The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-30
GEORGIA REPUBLICANS SPLIT.
Two Noisy and Disorderly Conventions
Held in the Same Hall.

Two Noisy and DisorderIy Conventions
Held in the Same Hall.
Atlanta Ca. April 20.-The Republi-
can State convention, summoned to as
semble in the House of Representative
at the State Capitol at 10 o'clock this
morning, was not called to order until
II o'clock.
The delay was caused by row over
admission to the hall A. e. Buck, chair
man of the State committee, took a 20
sition at the door, and admitted only
those having tickets. A party OF Reed
delegates, who were unprOYided with
tickets, gathered at the door and forced
their way in with shouts of triumph,
Then followed a scene of stormy dis
cuss0n, which was only calmed by the
appearance of a squad of policemen
At II O'clock Chairman Buck called
the convention to order. The secretary
read the list of delegates asagreed upon
0y the State Executive committee. THIS
done, surprise was sprung by w. a.
Pledger, leader of the Reed forces, ris-
ing and nominating A. Z. Buck, the
chief Mckinley champion, as tempo
rary chairman. Pledger explained that
he did this as preliminary to a peace.
full convention. He and Col Buck, he
explained, had gotten together and con-
cluded that There was something high
er than factional triumph. Col. Buck
| was thereupon chosen chairman by ac
| clamation.
-Four delegates-at-large were placed
| in nomination, as follows: 4. T.. Buck,
| III. L. Johnson, III. A. RuclIer and j. ~.
Deyeaux. The negroes wanted II. r..
Wright as one of the delegates-at-large
| and they howled and waved their arms
and rayed wildly as they pushed to-
ward the Speakers stand
1 As soon as the uproar began Col
| Buck yielded the gavel to Mr.. Walter
johnson and retired The negroes
swarmed about Mr.. johnson and shout
| ed hoarsely in his ear as they shook
their fists i'm his face. Mr.. r. Wright
yelled for the roll to be called. The
| police were recalled and cleared the
| speakers stand.
| The tumult continued, and as soon
| as the bluecolts q sappeared the mob
/ sarged again about the chair, and
Wright again Mounted the stand The
chairman caught him by the leg and
| tried to put aim down. He was about to
| fall, and threw his hand back to steady
| himself. II caught i'm the chairman's s
| collar Ten or more black hands shot
| out f ON n 'front.' of the stand and
| pulled Wright to his feet, and ne re-
| sumed his speech, while the chairman
tried to free himself. The stand waspar
/ tally cleared again, and the chair re-
| ce.s 5.i motion to elect the four dele
/ gates named, put the motion and de-
clared it carried. He then left the
stand.
Suddenly a portly man forced an
/ opening between the negroes, snatched
up the gavel, and, in the midst Of the
| din, nominated Rev. Il. Love for chair
/ man of new convention Love was
declared elected, and howled out a
| speech heard only by those within six
feet of him.
1t was decided to call the roll for the
| purpose of electing Wright in place
| of johnson. A list of counties was
obtained and man started with it to
the stand when he was attacked and
after spirited fight the roll was des-
| troyed. No other list of the counties
could be found so committe was ap-
pointed, one from each Congressional
| district, to nominate four delegates
from the State at large.
Another committee was appointed
to report platform and then the dele
gates who had howled themselves tired
| lapsed into quietude to wait for the
| report of the committee.
The committee on selecting dele
| gates followed the lead of the con-
vention and split. On returning, this
committee presented two sets Of dele
gates, one made up Of A. r. Buck, r. r..
Wright, j. j. Prather and j. Deveaux.
The other was made up of Josiah Cor
don and J. e. Harrington.
The bolting convention finally adj
| journed at AIS p. m, having endorsed
| Buck and Johnson, two of the dele
gates named by the regular convention
and sent r. II. Wright and J. E. Her.
rington as contesting delegates.