The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-05-11
THE REPUBLICAN COMPOUND
FRA CTURE.

polled barely 5000 votes at the re-
cent state election and proDaoly iell
short of the ten per cent OF the total
vote requisite to the retention OF
their party franchise under the ex-
listing law, they have shown them
selves numerous enough to split into
tnree factions. Their organization
is not only fractured, therefore, put
may be described as suffering from
compound fracture.
The .LoiselHebert wing, which IS
being designated as Black-and-iah
because it has abided by an agree
ment to recognize a half-dozen col
ored men who were elected in the
Republican primary Of January "a as
members Of the state conmlttee'
held a state convention at Alexan-
dria, April 8. and elected delegates
to the Chicago convention pledged TO
the support Of President Taft for re-
nomination.
The Lily Whites went to Alexan-
dria on May 2 for the purpose OF
holding a similar convention under
the original call Of the state COM
mittee, and more than accomplished
the object in view, because the wing
split into a pair of wings and held
two conventions, one composed OF
Taft Lily Whites under the chair
manship of Laurence Fl. Pugh, and
the other Of Roosevelt Lily Whites
under the Craftsmanship Of Gen. w.
]. Behan.
It was evident that the leaders OF
the two factions had agreed to dis
agree beforehand and that the pro-
gram was carried out according to
previous understanding. The con-
yention was called to order by Chair
man f. B. Williams of the state COM
mittee, who stated the objects OF the
gathering and directed Secretary E,
J. Thilborger to call the roll by par
ishes. There were responses by dele
gates or proxies from forty-one o.
the states sixtyone parishes.
motion was adopted recognizing the
persons on the =secretary's roll a.
delegates and giving half-yotes IN
all cases of contest. By common
consent the Taft supporters occupied
the seats on the left side OF the
main aisle and the RooseyeltianS
those on the right side There Were
1913 delegates in the hall, of whom al
proximately 80 were in the Taft
phalanx and 6S in the Roosevelt bat
TALON.
Jules Godchsallx and w. .. Behar
we're placed mi nomination as the op
Lpasl eans1ld d for elaa lrIaa III
when the voting had barely begun
LII. Pugh raised the point Of ordel
that the rule OF the national conyen
ton should be followed and proxies
/ be excluded Chairman Williams sus
tanned the point. Floor Leader H
is. Suthon Of the Roosevelt factor
protested against this ruling, declar
ing that it came as a surprise, where
at everybody laughed, because the
ruling was manifestly "a part of tht
play Secretary Thilborger will
smiling vigor voiced the determine
ton OF the RooseVeltians not to rec
ognize the decision. Chairman VIII
Iiams put the motion for the election
Of q chairman and declared Mr.. God
cllaux elected. Secretary Thilborge:
simultaneously put a like motion
and declared Gen. Behan elected
| Mr. GodchauX ascended one end @
| the rostrum and Gen Behan thu
other, and after a brief sQuabble con
| Quoted in an entirely good natures
manner, Mr.. Suthon proposed in tht
interest of orderly procedure tina
| Chairman F. B. Williams and Nation
al Committeeman Pearl Wight be az
! pointed a committee 10 decide upo1
the respective times at which the
two wings would hold their conven
tons. 1t was agreed that the Tai
people should proceed with thei
business at once, and that at
! O'Clock the hall would be relinquishe4
| to the Roosevelt contingent.
L. H. Pugh was made permanen
chairman of the Taft convention ant
E. L. Miller secretary Resolutions
were adopted indorsing the admins
tration of President Taft and in
structing the delegates to the ma
/ tlonal convention to support him
recognizing Frank r Williams a,