The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-07
Was Elected Temporary Chairman After a
Hard and Bitter Contest.
THE ENTIRE SESSION WAS A STORMY ONE
but He Was BADLY beaten by
Green's Choice.


aid for temporary chairman The min
GRITTY reported substitute naming Henry
g. Ferguson of tIouston; Mcdonald won:
the vote stood Mcdonald 42i. Ferguson
342 The convention was stormy one
from the first rap of Chairman Green's
gayel until the temporary chairman de-
clared carried motion to adjourn until
tomorrow morning at 0 o'clock.
1t was 1920 when +. II. X. Green
chairman OF the State executive commit-
tee, called the convention 10 order. He
introduced Frank Page, rector of st.
Paul'S Episcopal church. who invoked
Divine blessings.
l.. W. Campbell followed the prayer
with a welcome address on behalf OF the
Business Mems club and Mayor Me-
Culloch welcomed the convention on be-
half of the city D. c. Kolp of Wiehita,
who has been selected by the executive
committee to act as temporary secretary,
then read the call for the convention and
the report of the committee. This re-
port contained the Recommendation that
William Mcdonald be elected temporary
chairman Of the convention.
At the conclusion of the reading Sena-
tor Waller Burns of Houston moved that
the report be amended by striking out
the name Of William Mcdonald and insert
Ing the name OF Henry C, Ferguson of
Houston. The row then commenced At
least twenty delegates jumped to their
feet and yelled mo. No, No." and con-
fusion completely blocked proceedings.
Cecil Lyon of Sherman rushed down to
the front OF the stage shouting to the
oh al Wbar had paFtiaiIv
subsidized he was heard 10 say that the
executive committee desired TO make Il
minority report. Chairman Green re-
piled that the report should have been
filed with the secretary so that it could
be read to the convention along with
the majority report. This was taken as
ruling against consideration of the
minority report and bedlam instantly fol-
lowed
During its height the familiar form and
face Of Web Flanagan was seen Chamber
ing over the shoulders of his delegation
from Rusk. At sight OF the old republic
can war horse the convention sent UP
one tremendous shout for Web Flana-
gan" and the delegates passed him along
over their heads to the stage He rushed
UP to Chairman Green and held a hurried
conversation for a few seconds and then
turned and faced the convention. The
first wave of admiration for him that
had just swept the convention had been
checked by the fear that a personal con-
fict was about to take place and num-
Der OF delegates had followed and stood
around him. W. Y. Dwyer of Washing
ton, the sergeant-at-arms. soon arrived
on the stage and persuaded Flanagan TO
retire, and the incident ended.
Chairman Green then put the question OF
the proposed amendment of the report BY
striking out McDsnald and inserting Fer
guson and directed the counties to prepare
their votes for announcement as the rol
was called. During the roll call there wer,
several spirited contests in the delegation!
and when Washington county was reached
heated controversy followed the an
nouncement OF one of the delegates that
tho county voted for Mcdonald. This vote
was challenged by Delegate Fricke, who
flung negroes right and left as he rushed
TO the front of the stage to demand
change There was objection to change
and row in the delegation stopped fur
Their proceedings.
At this point there was strong talk of q
split. The vote had proceeded far enough
to show that Mcdonald was elected ac-
cording to the tally kept by tellers and a
few of the Ferguson men advised bolt.
The movement did not go far until Con-
gresham Hawley observed It, Instead oil
trying TO check it by talking privately
with the promoters. he made his way "a
Chairman Green and thus confronting The
convention he addressed the delegates, APP
pealing to them to be calm and orderly
and by all means to be governed by the
majority vote. He was a Ferguson man,
but he was too good a republican to 10 n
in. movement to disrupt his party. His
address was electric in its effect. The
Washington pOMufV ballad Om md
the advocates of bolt subsidized.
The Washington county vote was
changed to Ferguson, and the roll cal
proceeded to the finish. resulting in the
election of Mcdonald. When the result
was annuGnced the convention went wild
Mcdonald was nowhere to be seen, al
though he had been occupying conspi-
cuous place in the gallery. a committee
OF friends soon found him, however, and
brought him to the stage. He received
an ovation equal TO anything OF the kind
ever witnessed in Texas convention. II
was fully ten minutes before he could
speak. When quiet was finally restored he
delivered an imprisoned speech defending
his course and condemning his opponents.
He paid high tribute to Chairman Green
At the close Of McDonalds speech Act
ing Secretary Kolp was elected temporary
secretary. The chair was by motion au-
tuoIlDeu TO appoint committees on ruiesi
platform, credentials and permanent or
ganization and the convention adjourned
until . o'clock tomorrow morning Al
that hour the committees win be an
nounced.
The only issue discussed so far by the
republicans gathered here to attend the
State convention is bill Mcdonald" So
persistent has Mcdonald advocated the
promotion of his friend Green and so de-
termined has he been to reap some OF the
results OF the victories coming TO the State
chairman that the opposition TO him has
become extremely bitter The convention
stands Bill Mcdonald and antl-Bill Me-
Donald. On one eide or the other each deli
egation Is arrayed and they have talked
nothing else since yesterday evening, when
It was announced that the majority OF tbs
executive committee would recommend
him for temporary chairman. The opposi-
ton to Mcdonald is not by any means
confined to the anti-Green faction. Many
OF the friends OF the State chairman are
pronounced political enemies of Goose
Neck
McDonald's chief offense Is his persist
en- meddling in local affairs in the black
district. The negroes resent his inieFler-
ence In the management OF their local az