Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
.OlO-lINE REPUBLICANS
MET TO FIGHT BUT WOUND UP
WITH A LOVE FEAST.
Validity Of the Local Option Laws.
Pickpockets Keep Police Busy.
College Commandments.
,cial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND Va, May 16. 1908.
The old-time republicans of Virginia. II
that Is the name applicable to that faction
of the party which still recognizes the or
ganization which existed in Virginia up
to the last few months. held a conven-
ton here day or two ago and prepared
to make good its fight against President
Roosevelt, Secretary Taft and other mem
bers of the party. The convention was
attended by about one hundred negroes
and some dozen or so white men. There
was single discordant note, when the
committee on resolutions reported. The
resolutions Endorsed everything and
everybody in sight, wound up with
declaration for nign pro-
white movement and pledge to support
the nomination of the Chicago conven-
ton. The resolutions Endorsed President
Roosevelt. praised Secretary Taft. had
good word for Foraker. Knox. La Toilette
Fairbanks, Gov. Hughes and Speaker
Cannon.
The report was unanimous. and the dis
cussion of the paper brought solitary
republican (colored) to his feet He said
he favored all the resolutions save that
which extolled the President. He thought
the President had done wrong in discharg-
ing the colored soldiers in connection with
the Brownsville incident. declaring that
the man who could do such thing was
unworthy of the support and Endorsement
of free American citizens. The name of
the speaker was not ascertained. He con-
fined his remarks to few moments and
was accorded very little and exceedingly
cold comfort by the delegates No one
interrupted him, the convention being
open to all men of the party who desired
to have a say. The speaker was re-
spectful and In earnest He said he had
always been a republican, and that he
wanted nothing savoring of the faint of
the lly-white plans Not scintilla of
applause greeted his oratorical display
When the vote was taken he had the sup
port of two or three Others but he was in
such minority that he made no ripple
on the smooth waters of fhe convention
Perhaps the most interesting and point
ed utterance of the cons ention was when
Chairman Otis H. Russell former post
master here. said that this convention
was due to extraordinary conditions. The
appearance in the field of the lily white
party had altered the complexion of poll
tics. The time had come for the voters of
the party to meet, to assert their rights
and to defend those rights by appealing
to the national convention. He declared
that the greatest men ever connected with
the party had never felt the humiliation
manifested by the lily whites, and that
Garfield, Roosevelt. Wickham and Malone
had held seats on the floor of national
conventions with the negroes. He de-
clared that unwise leadership had
wrecked great parties in the past, and he
urged the convention to steer clear of the
breakers. No one was denounced in the
convention; there were no radical
speeches. In point of numbers the con-
vention was a frost; in influence inteli-
gence and responsibility it was signal
success. There were lawyers, doctors
ministers. teachers and bankers in the
convention.