Bisbee daily review., 1912-08-04
Contests Between White Men and Negroes First Duty of Credential COm- mittee of New Party; Devote Time to Cases
CONVENTION TO
 OPEN ON MONDAY
Dixon Says Story Will Elec- trify Nation; Johnson En- thuses Audience, Declares
 Came 2000 Miles for Man

CHICAGO, August S.-The nation al progressive party emerged from its swaddling clothes and got down 70 real political work today when the national committee Of the new party took up the work of framing a tenn poraTy roll of delegates for the con vention on Monday. Despite certain differences and ineXPerience which made progress slow, the committee succeeded in settling the question of representation from various terri tories and outlying possessions, and heard arguments of the various con testing delegations. The committee. after two and a half hours meeting early this afternoon. resumed work at { o'clock. and was in session well into the evening.
 Many of the men who worked 10 shape the new political party were far from experienced politicians. and they approached their duties with a sort of timidity today. There were about 9 men, representing the var ious states. and they gathered in a small room at headquarters and went through their labors in an atmosphere thick with cigar smoke.
 Political Evolution
 Senator Dixon. of Montana, pre- sided When he called the meeting to order shortly after noon. he made a speech outlining the purposes of the gathering, and predicted great things for the new party. He re viewed the work done by the Roose- welt forces, following the republican convention. and up to the time the I.II ha meeting here.
 This call was signed on July s" he said. 'I doubt if in the history of the AnglO-SaXOn race there have ever been such developments, such an evolution politically among ninety millions of people, as you have wit messed during the past twenty-nine days. During this time fOrty-seven of the foTty-eight states in the union, through their representatives in mass meetings. have come together. and a national convention has developed.
 Not a Flash in Pan.
 Dixon review the work of pTOgres. siyes in various states and continued this is a positive demonstration and when the HOO men meet on Monday at the coliseum and the story goes 70 the country that the new nation. wide movement in American politics has become an actual reality you are 2Oing 10 see the line stiffen in every state in the union. You are going to see it demonstrated that it is not a flash in the pan" Dixon spent a week in Washington recently and in describing it said:
 Positively it was like an old time
  that the atmosphere under the dome Of the capitol as compared to old time funerals would be like an Irish wake in comparison. I do not quite understand what happened. I think the atmosphere at the capitol is the worst of any place in the nation. but they are beginning to here from home"
 Negroes Vs. Whites.
 When Dixon concluded various members of the committee explained the progressive situation in their home states. The committee voted to allow Alaska, Hawaiian Islands and District Of Columbia representa- ton in the convention, but to with hold from delegates from these places the right to vote.
 The first contest taken up by the committee was in the Alabama dele gation. Twelve negroes led by pr Dr. Joseph T. Thomas, contested the delegates elected by the progressive convention at Birmingham from the fourth, sixth and ninth districts Of the state. oscar IT. Hundley, mem bers of the national committee ap- peared for the regular delegates and pr. Thomas for the negroes. lt ap Deared some thirty-one negroes who attended the convention elected the twelve contestants after the regular convntion had named it's delegates.
 Negroes not Wanted
 The committee did not vote on the Alabama contest when the argument was concluded, but proceeded to hear the Florida contests. Six ne groes and one white man appeared as the contesting delegation. They were elected by two negro conven- tions. one held at Ocala and one at St. Augustine. but both were working in conjunction. These were opposed by six white men chosen by the con yentiou called at Ocala by H. L. An derson, member of the national com mittee.
 C. Fl. AIston, who appeared for the contestants, asserted the negroes had been barred out of the convention by Anderson. He said two kinds Of tickets were used for the convention.