Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-31

ALABAMA's SEATS IN CONGRESS-.
Peoples Party Candidates and Kolb's Fol-
lowers VIII Make Fight in Every District.
Correspondents of The Evening Star.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Aug. 20, 1892.
At least two Alabama members Of the Fifty
second Congress will not be returned to the
Fifty-third. They are Congressman Forney,
now representing the seventh district, and Col.
Herbert from the second. Both declined
nominations. By the redistricting of the state
Gen. Forney was thrown into the fourth district
On last Friday the democrats nominated
candidate in that district. The convention met
at Calers and took seventy ballots before a
choice could be reached. The names Of NJ. H.
Lane, G. A. Robbins, J. F. Burns, A. Irwin,
Cecil Brown and W. II. Forney were presented.
Although Gen. Forney had declined a renomi-
nation his name was presented and FIVE votes
cast for him. Robbins was nominated on the
SEVENTEEN ballot after an all-night session.
Gsston A. Robbins is a rising young lawyer of
Selma, thirty-eight years old, and has never fig
ured IN politics to any great extent before. Hell
remarkably brilliant man and is very popular in
his district. He will have opposition from the
peoples party and kolb combination, but just
who they will put up is not yet known. The
fourth IL q very strong democratic district, con-
tanning the counties of Calhoun and Dallas,
with the cities Of Selma and Admission. These
two counties among the strongest demo-
cratic counties in Alabama. 1t is safe to say
that the democrats will elect Robbins by good
majority.
It seems probable that the republicans will
also put up candidate in that Neutrality-suspicious.
Stevens. who is the leader of the anti-adminis
tration faction OF negro republicans IN this
state. Stevens is negro and is chairman of
the anti-Moseley state committee, which is the
republican committee in opposition to the
regular or administration committee, of which
DIR. r. A. Moseley is chairman.
IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.
The democratic executive committee Of the
first congressional district met in Mobile few
days ago and passed resolutions adopting basis
of compromise between the factions of tho
party in the district. By the factions is meant
the followers Of Jones and Kolb in the recent
the plan of one effected IN Marengo county and
looks TO uniting both wings Of the party. The
outlook for harmony in the first district is very
good.
The committee also postponed the meeting OF
the congressional convention called for Sep
TENDER IL to October 10, and county primaries
to select delegates will be called jointly by the
respective committees of the two wings. This
action was for harmony and was in accordance
with the views Of the leading men of both wings
of the party. Congressman Clarke, who is u
candidate for denomination, reports the action
Of the committee wise, although II may re-
suit in developing q strong antagonist to him
self from the ranks of the alliance democrats.
John W. Jones of Marengo county, who was
chairman of the boiling convention that
nominated Kolb for governor at Montgomery
last June, il the alliance candidate for the NOM
nation against Clarke and he will make a
strong race. Jones has "a big pull with the
alliance element and Clarke will have to hustle
to beat him.
1t is probable that the fight in the first dis
trict will be confined to the party lines and a
peoples party or republican candidate would
have but little show for election.
SECOND DISTRICT.
The race in the second district known as the
Montgomery district, is very lively one. The
convention has been called to
meet at Brewton September IA. As has been
stated. Col Herbert, now representing the dis
trict, has declined a denomination. The demo-
cratic candidates for the nomination Col.
II. C.. Thompson of Montgomery. until re-
Gently chairman of the state democratic execu-
tive committee: ]. F. Stallings of Greenville
and Col. 4. A. Wiley of Montgomery. All of
these candidates are prominent and shrewd poll
ticians. Col. Wiley has been looked upon a
Kolbite, but he declares his allegiance to the
democratic party and principles.
The race has been a red hot one. There will
81 delegates in the congressional convention.
1t will take thirty-four to nominate. Col. Tomp-
kins on Saturday swept Montgomery county in
the congressional primaries, which county has
nineteen delegates to the convention. Tomp-
kins' friends claim that he will go into the con-
vention with thirty votes. Col. Wiley has ten
mp to date and Mr.. Stallings twenty-seven.
TOmpkins finds hope that after the first ballot
Wiley will withdraw. and they claim that if he
does his votes will 60 to Tompkins and nomi-
nate him. Wiley, however, is in the race to
the finish and may develop much greater
strength than his opponents think.
In the midst of this red-hot race comes the
that Col Warner Reece, ex-
mayor Of Montgomery, will be the nominee of
the peoples party and kolb faction for Con-
gress in the second district against the regular
democratic nominee. Col. Reece is quoted as
saying that he will make the race if he receives
the nomination. The state convention called
by the kolbites and peoples party 10 meet in
Birmingham September Is will nominate can
didates for Congress in every district in oppO-
sition to the regular democratic nominees, and
Reece says if that convention dominates him he
will run.
Charles o. Harris. a negro clerk in the Mont
gomery post office, will probably be nominated
by the republicans for Congress. He hopes to
slip in on a track betweet the democrats. 1t is
safe to say that there will be three nominees in
the second district, and whoever wins the regu-
lar democratic nomination will have to hustle,
and the man that wins at the polls in November
will have to hustle more than ever. There is
no telling how the second district may go, with
so many candidates in the field, but as it con-
tains some very strong democratic counties, like
Wilcox and Montgomery, which together gave
Gov. Jones a majority Of over 5000, the demo-
Gratis are very hopeful of success.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
The democratic congressional convention of
the sixth district has been called to meet at
Jasper September Z. The fight for the nomi-
nation in the sixth has not been altogether an
uninteresting one. Congressman John II. Bank
head is a candidate for denomination, and the
indications now are that he will win. He has
made quiet canvass and has n very strong pull
with the people all over his district, especially
in the rural precincts, which comprise a large
part of that district His strongest opponent
IL John Davis, an alliance leaders and one Of
Kolb's trusted lieutenants. Davis a member
Of the last legislature from Fayette county and
has earned the title Of Davis of Fayette," by
which he delights in being called.
Bankhead is practically assured Of renomina-
ton, but will have opposition from the peoples
party, who assert that they will put up a can
didate In every district. Such a candidate
could hardly defeat Bankhead at the polls in
November who has served three terms in Con-
gress to the satisfaction of his constituency.
SEVENTH DISTRICT.
As was stated in my last letter, the democrats