The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-30
A SCENE OF DISORDER
4 Company of Police Necessary to Preserve
Order at the Republican Convention.
Lu5TY NEGROES CRY FOR MCKINLEY,
Eight or Ten Negro Speakers Sur.
round Tho Chnirman's Desk All
Speaking at Once-Three of the
Four Delegates Elected AT Large
Are Kegroes-Agninst mckinley.

Atlanta, Ga. April 29-The State Re
publican convention to name four dele
gates from the State at large to ST. Louis
is in session here to-day. The attendance
Ia larger than at any previous convcu-
tion In Years. and for noise and badges
Il eXcells all others.
1t was called to meet at 10 o'clock, but
at that hour II became apparent that with
the vast throng of noisey negroes present
II would be impossible to organize The
corridors of the capitol We're packed and
j2mmed with lusty lung negroes, and
cries OF "McKinley" and counter cries
Of Reed" Reed" rang through the
halls. Badges huttered from every dus-
Ky breast, and Mckinley badges were
in the proportion OF ten to one
Seeing that 1t would be impossible TO
organize and control the convention
Boss Buck the Mckinley leader called
the State executive committee together
in the Senate chamber Meantime the
doors to the hall In which the convention
was TO be held We're locked and barred
The crowd surged and fought outside
sending rgspond!ng cheers for their fa-
vorites They butted against the strong
doors and showed against the keepers
but to no effect
at ii O'Clock Chairman Burk appeared.
y list of delegates had been made out
by the committee and only those to whom
.She'S were gwen were admitted To the
nan. Nearly an hour was spent in ad-
mitttng the delegates. Meantine Boss
Buck held levce IN front Of the door
and gave out tickets to his favorites
He said that no preliminary plan of or
ganization had been agreed upon, but it
was plain that the Mckinley crowd had
IL. They VII! name the delegates to the
81. Louis convention, and IL Reed man
Is named IL win lie concession from the
Mckineyites in the interest of harmony
The convention will be turbelent one,
howcvcr.as there are some troublesome
oppoents To the Ohio man present
Col. Buck telcGraphcd to Police Head
quarters for company of officers which
was sent The Reed crowl sert Il delega-
ton to the chief OF police TO protest
against Bucks plan of admittance by
ticket only.
Shortly after II Buck called the CON
Nention TO crdere and secretary Deuen
called the roll prepared by the State
committee.
Col. a. Il. Buck. chairman OF the State
committee ard Mckinley leader, was cleo
ted temporary chairman, upon motion of
W. ~ PledSer. leader of the anti-Mc-
kinley forces and permanent orsaniza-
tions was soon affected by electing Buck
permanent chairman. The TACT that
Pledger proposed Bucks name soon de-
veloped combination by which Plcdger's
law partner. II. l. Johnson was to he
one OF tha four delegates from the state
at large, the other three being Mckinley
men as follows: a. l.. Buck. j. H. Dcve-
rauN and II. y. RucEcr. ALI colored ex-
cept Buck. To affect this combination it
was nece Sssary to overthrow the plans
OF the c-kinley men to name Mai
j. +. Hansen. Of Macon. one of the dcleg-
ates from the state at large thus maxi
Ing solid delegation for Mckinley.
NrishtS name Was then palCcu in nomi-
nation for delegate at large Eight or
ten colorcd speakers surrounded the
chairmans desk. all speaking at once
and for Il half hour bedam existed Col
Buck then put the combina ton delegation
to the vote of the convention and 1t was
received with tremendous shout of
aye and vigorous protest OF no ="
Buck declared The convention adjourned
for dinner. In the meantime T.. X Love
one OF the colored delegates put WrIghts
name to the vote of the convention and
AMIDST confusion declared him unani-
mously elected Love took the chair
while part OF the convention filed out
Tho Wright forces remained. a contest
for the seat OF Wright before the national
convention is inevitable and as Buck and
Pledger being the leaders OF the opposing
factions, have agreed On n combina ton
Will have little showing. Both Buck and
Plcdger were vigorous in their efforts to
have she combination delegation cleo
ted I'm the interest of what they called
harmonious action of the party. The
convention is overwhelmingly for Me
Einley but had the combination delera-
ton elected in the interests OF what they
called harmonious action of the party
The convention is overwhelmingly for
Mckinley but had the combina tion not
been effected by which the opposition was
given one of the four places the anti-Mc-
kinley forces would have bolted and had
made all arrangements accordingly. THE
Mckinley men claim that they had 10
delegates of those elected by III districts
and this gives them 30 of (ieOrrfa's 2e
The facts seem to bear out this claim
Prhaps one man elected as Il Mckinley
delegate is doubtful quantity and to 3
would be safe estimate. The five can be
put down us for Reed. although elected
simply as anti Kinley men.