Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-18
.GRIER FOOLED US
SAY NEGROES WHO
SIGNED STATEMENT
], C, Styles Dawson Negro
Says 1t Was Never to Be
Used Unless All % Georgia
Delegates Signed 1t
BIZ RALPH SMITH.

CHICAGO, June 1.-THE Georgia del
egation to the Republican convention is
wavering between Taft and Roosevelt
Clark Grier, a district delegates from
Dublin. Ga, claims that at least five dele
gates have agreed to bolt Taft and vote
for Roosevelt, He counts himself among
this number. National Committeeman
Henry Blum, Jr., OF Savannah; Col. Wal
ter Johnson, state chairman OF Atlanta,
and Henry S. Jackson, Of Atlanta, en-
phatically deny the accusation Of Grier's
statement They say that Grier is the only
Georgian who will vote for Roosevelt,
and they charge him with all sorts OF
treaehery, double dealings, etc. The sign
ed statement given out yesterday by
Roosevelt. in which five Georgia delegates
renowned Taft and declared for Roose-
welt, was today repudiated by J. c.
Styles. Of Dawson, Ga, one OF the men
whose signatures appeared on the state
ment. Styles is a negro. He says that he
signed the statement on the representa-
ton by Clark Grier that Walter John
son has seen Roosevelt in person some
weeks ago, and arraiged to deliver the
entire Georgia vote to the third-term
candidate.
He signed It with the understanding
that It would not be used unless the en-
tire Is delegates signed also and arrang-
ed to bolt in body. "Grier was able
to secure only i've signatures. includ-
ing his own, to the statement and he
has violated a confidence in giving 1t out
under the circumstances" said Styles.
ct shall vote for Taft's nomination, and
believe that Grier will be the only
bolter in the delegation. He deceived me
into signing the statement. Walter
Johnson has never been near Roosevelt.
~ H. Boon, who is postmaster of
Hazlehurst, JEFF Davis county, witness
ed the signed statement renouncing
Taft. It is his present purpose to sup
Yort Roosevelt under certain condi-
tions, but it would be mistake olst
him as a bolter right now. he is
liable to get back on the Taft reserva-
ton at any time. He wants a winner
frs. OF all. and if he can be shown that
Taft Is the man he win stay put for
Taft, all right.
MINSEY FOR TAFT.
S. s. Minsey, a negro delegate from
the 18th district who also signed the
statement declares that he did so with
the understanding tina 1t would not be
used unless all the delegates agreed 10
bolt. He asserts this morning that he
is for Taft. Notwithstanding the
CLAIMS and counter claims, the charges
and counter charges, the situation in
reference to Georgia delegation is un-
certain and unsettled. You can hear
all sorts of gossip and talk about what
the result will be. The Georgia leaders
and undoubtedly scared. They do not
know what will happen. They profess
confidence IN the regularity of all the
delegates. but they admit privately that
the negroes ar not to be relied upon.
The statement credited to the Geor-s
gia delegates bore the signature Of
three white men and, two negroes.
The white men are Clark Grfer,
whose wife Is postmistress at Dublin.
Laurens county; J. H. Boone, who Is
postmaster at Bailey, in Appling coun-
ty. and J. Eugene Peterson, of Fort
Gaines. Clay county. The negroes are
j @. Styles, of Dawson, Terrell county.
and s. S. Minsey, of Alley, Montgom-
cry county.
Along with the statement by the
Georgfans was an interview with
Clarlx, Grier, who was the only one OF
the five whose names are signed to
the statement who had reached Chicago
yesterday. There was slight discrep-
ency between Grier's interview and the
signed statement given out by the
Roosevelt folks. Grier claimed that at
least six Georgians had decided to bolt
Taft and vote for Roosecelt, and the
statement bore the signatures Of only
FIVE.
The sixth man named by Grier was
A. N. Flul1er, a negro, >ef Argyle, Clinch
county. The statement bearing the five
signatures follows just as 1t was fur
nished to the press:
THE STATEMENT.
1.-THE undersigned are regularly elect
ed delegates to the national convention
to be held in Chicago on June Is. When
we were elected there was but one can
didate in the field, and there seemed to
be nothing to do but to accept Mr.. Taft
and inevitable defeat IN November. At
that time IT seemed to make little diff,
ference whether there were instructions
or no instructions, delegates or no dele
gates, for 1t seemed then a foregone
conclusion at time that Mr.. Taft was
to be the Republican nominee and .
Democrat the next president.
with the announcement of your can.
didacy, the party was given new lease
Of life; countrywide sprung the senti-
ment that the future contained some
promise Of business stability and ag-
gressive and righteous leadership the
man whose name was synonymous with
the square deal was in the ield-the
party as well as the country bucked
mn If was now n fight worth while