New-York tribune., 1908-02-07
HOT FIGHT IN FLORIDA
Dual CONVENTION HELD.
Hand-to-Hand Fights-Ofceholder
Faction IndOrses Taft.

ST Augustine Fla. Feb. 6.-Florida Repub-
licans are conspicuous to- day as the first to hold
their convention to select delegates to the ma
tional convention, and it is said here that the
strenuous scenes enacted to-day are forecast
of similar scenes to be caused in other Southern
states by the efforts of the anti-RooseVelt Re-
publicans for control in the national convention
The convention here to-day most remark
able in some respects. 1t was really two con-
ventions held at the same time in the same hall.
The progress of business was frequently inter
rupted by hand to-hand fights.
The officeholders faction was called to order
by the chairman of the state committee. and
they proclaimed themselves the regulars but
they did not succeed in carrying out the pre-
arranged programme. The Taft sentiment was
too strong for the leaders to hold in check, and
resolutions adopted indorsing Taft for the
Presidency. On the other side of the hall the
contesting convention took conservative action
and chose delegates untrammeled by instruc-
tions. positive assurance being given by Joseph
\. Stripping, who led the movement, that de-
spite the fact that they were branded as boilers
by the other convention the delegates they
named would be seated in the national con-
vention
The office holders convention adopted resou-
tiOns approving the policies of the Roosevelt
which he has carried them out, and instructed
the delegates to the national convention to sup
port the Presidents policies and the candidate
who is in sympathy with and who will carry
out these policies. 1t was then that they pro-
ceeded to indorse William H. Taft such cam
didate
The anti-Taft convention adopted resolutions
condemning in strong terms the attempts to in
fiuence and control, by the Of federal patron
age through government office holders, the selec-
ton of delegates to the national convention in
the interest of any Presidential candidate.
The ofcehoders' convention elected as dele
gates to the national convention j. N. Coombs
member of the national committee from Flor
ida; Joseph E. Lee negro), collector of inter
nal revenue; Henry S. Chubb, receiver of the
United States Land Office at Gainesville; NJ. b
Mcfarland. collector of customs at Tampa, and
four alternates.
The anti-Taft convention elected as delegates
Joseph n. Stripping, former United States At
torney; ]. Dew. Hazard, j. H. Dickerson, X K
Robinson Uhe two latter negroes) and four al
ternates.
The Congress district conventions of the 1st
and ID Florida districts were neld by each
faction Immediately after the adjournment OF
the state convention, and each OF these con-
ventions elected delegates to the national
convention and adopted the same resolutions as
the state conventions of their respective factions
had already adopted.
The city marshal and a dozen poiicemen were
on duty in the hall and were frequently called
upon to eject unruy delegates Nlne-tenths OF
both conventions were negroes.
The Taft convention had complete deega-
ton from each county, aggregating III In the
opposition convention there were two or three
counties not represented. but about $50 delegates
participated
The Taft convention nominated five Presiden-
tial electors but the opposition convention dele
gated the choice of electors to state committee
named by the convention.