The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-03-21

By Harper
WAS THE CONVENTION CALLED
IN MCDOWELL COUNTY TO
ENDORSE CANDIDATES..
fr"motors Object
10 Action of The ''PacI<ed'' Honsr
AMI Read Harper's Uhsavory Re-
cord, But We're Overwhelmingly
Defeated after Hard Fight.

| N@perlai to the AdvOcnte.)
! heystone. w. Va. March 16--Out
SeneraleJ and beaten to frazzle
! are mild terms to apply to the
| lenominious defeat suffered by the
Mcdowell County Republican, Organ
lzation at the hands Of Howard Har-
per and his bunch Of nondescriots
at the widely heralded meeting
here today.
The organization, of which Joe
!. Parsons. deputy sheriff, policeman
and Jaller, is the chief, had planned
gathering of colored Republicans
1rom all over the State for the pur-
pose--as the invitations read-"to
present the race unit in quest of
!ts political rights and civic privi-
leges' and of agreeing upon two
candidates to represent the colored
people on the State Central Com
nnttee as committaemeh-at-la
The meeting was called for $50 this
morning, but long before that time
Harper had "'paclled" the meeting
place with his followers from Elk
horn district. When Parsons and
MS clan arrived they, though reputed
promoters of the meeting, experience
ed no little dffficulty in reaching the
stage, and there they found Harper
occupying prominent position.
The "slate" was to endorse J. S.
Noel of Fayette county, and A. G..
froe, of this, Mcdowell county, as
| committeeman at large, and, inciden-
tally, to boost Dr.. .Hatfield's candida
cy for the Republican nomination
for Governor. 1t was thought that
the local people would readily fall
in with this plan and the meeting
would be a love-feast, but Harper
seemed to have been left out Of
| consideration.
He has not yet recovered from
} the signal defeat he sustained at
the hands of this same organization
when he aspired to be a member
Of the city council few weeks ago.
and had laid his wires carefully to
reap revenge. The trap was sprung,
when, according to schedule, a mo-
tion was made empowering the
chairman, Joe Parsons, to name the
committee on resolutions. men,
| Der Of the delegation from Elkhorn
district objected to the nominee
from his district and injected Har-
Der's name as that districts choice
for committeeman.
There were strenuous affections
from NJ. r. Whittico, editor Of the
Mcdowell Times; DR.. G. ". Marshall,
H.-41. Lord, Tyler Hill, Noel,
B. K. Carter and a host of preach
ers, but to no avail. Many Of the
speakers did not hesitate to read
Harpers title clear. The things
some Of them said about him would
! JeoDardiZe the passage through the
mails Of any newspaper publishing
them, They said he was a notorious
! character, a libertine Of the first
water, recipient of the bounty Of
woman Of ill-fame and totally un-
fit to represent decent men in any
capacity. His alleged connection
with Mary MfffgT, who during hpr-ttf9
ran the toughest Joint" in this town
: Of tough joints, was exposed in Wig
J orous language and many Of the
speakers laid the grounds for the in
ference that they would not, under
any instances, support him If
he should be the choice Of the con-
! vention.
Harper stood pat under the pitt
less fire and, when the smoke clear
! ed away, he had lammed the ever
| lasting daylight out Of his oppon-
ents. SO Overwhelming was his sup
port that the opposition recognized
the futility Of carrying the fight fur
ther and surrendered with what
+ grace they were able to muster.
But Harper's victory is not likely
to profit him anything. Many Of the
leaders among his opponents have
fatty stated. that he will not have
their support: on the contrary, they
! will do whatever they can to de.
i feat him, even if they have to
throw their influence to two mer
= outside the county. 1t looks now
as If Mcdowell county, though ii
has by far the largest Negro Dopula.
!, ton In the State, will not have the
=, representation to which it is entitled
Harper is stronger dose than even
those who associate with him daily
can stomach, and they are not cas-
lily nauseated.
Il - L.