The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-03-03
]HALF A NEGRO"
TO CHICAGO
Republicans Turn Down George Cen
try at State Convention, Tho Da-
vison Makes a Hard Fight

hard upon poor old George w. Gen.
try, the local negro, who has been
fighting the battles of that party for
over 40 years. Although the con-
vention sent eight elegates-at-large
to the national convention, they only
gave one place to negro, and Phil
Brown, a negro editor of Hopkins
vile got that, giving Kentucky as
a number of negro delegates termed
it, ''half a negro" at the national
convention. The big Eight chosen
were Ed Morrow, Marshall Bullitt,
Judge E. c. O'Rear, A. E. Wilson,
Richard p Ernst, and Congressman
Caleb Powers, and Phil Brown, the
negro.
The feature of the convention
from a local standpoint, was the hard
fight made for a full negro represen-
tation, or two delegates, by DR.. Rob-
ert L. Dawson, chairman of the Lin
coin County Republican Committee.
By a vote of 1887 1-2 to 322 1-2,
the convention, however, voted down
all efforts to put Gentry on the del
egation. The convention witnessed
some warm times. The Courier
Journal said the following of the
matter.
Immediately following the reading
of the report of the Resolutions Com
mittee, recommending that seven
white men and only one negro be
sent as delegates at large to the ma
tional convention, pandemonium
broke loose among the negro dele
gates. who insisted above the hub
bub that six white men and two ne
groes be named. The fight to that
end was started by j. E. Wood, a
negro delegate from Danville, who
moved that George w. Gentry, col
ored. of Stanford, recommended by
the Resolutions Committee, in its re-
port. for Endorsement for the post of
assistant doorkeeper at the national
convention, be substituted for one of
the seven white men recommended
for committeeman from the state at
large. The motion was quickly sec
onded by other negro delegates, and
soon the word went out that if the
negroes were not allowed to have
their way they would walk out of the
convention, costing the Republicans
$4,000 votes in the coming Novem-
Der election.
Realizing the gravity of the stu
alton. Edwin p Morrow, at this
point, in a dramatic speech, offered
himself as a sacrifice. Throwing off
the restraining arms of Maurice Gal
win, of Covington; Caleb Powers and
others, Mr.. Morrow sprang to the
platform and asked the convention
to name the negro Gentry in his
place. A storm of applause, domi-
mated by a roar of noes" greeted
Mr. Morrow's suggestion. The dele
gates would not let the suggestion
come to a vote.
DR.. Robert L. Dawson, of Stan
ford, advocating adoption of Woods
motion, said that were $4,000 loyal
republican negroes in Kentucky and
that unless they were given fair rep
resentation in the selection of dele
gates from the state at large they
would be heard from in the coming
election.
Such turmoil prevailed at this
point in the proceedings that it be-
came necessary for the chairman to
name three persons as sergeants-at-
arms to restore order.
Thurman Dixon, who was Temporal
ny chairman had barely finished his
keynote speech when DR.. Robert L.
Dawson, of Lincoln county, inaugu-
rated a ruckus over the number of
negro delegates to be sent from the
State at large to the national conven-
ton.
81 rise to a question of personal
privilege and information, Mr.. Chair
man." he said, as he made his way
to the front of the rostrum and adj
dressed the delegates, rather than the
chairman. 81 want to know what
has been done for the colored repub-
hcans of Kentucky. / ask whether
this convention is going to send two
negro delegates to Chicago out of
the eight, or only one. Heretofore
one negro has always been sent out
of four, and now if we are going to
send eight then in justice to the col
ored man we should send two ne
groes with half a vote each, so the
colored man will have one full vote
as he always has had"
DR.. Davison's remarks threw the
convention into a mild sort of up
roar He had not finished his first
sentence when Kisses and cries of
-'sit down" and 'throw him out"
were heard. A score or more of del |