The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-14
WIMBS, CENTRAL FIGURE
Republican Electors Met in
 D0rSett'S Hall.
wimbs Brought Message of Cheer from Administration Leaders. Said Roosevelt Declared He
 "Would Crush Them"

The negro Republicans of Montgomery yesterday at Dorsett's Hall formally re- pudiated the Republican State ticket nom- mated by the lilly whites' in the Bir- mingham convention.
 The mass meeting was the first bolt of the present campaign. The negroes have begun their vigorous campaign against the white Republicans who sought to throw them out of the Republican Party, bag and baggage. The mass meeting yes terday was the first battle in the war which the negroes say will be waged to the bitter end. The negroes are now more fierceiy arrayed against the white Republicans than they ever were against the white Democrats.
 The negro Republicans have selected two points for their attacks on their former white allies. They are fighting them with the administration at Wash- ington. They are seeking to have the of- flee holders who have been identified with the work of excluding the negroes from all participation in party councils. The negroes claim that in the removal of Vaughan they drew first blood. They fur ther claim that the appointment of Judge Roulhac as Vaughan's successor was their second victory.
 They intimate that other office holders
 
 future has some unpleasant shocks in store for the lilly whites" The negroes are now fighting the lilly whites" at home as well as in Washington.
 The central figure of yesterdays mass meeting was that of Ad Wimbs of Greens boro, the best known negro politician Tn Alabama. Wimbs in the old days was one of the unique characters in the black and white Republican Party. Under new conditions with the negroes excluded, Wimbs, his negro supporters say. is de- veloping into the Moses of the black Re- publicans.
 Wimbs was a protege of Governor Thomas Seay. He is a negro of intelii- gence and is one of the best negro speak CTS in Alabama. Although Wimbs has been active nearly ell his life in Repub- lican politics he has never yet held office. Wimbs has just returned from the East where he has been in conference with prominent Republicans and members of the administration. He said that the | word had been given him that the party l leaders were firmiy opposed to the lilly white' movement and that 1t would be nipped in the bud. Local negro politi- clans were greatly rejoiced at the mes sage of which Wimbs was the bearer. J. W. Jones, well known negro pre- sided over the Dorsette Hall mass me st- ing. He stated that the object of the meeting was to take some action, in view of recent happenings in the Republic n Party. Rev. T. A. Washington was elected chairman of the meeting
 Ad Wimbs was called upon and he de e. livered a stirring address. He told of his visit to the East and he brought to the negroes messages of sympathy from Re- publican leaders.
 He told of conversation he had had with John s. Clarkson, President Roose- velts manager for the Southern Stat es. Clarkson said that President Roosevelt, while discussing the lilly white'' move ment, had declared: 'I intend to do as Lincoln did in 1881, crush the rebellion"
 Wimbs said the negroes had been in the Republican party for forty years. too long to be put out now. If any one had to go it would be the lily whites" Wimbs's views were in entire accord with his hearers and he was given hearty ap- plause.
 The following resolutions were unani- mously passed:
 Resolved, That the State ticket head ed by John w. A. Smith and nominated by the so-cailed lily white Republicans in Birmingham on tine 16th utimo is un- worthy of the support and confidence of all true and loyal Republicans, and all such are hereby called upon to repudi- ate and oppose said ticket.
 Resolved. That the policy and conduct of said convention was in contravention of all party politics and the traditions that have endeared the party to lovers of !ib- erty.
 Resolved further That the Executive Committee, which was organized at Bir- mingham on the 16th ultimo, be and is hereby requested to call State conven- tion at an early date for the purpose of perfecting State organization"
 If the negroes do not put out a sepa- rate State ticket and it is hardly prob able that they will do so at this late date, large number of the qualified me- gro voters will vote the Democratic ticket The negroes do not say this, but one of the negro leaders said significantly yesterday; There are only two State tickets. The negroes will positively have nothing to do with the lilly white ticket and I think a large number of the regis tered negroes will vote in the November election"