The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-05-17
STATE CONVENTION
MEETS THIS MORNING
Election of Delegates Cen
ter of interest.
MAY NOT SEND
SEN. TILLMAN


N. B. DIM Suggested as Permanent
President. Campaign Circus to
Come In for Lively Discussion.
John Gary Evans, of Spartanburg,
chairman of the State Democratic OK
executive committee, Wednesday at
noon will call the State Democratic
convention to order in the hall of the
house of representatives at the state
house. The principal order of bust
ness Will be the election Of two dele
gates from each Of the seven congress
sional districts Of the state and four
at large to attend the national con
vrntion of the party to be held at St.
Louis. beginning on June IA. There
are 33S delegates accredited to the
State convention from 45 counties or
the state.
Fight for Temporary Chairman.
Tho first business Of the convention
VII be the election of the temporary
cha:rr an, and the probabilities are
ttat there will be a fight on this, as it
h' learned that the Blease faction will
y unt a complete Slate of officials.
Who will be designated by them for
this position is not known at this time
but candidate for this as we'll as
the other positions in the convention
will be decided in a caucus Of Blease
delegates to be held in Columbia
tuesday night Neither the Manning
nor Cooper followers have made any
mention of contesting for temporary
president, but 1t is thought the prob
abilities are that they will do so, par
ticularly If the Blease people carry
out their present intention.
Following the election Of temporary
president, the convention will be or
sanihed and permanent officials will
be selected by vote of the delegates.
They Will consist of a president, a vice
president from each of the congress
sional districts, two secretaries and a
treasurer. Thomas H. Cothran, of
Greenville, and w. p. Pollock Of Che
raw, have been mentioned as posi-
BILE candidates for permanent presi-
dent. 1t Is thought that hard fight
VIII be made for leadership in the
body.
"Bfg Four" May Surprise.
There Is much speculation as to
who will be the big four" to the st.
Louis convention. The names OF Sen
ator Tillman, Senator Smith, Cover
nor Manning and w. p. Pollock have
Deen advanced as probable choice for
delegates ut large. 1t Is understood,
however, that a concerted fight by a
certain element will he made on the
election Of Senator Tllman, who has
gone to the national conventions since
1871, ad also the probabilities are
That objections will be raised to Sen
ator Smith, think those that are ia
miliar with the political complexion
or the convention. Senator Smith was
not sent to the state convention by
his home county-Lee-an this is Civ
Ell as an indication of what will hap
pen Wednesday. Another possibility
as delegatc-at-large lately has been
suggested in the person of N. B. Dial,
of Laurens. r. Goodwin Rhctt, Of
Charleston; l.. j Browning, OF Union
Bright Williamson, Of Darlngton; ID.
Q. Hayward, Of Columbia, and others
not so well known.
There has been an agitation in some
quarters for sending only those to the
national convention that are not state
or federal cials or candidates for
state or federal Offices. How far this
has taken hold Of the imaginations of
the delegates, Is not known at this
time, but there are those that think
the coming gathering WILL be filled
with surprises for the politicians.
May Bounce Ben Tillman.
Another interesting fight presagcd
for Wednesday will be the election OF
tho state national committeeman,
which, according to the new rules,
must be done by the state convention
and not by the state executive com
mittee, as formerly. Senator Tillman
has held this position for many years
and It Is known that an effort will be
made to oust him.
Should John Gary Evans he a candi-
date for reelection as chairman of the
state executive committee, he will
find opposition In the person of Gen.