The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-02-11
A RED HOT TIME.
Florida Republicans Hold Two
Two Strong Conventions.
REMARKABLE SCENES

Knocking Down and Dragging Out
Of Delegates Not Least Exciting
Feature of Meeting. Two Factions
in Session at Same Time, One En-.
dorses Taft. Other Does Not In
struct Delegates.
The fight for delegates to the Ma
tional Republican Convention from
the South has commenced between
the Roosevelt and the Foraker forces.
Florida Republicans stand conspic-
iously in the lime light as being the
first to hold their Convention to Sc
lect delegates to the National Con-
Vention, and it is said that the stren-
uous and exciting scenes enacted at
st. Augustine Thursday are merely
a forecast Of similar scenes in other
Southern States, caused by the des-
perate effort being made by the Anti
Roosevelt Republicans for control In
the National Convention.
The Convention held will go down
in history as ona of the most re-
markable ever held by any political
party. 1t was really two conventions
held at the same time in the same
hall, the progress of business being
frequently interrupted by sensational
knock-down and drag-out fights.
The office-holders faction was CALI
ed to order by the chairman of the
State committee and they proclaimed
themselves as the regulars, but they
did not succeed in carrying out their
prearranged programme. The Taft
sentiment was too strong for the
leaders to hold in check and strong
resolutions were adopted emphati-
cally endorsing William H. Taft for
the Presidency.
On the other side the hall the con-
testing convention took the conser-
vative action and Goose delegs tes abb
solutely untrammelled by any in
structions, they being given positive
assurance by Joseph N. Stripping,
who led the movement, that despite
the fact that they were branded as
bolters by the Convention, the dele
gates they named would certainly be
seated in the National Convention.
The office-holders' Convention adopt
ed resolutions approving the policies
Of the Roosevelt administration and
the conservative manner in which he
has carried them out, and instructed
the delegates to the National Conven-
ton to support the Presidents pol
icies and the candidate who is in
sympathy with and who will carry
out these policies, and then proceed
ed to name William H. Taft as such
candidate.
The Anti-Taft Convention adopted
resolutions condemning in strong
terms the attempts to influence and
control by use Of Federal patronage,
through governmental office-holders,
the selection of delegates to the Ma
tional Convention in the interest OF
any Presidential candidate.
The eofflce-holders Convention elect
ed as delegates to the National Con-
vention j. N. Coombs, member OF
the national committee from Florida;
Joseph e. Lee, colored, collector OF
internal revenue; Henry S. Chubb,
received of the United States land
office at GAINESVILLE, and M. B. Mac
Farlane. collector Of customs at Tam
pa. Four a,tcruates we're also elect
ed
The Anti-Taft Convention elected
as delegates to the National Conven-
ton Joseph N. Stripping, former
United States attorney; ]. Ed Y. Haz-
zard, J. H. Dickerson and R. R. Rob-
lnson, the two later being colored.
They also elected four alternates.
The Congressional district con-
yentions of the 1st and 9Th districts
of Florida were held by each fac
ton Immediately after the adjourn
ment of the State Convention, and
each of these conventions elected DEL
egates to the National Convention
and adopted the same resolutions az
the State conventions of their re-
spective factions had already adopt
ed.
Never has such a sight been wit
messed as was presented in the Con-
yention hall. The city marshall and a
dozen policemen were on duty and
were frequently called upon to eject
unruly delegates.
The Taft delegation had a complete
delegation from each county aggre-
eating 1T.
In the opposite Convention there
were two or three coypties not rep
resented, but they had in all about
one hundred and fifty delegates who
particiDated The Taft Convention
nominated five Presidential electors,
but the opposition Convention dele
gated the choice of electors to a
State committee named by their Con-
vention.