Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-05-05
"D|CK' THOMPSON RULES CONVENTION Republicans Met Here Yes terday and There Were
 Few Breaks.
FERD HAVIS A FACTOR
DenOWnceS Postmaster Furtll On His Refusal to Accept Alternatcship
 to Minor Convention.

The Republican county convention convened here yesterday morning at II o'clock with about 75 negro and about five T,Lily Whte,' delegates present. Dr. R. c. Thompson chair Ean of the Republican Central Com E,ittee, was elected permanent chair man and s. w. Dawson negro, sec retary.
 The convention was very orderly except in one or two spots where delegates, not being satisfied with places of honor or appointment as delegates to the state and congress sional conventions, raised howl against what they termed the "Steam Roller methods employed by F'erd Havis and Dr. R. C. Thompson, rec ognized leaders of the party in Jeffer- son county.
 A. w. Speer, negro lawyer, was the chief obstructionist to the slate which had been carefully planned, but between the eloquence of one or two followers of the chairman and the per- suasion of Ferd Havis, the slate went through, even to the naming of one man, as delegate to both the state and congressional conventions, which met with opposition from several quarters.
 Rev. s. A. Mosely, a negro minister, opened the convention with an invoca- | ton and a committee of credentials 1 was appointed which later reported that no contests were made and all delegates were seated
 | Dr. R. c. Thompson was unanimous ly elected chairman and upon being called upon for a speech he expressed his gratitude for the distinguished honor and said he deemed it great pleasure to preside over Republican convention, which, he added by way of parenthesis, was something of a rarity in this part of the country. He was proud to weild the gavel over the Liberal minded men, who represent ed the various wards and townships in Jefferson county, who were noted for their sterling worth and integrity, and which was composed of the best ele- ment of. white and negro Republicans in the county.
 1 Opposition Starts.
 Considerable opposition developed to the committee appointed by the chair man to nominate the nine delegates and alternates to the two conventions in Little Rock. A. w. Speer tried to tack an amendment to the original motion for the appointment of the committee. His amendment was that delegates from each ward and town ship should compose the personnel of the committee in order that all Republicans would be represented. He was assisted in his fight by J. c. Duke formerly editor of negro paper in this city, who stated that the com mittee would nominate themselves Their endeavor was futile, however and the amendment was lost.
 When the nominating committee re- ported the name of s. l.. Woolfolk who was chairman of the committee it was the signal for an outburst many claiming that he should be rele- gated to the "tall and uncut.' Again the persuasive tongue of Ferd Havis was brought into play but Woolfolk's name was not left on the list of dele gates until each delegate was voted upon separately and there was not { dissenting voice. The alternates were elected in the same manner.
 The following are delegates and al ternates to the state convention: Dele gates, Ferd Havis, R. c. Thompson. A G. Thompso s. w. Dawson, s. C Pryce, s. l.. Woolfolk, N. s. Kite, 0 M. Spellman and B. D. Edwards. Al ternates, H .Bringman, G. w. Waigon CT, s. w. Crump, A. B. Knight. M. D Davis, J. F. Jones, A.. w Speer < Charles Haycock and H. M. Thomas.
 Furth Was g Target.
 Another howl was raised when tn list of nominees for the congressiona convention was read and again Havi came to the rescue and told how badl needed were several of the men wh had been named. Though each dele