Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-31
OPPOSITION ID
 NEGRO ROUTED Bull Moose Convention Re- fuses Seat to Delegation
 Opposed to Blacks.
WAS NOT so PEACEFUL
Fight Barely iyerted When Lie is Passed Delegates Elected to
 Attend Chicago Convention.

boln. The convention was in session today fram Ii d. m. to 4:30 D. m. Forty counties were represent ed by 119 delegates, of whom about thirty were negroes.
 George F, Youmans of Fewt Smith brother of Judge Frank Youmans, an aDpointee Of President Taft, was temporary as well as permanent chairman, and Carl Spellman and John Culran were secretaries.
 There wos only one contest, tive delegations from Pulaski county seeking seats on the floor. A dele gat on headed by John Bruce Cox and E. B. Downie represented the L.ly-Whites, while a delegation head ed by w. k. Holt, and J. A. Conner advocated the seating of negroes A credentials committee of one mem mer from each Congressional dis trict, consisting of E. E. Ritter, w. R. Waitten. Frank Patrt ok, John L.. Ford, N. B. Skipper, H. Bringman. and B. R. C2stler reported unani- meusly in favoT of the Holt delega- ten. w. 5. Holt. J. A. Conner and C. C. Waters spoke in favor of the adoption of the report, while DoWnie and Cox opposed it. Downie and Cox c2Htended that if the Progressive party expects to gain recruits from the Democratic parry ,and not be- come merely a faction of the old re- puliated Republican party, it must exclude the negro. They said the Holt delegation had been elected in the county convenetion by nineteen colored and fifteen white delegates. while there we're 27 white men in the bolting convention that elected the CoXDownie delegation. The re- port seating the Holt delegation, With four negroes out of twenty two, was adopted by the convention by vote of 6S ayes to 9 noes.
 It was at this juncture, as the defeated delegation started to march from the hall, that a near-fight oc- cured Col. A. s. Fowler, the Pro- gressive nominee for governor, had taken embrage at some femarks wh oh had been made by Downie, the nominee for Congress from the Fifth District, and asked him to stay few minutes to hear him. Col. Fowler said he had been working in the Re- publican party for forty-tWo years, md likened Cox and Downie to new foundA Na1.~oleA;} and Columbus. One remark of Downie's he declared was "a lie as hlack a foul as ever fell from the lips of man." At this. Downie, who weighs about 110 pounds and is cripple, advanced down the aisle toward Col. Fowler who weighs 225. What's that?" he cried, do you call me a liar?" Ad- vancing upon him with his cane uplifted, he was almost upon Col. Fowler when others intervened, and the threatened blow was not struck. T. D. Baumgar'ner of Yell came to Fowler's assistance and sad he was an old soldier and no one could strike him. Finally quiet was res tored, Downie retired, Fowler apolo- gized, and the convention proceeded.
 "A telegram was read from Ma .tional Chairman Dixon congratulat- ing the convention upon the organ:- zation of he new party.
 A provisional state central com mittee was organized, consisting of one member from each county, J. A. Conner being elected chairman and I. A. Baker, secretary.
 w. E. Pearsall, former Demo- cratic alderman of Argenta, and Harry M. TriebeT, son of District Judge Jacob TT eber, were elected national electors.
 Ire following delegates were elect ed to the Chicago convention next Monday:
 At Large-John A. Tellier, James A. Conner, A. s. Fowler, H. w. Suggs (cclcreO; alternates, c. Phil. Wat CTS. H. F. eAuten, R. R. Ramsey, R. L.. Torrence.
 First District, E. E. Ritter, E. J. Alaxander; ?, F. E. Adolph, w. B. Whitten; 3, E. c. Pritchard' w. H. Cecil; 4, B. M. Foreman, G. w. liar per; 5, H. |B. Wright, Bishop J. M. Conner; 6, M A. Esele, c. c. Sparks, s. M. Turrentine (with third vote e2ch.) ', M. A. Elliott, M. Dull augh.
 H. K. Cochran was named as na- tional committeeman.
 A committee consisting of J. A. Conner. w. J. Metcalf, J. A. Telller' $. c. Cassell, and Roy Porter, sub mitted platform of progressive principles which was unanimously v ndopted. The delegates to Chicago were instructed to "vote for the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt as lone as his name is befora the con- vention," ard a small sized oeniosi- stration was started at the meht.on of the ColonePs name.
 The platform is for T downwaro revision of the tariff, the Initiative, referendum and recall, preferential primaries, woman suffrage, dlrect election of Senators, parcels post, government control of drainage ana leyees progressive inheritance ana income tax, and many other things.