The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-06
NEGROES TURNED
DOWN At ORDER
OF COLONEL
Essential That White Men Con-
troll the New Party
JUDGE LINDSEY CHAIRMAN
Boom For Governor johnson For Vice
President But caIifornians Want
Him To Remain As Governor.

Chicago, Aug. 6.-The first session
of the first convention of the new ma
tional progressive party, of which
Col. Roosevelt is sponsor, was held
in the Coliseum at Chicago yesterday.
Sentiment last night generally fav-
ored Gov. Hiram Johnson of Califor-
mia for vice-presidental nominee and
Judge Ben B. Lindsey of Denver for
permanent chairman. This slate
was virtually agreed to by leaders
and met with the approval of Col
Theodore Roosevelt. The colonel in
dorses strongly the suggestion that
Judge Lindsey be recommended for
permanent chairman. In regard to
the vice-presidential nomination he
took the position that it was for the
convention to decide whom it should
nominate and that he would make no
suggestions. He let 1t be known,
however, that if the convention
should decide upon Gov. Johnson the
selection would meet with his APP
proval.
Judge Lindsey's name will be pre-
scented to the committee on perman-
ent organization today by number
OF its most influential members, and
1t was said last night that his selec-
ton by the committee was virtually
assured. The Judge is a former dem
ocrat and is of southern parentage,
and il was felt that his selection
would appeal to the Souht. Col Roose
welt said before he left Oyster Bay
that he favored the selection of a
southern democrat as vice-president-
ial candidate. The field was can
vassed carefully by leaders of the
new party and 1t is understood that
the colonels suggestion was aban-
doned only when 1t became evident
that 1t was impossible to decide up
on the available man. 1t was said
last night that sentiment among the
delegates in favor of Gov. Johnson
was so strong that his choice as Col.
Roosevelt's running mate was virtual
ly assured.
The California delegation passed a
resolution yesterday saying the state
could not spare Gov. johnson, but ii
was said last night that the COVER
nor's friends would not insist upon
this attitude. In the event of Gov.
Johnson's nomination il is planned to
have him take the stump in the East
while Col. Roosevelt is campaigning
through the West. The governors
qualifications as a campaigner were
said to be strong factor in his ia
vo;
When Col. Roosevelt reached Chic
ago yesterday morning he put in a
stormy two hours before he succeeded
in Strengthening out the tangle over
the contesting negro delegates from
the South. After he had been well
coined by crowd of several thous-
and persons and had made a speech
on the street In front of his hotel he
went to his headquarters and took
the helm. The Florida and Mississ-
ippi cases which had not been ruled
upon by the provisional national com
mittee were placed before him in de
tail. and it developed there was a
sharp difference of opinion in the
Roosevelt camp. A number of his
northern supporters told him frankly
that they disapproved of the policy OF
barring ali negro delegates from the
South.
II was urged that such a position
would cost the national progressive
ticket the support of a large number
OF negroes in northern states, In
which their strength was greatly
needed. Others of Col. Roosevelt's
supporters felt that in fairness to the
negroes. they should have some repre-
sentation from the South. Col. Roose
welt stood his ground. In answer 10
every objection, he said he would
cling unequivocally to the position he
had taken and that, although il might
cost him votes in the northern states
he believed 1t was to the best inter.
ests OF the party to proceed under
white leadership in the South.
He reiterated the statement made
in his letter to Julian Harris of At
lanta that ii was to the white man in
the South that the negro must look
and declared his position was for the
best interests of the negro. Il was
said last night that all of his associ
ates finally were won over fully to his
point of view. Ii is understood Col
Roosevelt suggested the action in the
Florida and Mississippi cases subse
quently taken by the national com
miitee.
The Mississippi contests were
thrown out completely. on the ground
that the white delegates were regular
ly elected. Col Roosevelt is said tC
have protested against the use of the
word white delegates" in the call for
the Mississippi state convention In
the Florida cases the contesting neg
TO delegation was thrown out. The
negroes protested loudly against this
They were invited to attend the con
vention as supplemental delegates
without votes. but declined to do this
eventually, going as spectators. Their
the national committee decided e
bar also the white delegates from
Florida. there having been some que.
ton OF irregularity in calling a whit.
and a negro convention separately.
The cases were taken before tn.
convention committee on credential,
last night. but It was generally be
lieved the committee would follow IN.