The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-07
HOLD TWO CONVENTIONS
One for Taft on Roosevclt Platform
and tha Other Antt-RooseveIt.

One for Taft on nonsevclt Platform,
and tho Other Anti-Roosevelt.
# sT.,ACGusT1NE. FLA. l. february 6.---
Florida Republicans stand conspicuous.
IS II, the Ilnlcligtt to-day as the first
10 hold their conrertion to select do,e. !.
gates to tho national convention. and
1T Ia said hero that5the axnitlng scenes
enacted to- -dav are a forecast of similar
scenes IN other Southern States. cansa,i
by the efforts hing made By thu anti
Roosevelt Rsouni;cans to- contro! In
the national convention.
The convention neld to day was one
OF the most ren,urkable over huld by
any political party. IT was sea'!v two
conventlons O.. tns same time IN the
srms hall
The progress OF BUSINESS was frn-
auently interrupted by sensational
knockdown and dragout fights. The
otticehold crs, faction was called to or
der by the chairman OF the State Com
mittee. and they proclaimed themselves
as regulars, hut they did not succeed
In carrying out their prcarranged pro.
gram. The Taft sentiment was TOP
strong for the leaders to hold In check.
and resolutions were adopted indorsinE
William H. Taft for The presidency,
On the other side OF the hall the
contestlng convention took the con-
servative action and chose delegates
absolutely untrammeled by tnstruc-
tions. positive assurance being given
by Joseph N. Stripping, who led the
movement, that despite the fact that
they were branded as boilers by the
other convention, the delegates they
named would be- seated in tho national
convention. al 81
The officeholders' convention adopted
resolutions approving the policies OF
The Roosevelt administration and the
conservative manner In which he has
carried them out, and instructed the
delegates elected to the national con-
vention to support the Presidents pol
icies and the candidate who is in sym.
pathy with and who will carry out
proceeded to name William n. TAFT
as such candidate.
The anti-Taft convention adopted
resolutions condemning In strong terms
the e. and
governmental ofiiceholders. the selec-
tion of delegates to the national con-
vention In the Interest OF any presi-
Dental candidate,
The o..ceholders' convention elected
as delegates to the national convention
J. N. Coombs. member OF the Nationnl
Committee from Florida; Joseph r.
Lee (colored), collector or internal
revenue; Henry s. Chubb. receiver OF
the United States Land Office at Gaines
Vile, and NJ. B. mcfarland. collector
OF customs at Tampa, and four alter
mates.
The anti-Taft convention elected as
delegates Joseph N. Stripping. former
United States attorney; j. De v. 1ia2-
zard, j. II. Dickerson and r. r. Robin
son, the two latter being colored, and
four alternates. y
The congressional district conven-
tions of the First and Second Districts
of Florida were held by each faction
Immediately after the adjournment OF
the State convention and each of these
conventions elected delegates to the
national convention and adopted tn:
same resolutions as -the State. conven-
tions OF their respective factions had
already adopted.
The city marshal and a dozen police.
men were on duty IN the hall, and they
were frequently cs; ;fad upon. ito ejecl
unTuiy Delegates Sfne- tentna OF bott
conventions were negroes.