El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-23

Roosevelt Delegates From
Texas to Be Opposed in
the Convention.
TAFT MEN APPEAL
TO NEGRO VOTERS

Austin. Texas, March 23-In the
Texas fight for delegates to the ma
tiOnal Republican convention the
Roosevelt faction has the upper hand
bv reason Of the fact that il controls
the party organization In this state
Col. Cecil Lyon, Of Sherman, who FOR
several years has held the dual posi-
ton of national committeeman ana
state chairman. is positive in mis- pub
lie declarations that solid ROoseVe4l
delegation viii be sent to the conven-
ton.
1t is admitted by H. F. MacGregor,
of Houston. who is the authorized
leader Of the Taft forces in Texas. that
the situation as it now appears on It's
face gives the Lyon faction somewhat
the best Of it. but he expresses con-
fidence in the ultimate outcome OF the
fight He says that IL is to be ex-
pected that Col. Lyon viii, as usual,
make an effort to run the state con-
ventiOn, and If he succeeds in doing
this, there viii have been committed
enough Irregularities by the Roosevelt
element in the selection Of its dele
gates TO justify the Taft supporters
in sending a cOntesting delegation TO
the national convention.
IT IS practically certain at this time
that unless the Roosevelt partisans
are magnaminOus enough to grant the
Taft element its rightful proportion
OF delegates. there viii be a contest.
Appealing TO Negroes.
Col Ly on, VINO IS in control Of the
party machinery and is the man who
Is responsible for the distribution Of
most OF the public patronage in this
state, has been able to bring into line
for Roosevelt nearly AZ of the fed
eral office holders. Only a few post
masters and others holding govern
ment positions have openly aligned
themselves with the Taft movement
In the years gone by the negro VOt-
ers Of the state have welded a great
influence in the selection Of delegate ties
through the Vaccinations OF such
party leaders as both Lyon and Mac
GregOr,F this element OF suffrage has
been not only relocated to the rear.
but virtually eliminated. Now that the
negro vote is again needed so urgently
by both factions, it is interesting to
note that appeals are being made to
this class OF Republicans to attend the
precinct and county conventions and
lend their efforts to the cause Of the
respective party leaders in the state.
In an appeal issued by W. B. Brush. OF
Austin, state chairman aOf the Texas
Progressive Republican league, which
is actively supporting Nj MacGregor
in his efforts 10 have a Taft delega-
ton selected. he says
I call upon all Republicans, white
and black, to bestfr themselves and IN
the present canvass turn out to the
precinct and county conventions and
reclaim the party and restore IL to its
pristine glory I would suggest that
the county elect as many persons to
attend the convention as may desire
to come TO cast the vote OF the county.
from one TO so persons to cast the
vote Of your county; and in order to
bring around the proper enthusiasm, I
urge that this be done"
Taft Men to Contest.
The trend Of the sentiment OF the
Taft faction IN regard to abiding by
the result OF the state convention II #
is dominated by Col Lyon is expressed
nv NJ or Ct her
Of the Harris county Republican organ
izatiOn, who said:
I'VE expect to send a cOntesting del
eEatiOn from Texas on behalf OF the
Taft Republicans Of the state We
went into this fight knowing that Col
Lyon owned the state executive com
mittee and that we could not expect 10
control the convention, no matter how
much we outnumbered the Roosevelt
men We viii send a c0ntesting dele
cation. and as the Taft forces viii
control the national convention our
delegation viii be seated"
The precinct primary conventions
throughout the state viii be held Nay
4 for the purpose Of electing delegates
to the county conventions The law
provides that the county conventions
shall be held Nay z. No person can
vote in q precinct primary or in county
and state conventions who does not
hold a poll tax receipt. Both factions
are very busy just now forming or
ganizatfOns in each county and in most
OF the precincts.
There promises to be a very warm
fight over the selection Of the eight
delegates at large and their eight al
ternates. These will have to be chosen
by the state convention, in addition 10
the 90 delegates and 50 alternates who
will be recommended by the congress
siOnal districts
The state convention will also be
required to elect four electors from
the state at large and one from each
congressional district, the latter to be
recommended by the delegates com