Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-17
DEMOCRATS
WILL NAME DELEGATES
State Convention Meets at Co.
lumba to Select National
Convention Delegates
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
(Journal Bureau.)


Especial Dispatch to The Journai.)
COLUMBIA. S. c., May 15.-The
state Democratic convention was called
to order here today at noon in the
house of representatives. Its chief
business is to select South Carolina's
IS delegates to the national convention
at Baltimore
Though the supporters of Judge Ira
B. Jones. candidate for governor, will
control the convention by a to 1 ma
jority over the followers of Gov. Cole
L. Blease at the, convention. it will
have only an indirect bearing on the
governors race, which will be decided
by a primary in August
The convention is admittedly a Will
son body and will send Wilson men
to Baltimore. The main thing to be
decided today is whether the conven-
ton will instruct for Wilson or only
indorse him.
BANKHEAD COMES.
Senator H. Bankhead, Underwood S
campaign manager is here to squeeze
out of the situation whatever he can
for his mar. He spent a busy day
yesterday caucusing with Underwood
supporters.
The following seems to be a correct
summary of the plans or the Under
wood forces for today: They will try
to have the convention call a prefer
entail presidential primary to be held
between now and the time of the meet
ing of the Baltimore convention.
though to DO so it will be necessary
to rue back on the Wilson victory
already achieved by the convention sys-
tenn entered into in April by all fac
tions without objection. While none of
the Wilson supporters opposed the
principle of a presidential primary or
would fear one, they describe the plan
now as nothing more than scheme of
Senator Bankhead to muddy the con-
vention waters.
Failing in their efforts for a new
trial" for their candidate, the Under
wood men will bend their energies to
keep the convention from instructing
I'VE don't need Senator Bankhead to
come down here to tell us how to run
things" said ex-senator ]. i. Nc
Laurin, one of the Wilson leaders
He is in d nice position to ask South
Carolina not to instruct when he had
the Alabama convention to tie up that
delegation so tight that they will have
to vote for Underwood at Baltimore
even though he may be a dead man."
Thomas G. Mcleod, former lieuten-
ant governor. will be named president
dored by both the Blease and the Jones
forces.
The credentials committee win be
busy probably several hours deciding
between the contesting delegations
from Charleston and Georgetown.
The split in tine former county was
between the supporters and opponents of
j. Gilmore Martin, candidate for sheriff.
In the latter county the split was be-
tween Jones and Blease adherents. The
state executive committee met last night
but adjourned until after the convention
today to elect a new state chairman
General Willie Jones, who has held the
position for IA years, announced his re-
tirement.
He was presented by the old commit
tee with a handsome silver pitcher on
which the names of the committees and
their counties were engraved. John
Gary Evans, of Spartanburg, former gov
ernor, ii is now thought, will be the new
chairman.
JONES IN CONTROL.
The preliminary organization was
quickly effected after the convention
was caleld to order by former state
Chairman Willie Jones, NJ. L. Smith,
sneaker of the house of representatives,
was chosen by reclamation as Temporal
nv president. He was nominated by ).
w. Thurmon, campaign manager -or
Judge Ira B. Jones. candidate for gov
ernor. j. A. Hoyt, of Columbia, and M
M. Mann of Calhoun county, were emo
sen temporary secretaries.
An interesting incident OF the pre-
liminaries was the appointment by Cen.
Willie Jones, of Judge Ira Jones ana
Gov. Cole Blease. fierce rivals for the
governorship, to escort the temporary
president to the chair. Judge Jones
and j. w. Thurmond. his manager who
was also named on the committee, ro-
sponded, but Governor Blease did not.
The Jones men have full control or
the temporary organization.
The credentials committee consisting
of one member from each of the AZ nom
contested counties was named to pass
on the contesting delegations y from
Charleston and Georgetown counties.
The convention then recessed to await
the committees report
The credential committee was organized
with j. Z. Mcdonald, of Fairfield, chair
man, and NJ NJ. Mann, secretary. The
committee was ordered to report to the
convention at reconvenement at 4
O'Clock.