Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-14
COMMITTEE
MEETING ENDS IN ROW
Johnson and Jackson Factions
Split and Hold Rival Meet
ingS in Same Hall
Especial Dispatch to The Journal)

Especial Dispatch to The Journal.)
MACON, Ga, March 11.-An attempt
ed meeting of the Republican state ex-
ecutive committee in the Macon city au-
ditorium Friday afternoon resulted In
& parliamentary battle between Walter
II. Johnsons faction and the Henry 5.
jackson faction. For three hours the
two factions conducted rival meetings
on opposite sides of the hall, Colonel
Johnson presiding over his faction with
q hickory stick in has hand. while Cap
tain Henry Barnes, OF Thomson. presid-
ed over the Jackson faction as best he
could amidst the general disorder.
The faction led by Colonel Johnson, Of
Columbus, chairman of the present state
executive committee, called meeting
of the state convention to be held in
Macon April IL, for the purpose of elect
Ing delegates to the Republican national
convention in Chicago.
The faction led by Henry S. Jackson,
of Atlanta, present national committee
man from Georgia, called a meeting OF
the state convention to be held in At
lanta April IL, for the purpose of elect
ing delegates to the Republican nation
al convention in Chicago.
Consequently there will be two state
conventions, two sets of delegates 20
Chicago, and a contest before the Gre
dentials committee of the Chicago con-
vention to determine which set of dele
gates are entitled to participate in the
nomination of the Republican candidate
for president in 1916.
POLICE PREVENT BLOODSHED.
wild clamor prevailed throughout
the session, and squad of Macon pc.
licemen and firemen headed by w. D.
Mcneil, city attorney of Macon. stood
guard to stop fist fights and prevent
bloodshed. The firemen had orders to
drench the whole works with a fire
hose If necessary, but they and the po-
lice managed to handle the situation
without resorting to this expedient.
Henry Lincoln Johnson, a negro law
yer of Atlanta, directed the fight of the
Jackson faction in the role of floor lead
err, while c. p. Goree, also an Atlanta
lawyer, led the forces of the Johnson
faction.
In the course of the disturbance both
floor leaders were taken in hand by the
police and escorted from the hall, but
later the police allowed them both to re-
turn and resume their respective duties.
Colonel Johnson, of Columbus, had the
chair when the meeting opened and call
ed on Rev. w. N Ainsworth, ID. D.,
pastor of Mulberry Street Methodist
church of Macon, to lead the Republicans
In prayer. Henry Lincoln johnson cut
short the minister's invocation with a
stentorian objection, and 1t was several
minutes before he was persuaded. with
the aid of the police, to let DR.. Aims
worth proceed.
The prayer over Colonel Johnson maze
q speech in defense of his acts as chair
man of the state executive committee,
and his faction loudly cheered. Then
Z. p. Goree, rising with a resolution in
his hand, was recognized by Colonel
Johnson, and proceeded to read the res
olution calling the state convention to
meet in Macon April IL.
At this point Henry Lincoln Johnson
rose near the rostrum and roared out an
objection in a voice that ratified the win
dows. Colonel Johnson raped for order
with his heavy hickory walking stick.
The rapping had no effect on the negro
lawyer, who continued his objection with
increased vehemence. He finally climbed
upon the rostrum and began to harangue
the Jackson faction and denounce Colonel
Johnson, who retaliated by ordering the
police to eject the negro from the hall.
In the meantime Mr.. Goree had been
trying to make himself heard above the
uproar. and the police mistook Colonel
Johnson's instructions and hustled Mr..
Goree to an exit. Colonel johnson wore
out his walking stick on the table in an
effort to make the police understand 1t
was the negro, and not the white man,
whom he wanted thrown out, and finally