The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-06
HIRAM v. Johnson
MAY Be GIVEN PLACE
Leaders Virtually Decide on
the Slate
MORE NEGp ''.ouBLE
o9,s
Judge Li,o - .sks That His Name
Be v . , .wn and Be,eridge Will
Pro .oly Be Continued as
Permanent Chairman
MORE NEGP'. >,.oUBLE

Chicago August Gov. Hiram w.
johnson of California seemed agreed
upon tonight as the vice presidential
nominee of the national progressive
party, 10 make the first hght of the
new political organization with Colonel
Roosevelt.
early in the evening Judge Ben b.
Lindsey of Denver, former democrat.
had been agreed upon as permanent
chairman for the convention. Colonel
Roosevelt had iudorsed the recon-
mendation Of Judge Lindsey. and the
plan had been enthusiastically applaud
ed by the delegates
Late tonight, however. Judge Lind
sey called on the colonel and had a
long talk with him. He said he had
been suffering from asthma, and did
not feel physically capable of taking
up the work Under these eircum-
stances Colonel Roosevelt agreed to re-
lease MIN and while it had not been
finally decided, 1t was said to be like
ly that former Senator Albert j. Bev-
eridge of Indiana, the temporary chair
man, would be continued as permanent
presiding officer.
Colonel Roosevelt said before he left
Oyster Bay that he favored the selection
of a southern democrat as vice presiden-
tial candidate. The field was canvassed
carefully. and II is understood the col
onel's suggestion was abandoned only
when 1t became evident that it was i'm
possible to decide upon the available
man.
The California delegation passed a res
olution today, saying the state could not
spare Governor Johnson but it was said
tonight the governors friends would not
insist upon this attitude.
In the event of Governor Johnsons
nomination 1t is planned to have him
take the stump in the east, while Colonel
Roosevelt is campaigning in the west
The Governors qualifications as a cam
paigner were said to be a strong factor
in his favor
Trouble With Negroes
When Colonel Roosevelt reached Chit
cago this morning he put in n stormy
two hours before he suceeeded in
strengthening out the tangle over the
contesting negro delegates from the
south After he had been welcomed by
crowd of several thousands and had
made a speech in the street in front OF
his hotel he went to his headquarters
and took the helm.
The Florida and Mississippi cases,
which had not been ruled upon by the
provisional national committee were
placed before him in detail and a sharp
difference of opinion developed in the
Roosevelt camp. A number of his north
ern supporters told him frankly that they
disapproved of, the policy of barring all
negro delegates from the south.
1t was urged that such plan would
cost the national progressive ticket the
support of a large number OF negroes in
northern states in which theirs sstrength
was greatly needed. Others of Colonel
Roosevelt's supporters felt In fairness to
the negroes they should have some rep
resentation from the south. In answer to
every objection Colonel Roosevelt said
he would cling to the position he had
taken. and that although it might cost
him votes in the northern states, he be-
lieved it was to the best interest of the
party to proceed under white leadership ,
in the south. He reiterated the state
ment made In his letter to Julian Harris
of Atlanta, that it was the white man In
the south that the negro must look, anu
declared his position was for the best
interests OF the negro. 1t was said to-
night that all of his associates finally
were won over fully to his point of view.
II is understood that Colonel Roose-
welt suggested the action In the Florida
taken by the national committee.
The Mississippi negroes were thrown
out complete on the ground that white
delegates were regularly elected. Col
onel Roosevelt is said TO nave protested
against the use of the word white
delegates" in the call for the Missis-
sippi state convention.
Florida Negroes Ousted
In the Florida cases the contesting
negro delegation was thrown out. The
negroes protested loudly. They were
invited to attend the convention as
supplemental delegates without votes,
but declined TO do this, eventually going
as spectators" Then the national COM
mittee decided to bar also the white
delegates from Florida. there having
been some question of rregularity in
calling a white and negro convention
so parateb.
Cofonel Roosevelt Insisted that there
should be no negro Delegates from the
south, and the national committee ac-
quiesced in his view. The cases We're
taken before the comr>ittee on creden-
tials, but 1t was generally believed
the committee would follow the action
of the national committee in adopting
the colonels view of the matter
In this connection some of the pro-
gressive leaders tonight openly charged
that some of the Taft leaders in the
republican party were behind the con-
tests brought by the southern negro
delegates and had betrayed the cx-
penses OF the negroes in coming to Chi
cago. This the negroes stoutly denied
Negroes Organize Themselves
Members of an organization styling it.
self the National Progressive Party of
Colored Men" split tonight at a meeting
called TO consider the advsability OF
withdrawing from the national progress
sive party.
A resolution to remain with the ranks
finally adopted, but W. ID. Nenera-
Lis of St. Louis. president of the organ
iz;ltion. said this resolution did not rep
re sent the sentiment of the majority
He further declared that none of the
northern negro delegates would partici-
pate In the convention. They may take
~ afr seats fonOrraW ha said hat 10 a .