Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-06
Mississippi Case is De-
cided After an ALL
Night Session.
PUT UP TO ROOSEVELT
Fasteners Join With Their
Black Brethren in Fighting
DiSfranChiSement.

Chicago, Aug. 6.-The second day OF
the progressive convention opened
with a we'll defined fight over the ne
gro question vying for first interest
with Roosevelt's delivery of his con
fession of faith" Some of the dele
gates declared the elimination of the
southern negro from participation in
the formation of the new party had
become the paramount issue Of the
convention. Eastern negroes joined
with their brothers from the south in
denunciation of certain things that oc-
Cured at an all-night meeting of the
credentials committee, when the last
of the southern negro delegates were
barred from the floor of the conven-
ton in a close vote by the members of
the commitloc.
VOTE is CLOSE.
The vote stood II to 16 against the
negroes, those from Mississippi. and
Immediately julius Mitchell, of Rhode
Island and other eastern negroes join
ed in crying that the deciding ballot
3 Alcu DCCl Nu0l bS plOAy
on the. committee. Fairly sputtering
with Indignation, the negroes an.
nounced they would carry the matter
to Roosevelt for a personal ruling
on the point. If necessary the fight
will be taken to the floor of the con,
vention.
At SECRET SESSION.
| The vote on the Mississippi case
came at a secret session at 3 O'Clock
this morning, few hours after both
the white and negro delegations from
Florida had been barred from the
convention. Several negroes in the
ousted delegation were among dele
gates to the republican national con
vention who stood by Roosevelt and
deserted to attend the first progress
sive meeting when plans were made
for the third party.
NEGROES HAVE DEFENDERS.
| In the arguments in the Mississippi
case the negroes declared that to seat
the white delegation headed by Fridge
was equivalent to DISTINGUISHING the
negro. The negroes found a number
of warm defenders among white dele
gates and on the credentials commit
tee, and while a great majority of the
delegates desire to do exactly as want
ed by Roosevelt. there is a marked di
vision in opinion in the negro cases
Miss Jane Adams of Chicago, mem
Der of the Illinois delegation, took VI
| nP hA
ROOSEVELT EMPHATIC.
Roosevelt, however, was plain anC
emphatic in his statement that he
wants the progressive party in the
south to be in the hands of whites. L
was expected that the report of the ere
dentials committee would be taken III
late today prior to the establishment O
the permanent organization, and aftel
Roosevelt had delivered his address
to the delegates. The address, it wa
Then, according to plans of the lead
ers, former Senator Beveridge woult
be selected permanent chairman.
WORRIED OVER REPORT.
Frank Knox of Michigan, Chairman
Of the credentials committee confer
ed with Roosevelt on the negro ques
ton. Knox, it was said, was anxiou
over the nature of the report to b.
made TO the convention today. The re
groes claimed an illegal proxy Wa
used to encompass thei. defeat Lead
ers are bending all their energies 4
b cid ,'ght On the floor tie cor
vention. The platform probably vii
not be completed until late today. Al
vocates of short, terse platform
seemed TO have won their point. |
was their hope to keep the documen
within 1900 words.