Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1916 — BIG MIX-UP AT CONVENTION [ARTICLE]

BIG MIX-UP AT CONVENTION

Alternate and Proxy-Holder Insist on Voting While Delegate Himself Is Present. A south era black-county convention was in progress, and the hall was crowded. Among rows upon rows of the dusky sons of toil an occasional white delegate stood out like a .flake of snow on a coal car. The chairman was calling the roll. One by one the delegates answered yea or nay till the name of James Levy was called. Up jumped a burly negro, as black as ink, "I’se his proxy, and I votes yea.” From across the hall came another voice: "Mr. Cheerman, Mr. Cheerman, I’se his alternate, an’ I votes nay.” 'Tsd de gem’man entitled to dis yar vote, and it’s yea.” “Don’ you listen to his talk, Mr. Cheerman. De alternate’s got de say 1 so, an’ de vote is nay.” Back and forward, forward and back, the alternate and proxy of James Levy wrangled, while the chairman vainly pounded for silence. A third man in the hall stood up, and endeavored to make»himself heard above the tumultuous voting. The chairman caught sight of him, and leaping to his feet, he shouted above the din: “Mr. Proxy an’ Mr. Alternate, if you all don’ stop datfumpus I’se gwine use dis hyar gavel on you’ haids, an’ dat’s de truf, Tse tellin’ you. Now,” he continued as the rivals quieted down, “we gwine hyar what the gem’man standin’ up in de back of de hall’s got ter say.” “Please, suh, Mr. Cheerman,” the person addressed questioned, “I wants ter ax what to’ all dis noise ’bout. Bar’s James Levy hisself sittin’ down yonder. Why don’ he do his own votin'!” '