The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-29
LILY White CONVENTION,
CAPERS AND HIS COHORTS
GATHER IN COLUMBIA.
Leader OF New Light Republicans
Tells Why He Called Convention
In Opposition to the Regular Old
Line Black and Tan Crowd.

committeeman for South Carolina, is
at the Columbia Hotel comforting
with leading white Republicans, In
preparation for the lilly white" State
convention Of the party. called by
, him some weeks ago, which will
meet tomorrow at noon in the CO.
lumbia Theatre. With Capt. Capers
came Leumas w. c. Blalock. of
Goldville, and he was met here by
Postmaster Geo. d. Shore, of Sum-
ter; Mr.. j. c. McCravey, Of Green
vile; Mr.. Anson C. Merrick, of Wal
halla; Mr.. Lawson ID. Melton, Of CO.
lumbia. and others.
Capt. Capers, who was formerly
United States district attorney for
this State and preceded Mr.. Royal
e. Cabell. Of Richmond. In the office
of commissioner Of internal revenue
at Washington. was asked Wednes-
day what was the attitude of the Ad-
ministration toward his convention,
as contrasted with that held here
some weeks ago. with negroes mostly
attending. and Mr.. Joe w. Tolbert,
OF Greenwood. presiding.
J Capt. Capers said an impression
prevailed at first that the convention
to be held at his call Thursday was
to- be an office-holders' convention,
and therefore was to be passed upon
by the Administration at Washington.
Such. he said. was not the case.
The convention" he said. "while
not antagonistic to the Administra-
tion. Is not called at the suggestion
of the President. who does not at
tempt to manage such matters in the
States.
The convention will have few, IL
any. officeholders In IL as delegates, 4"
said Capt. Capers. "and is simply
called for the purpose of perfecting
a. Republican organization and exc
cutive committee for work IN the
! future, according to party law, as
there does not now exist Republi-
can organization or executive COM
nittee In the State. This had to be
done before the general election No
vember s."
Ii Is the contention Of those pro-
noting the convention here tomor-
row that the Deas-Tolbert- Myers con-
vention. held here September 26.
was irregular and that it's delegates
have no standing with the national
organization. 1t Is believed that the
lack OF regular organization furnish
es golden opportunity for the per-
manent elimination of the negro
from the councils of the party in this
State. and. that, in consequence, q
militant. aggressive. respectable Re-
publican party can be built up in
South Carolina by proper activity at
this time, the members TO be white
men of substance and Of high stand
Ing in their home communities. 1t
is hoped that many Carolinians Of
worth and repute, who have hith-
erto remained with the Democratic
party solely because Of the negro
question. but whose sympathies are
with the Republican administration
In It's handling of national affairs,
will now come into the Republican
! fold.
Mr.. Joseph w. Tolbert, of Green
wood. elected chairman of the State
executive committee by the conven-
tion held here September 26, is In
tho city guest at Wright's Hotel.
IL is presumed that he came here
for the purpose of watching develop
ments.
| II don't often talk to newspaper
men." he said when asked for a
statement, "but I will say that our
committee, officers and organization
are the only bona fde Republican
committee. officers and organization
In the State. The official call. the
J convention and the delegations were
regular In every way, and the ac-
tions OF the convention represented Il
the wishes OF the members OF the
party organization"
Mr.. Tolbert, II will he remembered
was elected chairman Of the Repub-
iican State executive committee nj
the convention held on Assembly
street September &c. lie defeated
for the chairmanship f. N. Deas,
colored. facetiOusly known as the
Duke Of Darlington"
| Assessed Office Hoiders