The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-04
SETTING |T STRAIGHT
Palatka News Refutes the Fairy Tales
About the Late Republican Com
yeutiOn in that City

/ Will base his contention that the re-
cent Repu blican State convention at
Palatka. which endorsed President
Taft, was irregular. on the ground
that his negro supporters We're bar
red from the convention hall, after
| being tricked into leaving to refresh
themselves with soft drinks.
In asking that Florida delegates ia
BILE TO himself Ee seated at the
national Republican convention. which
meets in Chicago, June IS, he will
allege that when the State conven-
tion recessed at Palatka admission
cards We're given TO Taft supporters.
while those known to be unfavorable
to the president failed to secure
pasteboards.
When tney returned to the hall they
were in the same position as the fool
ish virgins" who had forgotten their
oil and We're barred from the maria ge
feast.
Upon reassembling, the Republican
office holders, both white and black.
and such other Taft supporters as
| they could corral. jammed through
resolutions endorsing the president,
and adjourned before the Roosevelt
delegates could regain admission to
the hall.
At a subsequent convention held in
| this city Saturday. May IS, by the
Progressive wing of the Republican
party, Roosevelt was unanimously en-
dorsed. Six delegates and six alter
mates were elected TO attend the Chi
cago convention and Instructed to
vote for Roosevelt first, last and all
the time
ma 1aN hn r,l1h1 h1ira
conventions Of the Second and Third
Congressional districts met here and
elected two delegates and two alter
mates, each with similar instructions
Attorney Herbert /. Anderson, who
has been in the forefront of the
Roosevelt battle in Florida, was cleo
ted national committeeman, TO contest
for the position of Henrcy c. Chubb.
who represents the Taft wing of the
party in this capacity.
Acting under the personal orders of
Theodore Roosevelt. under whom he
served a detective in New York,
when Teddy was police commissioner,
J. E Burgess, principal of the metro
politan Detective Agency. of this city,
sent operatives to Palatka to investi-
gate alleged threats and violence, to
president were said to have been sub
jected.
These Investigations indicate that
while Sheriff kennerly of Putnam
county is alleged to have kanted to
forcibly eject negro supporters of
Roosevelt from the hall, he was re-
strained from doing so by party lead
ers with cooler heads. The scheme of
inviting the negroes out to take a
drink and keeping them out was then
hatched.
From a Mrs. kalbfield. who wrote the
convention proceedings for Jackson
Vile morning paper, a detective secur-
ed the following statement:
Il was requested to write up the con-
vention and did SO, giving correct
version of the proceedings. I told how
the Roosevelt delegates had been rail-
roaded out. after being refused per-
mission to speak or take any part in
the usual business of the day.
Joseph Lee. the negro collector of
internal revenue, at Jacksonville, ran
the convention like a king. and would
not permit Roosevelt delegate to par
ticipate When a Roosevelt delegate
arose to speak, he was either hooted
down or Lee would advise him it was
not time for him to speak. Lee would
tell him that he could speak after
awhile. but the time never came. The
Roosevelt delegates We're always de-
| clared to be out of order"
| Mrs. kalbfield also related to the de-
| tective the manner in which Roosevelt
| delegates were tricked into leaving, the
| hall.
Lee is reported to have stated in his
! speech that the white men wanted his
| position as collector of the port of
J Jacksonville and that if Mr.. Taft were
| not reelected and Roosevelt won the
| nomination. that the only good lucra-
! tive Federal position held in the State
| of Florida by one of his race would go
| TO a white man
! He is said TO have urged the negroes
| to hold together race. irres pective
! Of party, and to have told them the pO-
| sitiOn he now held had been secured by
doing what he was told and letting the
| men higher up run things.