El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-06
NEGRO QUESTION
CAUSES EXCITEMENT
Bitter Fight in Credentials
Committee Concerning
NEGRO Delegates.

Chicago, III. Aug 6-The second
day Of the Progressive national conven-
ton opened with the well defined fight
over the negro question vleing for first
/ interest with Col Theodore Roosevelt's
delivery Of his confession of faith" to
his followers in the Progressive cause.
Some of the delegates declared that
the elimination of the southern negro
from participation in the formation Of
the new party had become the para
mount issue of the convention Eastern
negroes Joined with their brothers from
the south in denunciation Of certain
things that occurred at an all night
meeting OF the credentials committee,
when the last of the southern negro
delegates was barred from the floor of
the convention in a close vote The
vote stood II to 10 against the negroes,
those from Mississippi, and imme-
diately Julius T. Mitchell, of Rhode
Island, and other eastern negroes Joined
in crying that the deciding ballot had
the committee.
Negroes indignant.
Fairly suffering Indignation, the
negroes announced they would carry
the matter TO Col. Roosevelt for a per-
sonal ruling on the point
The vote on the Mississippi case
came IN secret session Of the com
mittee at o'clock this morning a few
hours after both white and negro dele
gates had been barred
The negroes were indignant through
out the session of the committee, which
began at o'clock last night and con-
tinued until nearly daybreak The
Mississippi contest was the last to be
taken up and il was begun shortly
aLter naidnisht Half a dozen of the
negroes told the committee that to seat
the white delegates, headed by pro-
ylslonal national committeeman B F.
fridge, was equivalent to disfranchis-
ing the negro.
Negroes Barred From Convention.
The Fridge delegation was elected at
a convention, the call to which was ad-
dressed to white" citizens of Missis-
TO take part.
Several of the negroes in the ousted
delegation were among the delegates to
the Republican national convention who
stood by Col Roosevelt and deserted
the Republican convention in Chicago
to attend the first Progressive conven- /
ton when plans were made for the
After a lengthy debate committee
man Richard ". Child. of Massachu-
sets, proposed seating the Fridge
oelesates. but disappearing the Fridge
plan OF calling white" convention. !
This was done by a vote of l. to 16.
Negroes in Bitter Mood.
julius T. Mitchell, of Rhode Island, /
ana Or. George l. Cannon, of New Ter
sey' both negroes and members Of the /
committee. led the fight for the ne
SroeS' and they were in a bitter mood /
when the fight ended. Mitchell de- |
convention was cast by a questionable !
proxy, given in blank and hurriedly Sc !
cured
Confronted with these decisions of /
the credentials committee and the mass /
meeting Of indignant negroes held here /
last night to protest against Col !
RooseveltS position in the matter. the /
negro question today had the delegates /
IN an uproar The Colonel was deter (
mined to stand by his announced views, /
ana MS influence was seen in the &C /
ton Of the credentials committee.
me situation threatened a bitter I
night on the floor of the convention, 4
should the negroes adhere to their /
intention Of carrying the contests TO /
that point.
It was expected that the report of the !
credentials committee would be taken /
up late prior to the establishment of 4
permanent organization and after Col /
delivered his address.
Then. according to plans of leaders, !
former United States senator Albert I
BeYerldge, of Indiana, will be selected !
permanent chairman as was done in |
the case of Elihu Root in the Repub- /
lican national convention.
Judge Ben B. Lindsey of Denver. was /
CHOSEN for permanent chairman, but is /
said to have asked to be relieved be-
cause of i'll health
The rules committee of the conven-
llon ADOPTED the suggestion Of Col
Roosevelt that the basis of representa-
ton in future progressive conventions
be changed. The new rules proviLe
that one delegate be named for each /
and senator AID one ad-
dltional delegate to be chosen for each
10000 votes cast for the Progressive
party in the last previous election.
The resolutions committee worked on
The platform until a late hour last night.
hearing suggestions on all varieties
Of planks and discussing the platform
in an executive session.
Today il was expected that a sub
committee of seven members would be /
appointed to confer with Col. Roose-
welt regarding the platform. and with
him this sub committee expected to /
heW out the particular plank which. |
i'm abbreviated form viii cover the
ground. with ono or two ev0antions, Of
all the A4gEe radical issues