The Green Forest tribune., 1912-05-10
TWO REPUBLICAN
 STATECONVENTIONS
ROOSEVELT CROWD LAUNCH AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION
 AND NAMES DELEGATES
Negroes Defeat RusselPs Nomination
 for Governor. Roland is Named.

Arkansas presents the unusual spec tacle this year of holding two distinct Republican conventions, the Presi- dential preference between Taft and Roosevelt, being seat of the difficulty.
 The Roosevelt boosters instituted an independent organization, electing a full delegation to the national conven- tion and naming candidates for the various state offices.
 The "big four" to the national con vention by the regulars as was expect ed is the slated quartet, consisting of Gen. Clayton, H. L. Remmel, c. N. Rix, and J. E. Bush (colored) While the Roosevelt people named as their delegation at large J. A. Conner of Little Rock, Gus Strauss of Hot Springs, F. E. Patrick of Olvey, and S. A. Mosely of Hot Springs, the latter being of the colored persuation.
 Little or no effort was made to har- monize the two conventions. The regulars were regular in every way and the Rooseyelters declared that it was foolishness in them to submit to the operation of the steam roller, as they had all to gain and nothing to lose by launching a new Republican organiza- ton.
 While there was an under current of excitement throughout the regular con- vention lest something might go wrong with the .state" and some portion of it be smashed, there was nothing red hot in the proceedings reached until the nomination of candidate for governor was mentioned. This itemin the pro- ceedings is thus reported in the Arkan- sas Gazette of Wednesday morning:
 ''The big fight of the convention came upon the call for nominations for gov ernor. Judge John I. Worthington, one of the organization leaders, placed A. J. Russell in nomination and R. $. Granger of Carroll county seconded the nomination. Fred Havis, a negro, of iuG DUH, SIGIItu ltle lLGW WOthS bY asking for information as to how Rus sell, as member of the last legis- lature, voted upon the proposed Grandfather clause amendment to the constitution. Fred Johnson of Hot Springs contended that the question was out of order, but Havis insisted on being heard. Judge Warrington then stated that Russell did vote in favor of the amendment being submitted to the people. This brought forth a loud pro- test from the negroes. Havis declared that 1t would not be fair for the white Republicans to force the nomination of a man who stood up in the legislature and voted to disfranchise every black voter in Arkansas. We have some rights, hope,' he declared I am not a bolter, and I have stood in the Republican party all my life, but if you nominate this man, so help me God, 1 will never cast another vote for the Republican party.
 Russell was a member of the last legislature and had been picked for some time by the organization leaders as the probable nominee for governor, but the fact that he voted to submit to the people the so-called Grandfather clause amendment to the constitution aroused the opposition of the negroes and the latter openly threatened to bolt the ticket if Russell was nominat- ed. Leaders of the organization spent many hours in conference before the opening of the convention in an effort to effect compromise, but their eff forts were fruitless.
 ''The North Arkansas leaders, it is said, demanded that Russell be nomi- mated, while the negroes fatly refused to accept him. The fight was finally thrown into the convention and hot contest resulted. Judge Roland s name was presented. Again the north Arkansas delegates stood solidly for Russell, but most of the organiz aton leaders threw their support to Ro- land and the latter was nominated.