Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-31
NEGROES DIVIDE
U.S.. wv. RANKS
ACTION OF H. G. OTIS CAMP
CAUSES RUPTURE
NORTHERN DELEGATES REFUSE
TO ATTEND CONVENTION
Are Angered by Action of Los Angeles
Veterans in Admitting Blacks.
Encampment Torn by
Political Fights
Especial to The Herald

PASADENA, Aug. 30.-The United
Spanish War Veterans are split over
the admission of four negroes from
Harrison G. Otis camp of Los An
geles. Most of the northern delegates
have stayed away from the convention,
and there are less than 100 in session
here now.
The rules of the order forbid taking
in negroes. The negroes in California,
however, have no organization of their
own, and it seemed wise to a majority
of the veterans to take them in tenn
porarily The Alameda, Berkeley
Oakland and Vallejo camps promptly
announced that they would have moth
ing to do with this encampment, and
not a man from those camps has
shown up.
By another year it is expected the
negroes will have formed a separate
organization, and the United Spanish
War Veterans can then reunite in
peace and harmony
Explodes Bombshell
A political bombshell was exploded
today by the supporters of p. c. Mul-
queeny of Los Angeles for commander.
They preferred charges against Theo-
dore SyVertson of Pasadena, who eX-
pected to lead the fight against Null
queeny, and these charges say lead
to his being kept out of the convention.
Syvertson expected to bring up the
personal record of Mulqueeny and de-
feat him by this means. The camp is
a political convention, pure and SIM
pie, so far, and the campaigning that
is being done now is fiercer and more
bitterly contested than was San Juan
hill
w II PaaUas oorproopdar of Pasa-
dena camp, is being mentioned as a
dark horse for departmental COM
mander.
Mayor Farley delivered an address
of welcome to the encampment this
morning. Department Commander
Nolan spoke and Past Post Commander
George NJ. Burlingame of the Pasadena
Grand Army of the Republic also de-
livered an address.
Business Done in Secret
This afternoon the first business ses-
sion of the convention was held in
secret.
At o'clock the grand parade, with
1000 people in line, was formed and
started. despite the heat.
Besides the veterans, the National
Cadets, Company I, of the Seventh
regiment, n. G. c.; the Modern Wood
>,
A. R. and other organizations partici-
pated.
Following the parade there was a
complimentary ball in the armory,
while Chiafarellrs band gave a concert
in Library park.
At noon Tuesday the delegates will
take a trip to Balboa beach and will
not return until night. A business ses-
sion will be held tomorrow morning.
Syverton Denied Seat
AS a result of an attempt to draw
the color line at the sixth annual con-
yention of the California department
of United States Spanish war veterans
conVening here today, 7. L. SyVertson
of Ensign Bagley camp, Pasadena, has
been denied a seat in the convention
and is to be courtmartialed; Major
Henry z, Curzon of Oakland, who was
to have been d strong candidate for
department commander has with
drawn; the camps at Vallejo, Oakland
and Alameda recalled their delegates
at the last moment, bitter feeling has
been engendered and p. c. Mulqueeny
of the Roosevelt camp, Los Angeles,
appears to have a clear sweep of the
convention for the position of depart
ment commander and for the intro
duction of militiaism which has been
a strong point at issue.
The committee on credentials today
unanimously passed the four negro
delegates and its recommendation re-
ceived but two dissenting votes
Charged with Libel
Courtmartial papers in the case of
Syyertson have been approved by
Commander NJ. H. holland of San
Francisco, a trial committee has been
appointed and proceedings will be in
stituted at the conclusion of the pres
ent session.
1t is understood Syvertson Is charged
with Iibelous remarks concerning de-
partment officials, particularly De-
partment Commander Nolan. He was
a strong supporter of Major Curzon
and it was claimed urged the northern
camps to withdraw, hoping thereby
to disrupt the convention.
Tonight stirring street parade took
place in which the department dele
gates and representatives from kin
dred organizations numbering 800
marched to the martial strain of fife
and drum. This was followed by a
hall given at the armOry.