Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-17
FIVE GEORGIA MEN
QUIT TAFT BANNER

CHICAGO. June fI.-Five Taft dele
gates from Georgia and FIVE from Mis-
sissippi have issued signed statements
indicating their intention TO vote for
Roosevelt. Statements announcing that
other Southern delegates have swung
from Taft to Roosevelt are promised
for today. It was intimated at Roose-
Welt headquarters that at least three
other delegates from Mississippi and
a few from other states would an
nounce their change of allegiance
The FIVE Georgia delegates were
Clark Grier. j H. Boone, j. c. Styles,
J. Eugene Peterson and S. S. Mincey.
Those from Mississippi were Charles
Banks. w P. Locker, Perry w How
ard, Daniel W. Gary and Wesley Cray
ton Banks is the negro delegate who
deserted Taft a few days ago and re-
turned money advanced by the Taft
manager for travelling expenses. Most
of the others also are negroes.
T. R. Not in Field Then.
The statement signed by the five
Georgia delegates was addressed to
Colonel Roosevelt and was in part as
follows:
when we were elected there was
but one candidate in the field and there
seemed to be nothing to do but to ac-
cept Mr.. Taft and inevitable defeat in
November At that time it seemed to
make little difference whether there
were instructions or no instructions,
delegates or no delegates, for it seemed
then foregone conclusion that MI,
Taft was to be the Republican nominee
and a Democrat the next president
with the announcement of your
IcandidacY the party was given new
lease of life: country wide sprung the
sentiment that the future contained
some promise Of business stability and
aggressive and righteous leadership;
the man whose name was Synonymous
with the square deal was in the field,
and the party as well as the country
bucked up
"On all sides we heard from dele
gates to the congressional conventions
and from our constituents that the ac-
lions of the convention were hasty and
not representative of the sentiment Of
the community.
Georgia Unanimous" For Roosevelt
From them came the suggestion that
inasmuch as second convention could
! not be held. a canvass should be made
| by each county chairman of the dele
gates who attended the convention, in
order to find out If they wished US to
abide by the previous Instructions;
wished us to go uninstructed, or wished
4 to instruct us for another candidate
Such canvass has been made in our dis
/ tricts and in every case the vote was
practically unanimous that we go to
| Chicago to do all in our power to bring
! about the nomination of Theodore
! Roosevelt
Let US assure you also that If a
preferential presidential primary were
held now in Georgia, there is not the
slightest doubt that you would carry
| this state in the same commanding
manner that you carried Ohio. Illinois.
| Pennsylvania, California. Nebraska
| Maine, Oregon, Maryland and New
Jersey"
| j. G. Styles, of Dawson, Ga, one Of
! the delegates whose name was signed
to Grier's letter to Colonel Roosevelt
announcing that five Georgia delegates
| would violate their Taft pledges and
vote for the Oyster Bay man, today re-
| pudiated the letter He declared his
signature was attached without au-
thority and that he would vote to re-
nominate President Taft
Clark Grier, one of the Georgia dele
gates. said:
Il am going to vote for Colonel
|