The Calumet news., 1912-08-06
SOUTHERN NEGROES SHUT OUT
Platform will Likely be Short, Not
More Than 1900 Words
BEvERIDGE PRESIDING OFFICER

Chicago. Aug. G.--Despite the fat
that Roosevelt was expected TO reach
the convention hall soon after noon the
delegates to the national Progressive
gathering were slow again today in
reaching their seats. At noon there
We're not moro than two hundred dele
gates on the floor. The galleries also
were slow in filing. but few minutes
n.ecr 6Sfsggttes and spec tato.s Bossa
to pour into the hsll. The great ciowd
had remained at headGuarters at the
hotel either to see the Colonel start
triumphantly for tho convention. or
accompany him on the trip. TIE crowd
in the Coliseum prepared 10 give him a
noisy welcome.
Southern Negroes Indignant.
The second day of the convention
opened with the well defined fight over
the negro question vying for first in
terest with Rooscvelt's delive~y of his
Confession of faith" Some of the del
egates 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 al, night meeting or the
credentials committee. when the last
southern negro delegates were barred
from the floor of the convention i'm a
close vote by the members Of the COM
mittee. The vote stood seventeen 60
sixteen against the negroes. those
from Mississippi and Immediately Ju-
Illus Mitchell, of Rhode Island, and
other eastern negroes joined IN crying
that the deciding ballot had been cast
by a questionable proxy on the COM
mittee. Fairly spIttcring with indlg-
nation, the negroes announced they
would carry the matter to Roosevelt
for personal ruling on the point
Roosevelt, however was plain and
emphatic in the statement he wanted
the Progressive party in the south to
be i'm the hands of the whites. 1t Is ex-
pected the report of the credentials
committee will be taken up late today
prior to the establishment of per
manent organization. after Roosevclts
address.
Platform Will Be Short.
The platform probably Will not be
completed until late today. The advo-
Gates of short. terse platform seem
ed to have won their point and it was
the hope to keep the document within
fifteen hundred words.
Temporary Chairman Beveri6gc
reached the stage shortly after noou.
Ten minutes later the delegates s2c-
tions were completely illed. a. the
assembled IL Was officials
that the temporary organ
i.ation would be made permanent
lSevcridge continuing to preside
The Moo" Of the bun moose and
songs kept things in an uprcar until
the ga, el fell a 12,35. The Michigan
delegates started now song. which
soon was caught up by other delega
tions until practically the entire floor
was singing Ttis is the way the
song went:
Follow. follow we viii follow
anywhere, everywhere Ne.
viii follow on. Follow. follow. we will
follow Roosevelt. Anywhere he leads
us we will follow him"
Great Ovation for Col.
II was 12.47 when Bcvcridge an
nounced the arrival Of Roosevelt This
was enough for the delegates and gall
leries. They jumped to their feet and
cheered. a minute later the Colone!
appeared on the stage. almost as 1t
by magic. In the midst OF doafen-
ing din he stepped ontc the speaking
Continual nn pnrn Six