly was black, out mere
and there among delegates was a
string of white or yellow or tan col
or that lent a varigated hue to the
.ss4mblaye and, thus. prevented the
I've from being wearied with looking
on one solid color. The convention
was long time i'll gathering. 1t was
called to meet at II O'Clock, but at
that time there was only one delegate,
and he was white, in the hall and ne
satalone in his glory with long SILK
hat on his head. He was reading tne
Mckinley" edition of the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette, copies OF when
had been distributed on every cha1r.
This edition contained full page cut
of the leading Republican candidate.
besides about sixteen pages OF glnrin-
cation OF him. The picture of Mckln
lev was most prominently displayed
under the speakers desk.
When the hour of meeting arrived,
the solitary delegate with the SILK nat
was holding the fort alone, although
down in fir MT of the State House the
faithful were caucussing and hobnoo-
bing right along. Mr.. Webster, the
chairman, who pulls the strings, how
ever. had the leaders in consultation
with him, mapping outthe proceedings
of the convention, which, after meet
ing his approval, were subsequently
carried out to the letter. IL was
twenty minutes to two o'clock before
Chairman Webster finally secured his
crowd together. They were mostly
black. as has been said, and most OF
them were old stagers.
Among the white men were: Iom
Johnston, of Sumter, Ostendortf and
Smith of Charleston Lathrop, OF Or
angeburg; A G. Merrick, of Oconee; !;
Spnatley, of Greenviile; J. M. Robin.
SOM of Laurens; Robert Norman, Of
Newherry; Pointer, of Spartanbarg
J.C. Clark. of Lancaster; +. NJ. But
Ter. of Anderson and half dozen or
so of Talberts of Abbeville. Among
. the we'll known colored men were
Smalls, Miller, Crum, Nix, Wilder,
Dickerson, Fordham and others
Mr.. Webster at twenty minutes to
2o'clock called the convention to Or
der. Rev. j. H. johnson, of Colum
bia. acted as secretary. MIR. Webster
called upon Rev. W. D Chappelle
to open the exercises with prayer.
The prayer was mostly statement to
the Supreme Being that the as
semblape was one of statesm
and hoping that the members
would return home and receive
the plaudits of their constituents. At
the conclusion of the prayer, Mr..
Webster announced that Thos. K.
Miller had been selected IS temporary
chairman and Rev. j. II. johnson
secretary. This was rather cut and
dried, but it went, and E. II. Deas OF
Darlington started to make some sort
of motion when a delegate arose and
said: Il motion that a committee OF
three escort Mr.. Miller to the chair. "
Adelegate started to nominate three
and was quickly followed by other
delegates with three other names, bs.t be.t
finally the number was reduced to
three and the chair appointed Janua-
ry Rivers, Major Fordham and DIR.
Wilson. all black or colored. who es-
corted Miller to the chair. The chair
man made quite a lengthy speech III
which he upheld the organization
which had Just elected him chairman
and. also, gave Mr.. Brayto and Mr..
Melton some heavy raps. These men
were spectators in the gallery at the
time and, indeed, during the whole OF
the meeting. Miller said that he stood
where he did as the representative OF
an organization that had come down
from Randolph, Mackey, Webster
aid Miller. 1t is true, he said, that
since 1876 we have been unable
to achieve victories at the ballot box !:
is true that only in congressional dis
tricts have we had any candidates, yet
we are the representatives Of the party
exemplified by Randolph, who fell at
lie hands VI au assassin, and for
which Attucks died. There are traitors
ia the party" he continued, and the
sentiment was reechoed throughout
the hall by cries Of: "Dat'sso;"' yes, "
etc. He went on to say that he was
not here for personal ambition, but to
preserve the party of Lincoln and JEFF
furcon T nud cheerinp)
The chairman said there was no
half way ground. There were urai:
tors led by E. M. Brayton, because
one half of them don't know how to
scheme and steal like he does. CHEERS. }
Brayton would be ready to drive out
every black man from the party to
accomplish his purpose. Speaking of
social equality, he said that he would
rather be damned than be in con-
nection with white men, who thought
that political affiliations would give
them social position. There are white
men in South Carolina who have be-
come Lily Whites" to escape the
odlum of being Republicans. For
these people have no fellowship, the
chairman declared, and numerous evil
dence of approval were heard among
the delegates, be such exclamations as,
That's so;" Talk more Miller.
Continuing, the chairman said that
he did not believe in social equality.
Although he had been in Democratic
and Republican leaders councils, still
he had never confounded his political
with his social status. He went On to
say that Clayton, who had been in
Fairfield organizing Republican clubs,