Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-06
COLORED MEN ARE
DENIED AS DELEGATES

was to be white mans party It's
got to be in mississippi"
Am to 60 back home and tell my
children was disfranchised in the
very city and almost across the street
from where Abraham Lincoln, fifty.
two years ago, made the fight which
led to our acknowledgements" shouted
Perry w. Howard, the Mississippi
negro who In the republican national
convention had the distinction Of hav-
ing been selected by both the Taft
and Roosevelt factions as delegate.
Well, we can't win with negroes
the fight in the SOUTH said Commit
teeman Cecil A. Lyon Of Texas.
Howard's delegation consisted Of COL
ored men who claimed to own property
ranging from $4,000 to $25o,00O.
The Florida "black and tan" delega-
tion," headed by c. H. Aston, negro,
and white physician, were also men
eloquent and charged Provisional Com
mitteeman H. L. Anderson of various
political crimes.
Defends "Blaok and Tan"
He said the BLACK and tan" faction
had issued call for a convention be-
fore Andersons appointment When he
was selected, he got into communica-
ton with him and agreed to the latter's
demand that the call be rescinded. 1t
was understood, he said that two con-
ventions were to be held. one at Ocala
and one at st. Augustine. The later
was to be the ''black and tam conven-
ton and the actions of both were to be
regarded as bona f1de He exhibited a
letter from Anderson advising two
conventions. 1t read in part:
Il wish to advise you that the color
ed leaders throughout the state
have called convention to be
held at ST. Augustine on July q, next
Saturday. 1t is highly desirable that
you and your friends attend the st.
Augustine convention. The objection to
this convention Is the same as the
Ocala convention, but considering the
situation as it exists in this state the
friends Of Mr.. Roosevelt have decided
that it Is absolutely necessary to have
two conventions.
"a large number Of former democrats
have signified their intention to attend
the Ocala convention and to actively
assist In the organization Of the new
party. We want no friction, but unani-
nous action among all the Roosevelt
supporters, and for that reason I want
to urge you and your friends to attend
the st. Augustine convention.
Negroes Sound Warming.
Aston explained to the committee
that because of this letter many of his
friends were shunted off to st. Angus
tine. while the white men chose the
Florida delegates at Ocala. He predict
ed that most of the negroes who had
headed toward the new party would
return to the republican fold.
Howard also was Of that opinion.
I'VE only have about 5000 negro
voters in Mississippi now, but there
are 100000 negroes in the state, and 1t
won't take much to enfranchise 10O.-
900 Of them,' Howard said. "They
won't stand for Acknowledgement by
YOU"
DR.. Joe T. Thompson Of the ninth AL
ALBANIA district, negro, appeared to
urge the choice Of at least one negro
from his state to sit in the convention.
lie was turned down. He was opposed
by Oscar r. Hundley, the former fed
eral judge whose vocational appoint
nnent by Roosevelt the senate under
President Taft refused to confirms
While the committee was In session
Howard got into a squabble outside
the committee rooms with T. F. H.
Sotham Of Lake Grove, Mich, sheep
man. Sotham said Roosevelt favored
the colored man and referred to the
Booker r. Washington dinner incident.
Demand for Rights Made.
wouldn't give cent to eat at q
table with Roosevelt or any other
white man. Howard answered. I'VE
don't want dinners. We want our rights
as citizens"
The District OF Columbia, Hawaii
and Alaska are to be represented In a
silent way In the convention. The
committee ruled yesterday that dele
gates from those possessions and civil
district might sit in the convention.
but their right to vote would have to
be determined by the rules committee.
South Carolina was the only state
which will have no representation in
the convention. The Philippines and
Porto Rico also will not be represent
ed.