El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-12
THE SPLIT
AT WACO
The West Almost Solid For
Ferguson, HawIey's
Friend
CHAIRMAN NED GREEN
Declared "Goose Neck"
Elected, Disregarding The
Claim That Ferguson
Had a Majority

''Yes,'' said J. A. Smith to HER
AID reporter Saturday, "the FL Paso
dele egation has just returned from
pleasant trip to Waco, where the re-
publican conventions of the state were
held. l say conventions, because there
were two meetings held under separate
chairmen and each went through the
formality Of naming delegates and
elternstes to the national convention
to be held at Philadelphia in June.
Both meetings named State Chairman
Green and Congressman Hawley for
delegates at large to Philadelphia, and
there seems to be no friction between
these two gentlemen; but the most
earnest friends of each were very
enthusiastic in their support Of the re-
spective candidates for temporary
chairmen-Green'S warm friends sup
porting Goose Neckn Bill Mcdonald,
of kaufman county, while the friends
OF Mr.. Hawley supported Henry c.
Ferguson, of Fort Bend county, both
colored men.
''In the original motion where the
temporary chairmanship was involved,
the Ell Paso delegation voted for Fer
guson on the grounds that he was
factor in the election OF Congressman
Hawley, both in 1896 and 1898, while
they considered that Mcdonald had
not sufficient claims on the party to
command their support. During the
calling of the roll upon this question, a
number of counties were passed and
when the secretary returned to the call
of these counties, there was so much
uproar that the business of the con-
veDtion could not be properly conduct
ed. The friends of each party claimed
the election, and the warm supporters
of Chairman Green urged him to an
nounce the election OF Mcdonald, as
suring him that he had beaten his op-
ponent at least a hundred votes. When
the result was announced
perfect psndemonium reigned.
The McDonaldites carried their
candidate to the front on their
shoulders and sat him down by
Chairman Green, who turned the gavel
over to him, and although many of
Ferguson's supporters were claiming
his election, the majority OF the same
acquiesced In Chairman Green'sruliug,
believing that he had secured his in
formation from the assistant secretar-
les Of the convention, who were the
legal custodians of the tally. These
assistant secretaries had been recon-
mended by the executive committee,
which also recommended Mcdonald
for temporary chairman by q good ma
Jority. One OF them, Harris OF Wash
iDgton county, was paying a good deal
of attention to some controversy be-
tween the delegates from his county
aud failed to keep up his tally proper
ly. The other one did not get his sheet
added up until long after Chairman
Green had announced the result and
Mcdonald had control of the conven-
tion. In fact, 1t is thought that after
Chairman Green announced the decis-
ion, the assistant secretary concluded
there was no hurry to give the result
of the tally and that he did not COM
plate footing his figures until after Nc
Donald had adjourned the convention
until O'Clock the next morning.
NIGHT OF CAUCUSES.
'During the evening and night eau
cuses were held, the McDonaldltes
making up their committee aad the
figuring upon how they
should get possession of the con-
vention under what they
believed to be their rights, as they
were fully satisfied that their capdi- |
date bad received clear ma jorlty of
the votes cast on the roll call When
the convention hall was opened the
next morning, the Fergusonites were
on hand In full force and proceeded at
once TO organize and take possession of
the meeting. They read before the
an affidavit from Assistant
Secretary Henson, who claimed sto
have kept the tally in strict accordance