The morning call., 1894-12-02
KoLB's POLITICAL CAREER.
One of the Noted Men of the New
South


South.
Reuben F. Kolb. who seeks to be Gov
ernor of Alabama. is a native of Barbour
County, Alabama, where he was born in
April, 1889. He was graduated from the
University of North Carolina. and during
the Civil War figured in the campaigns of
the West After the war he engaged in ag-
riculture, soon becoming noted for his pro-
gressive farming. and was appointed in 1886
State Commissioner of Agriculture by Gov
ernor Seay. In 1887 he was elected presi-
deut of the National Farmers Congress,
and was unanimously reelected at its sec
ond annual convention. In 1886, while
Commissioner of Agriculture, he was sent
through the Northwest by the State with
a carload of Alabama exhibits, extensively
advertising the States resources at various
fairs. 10 1890 he became identified with
the Alliance moysfaent, and was the Ali
anee Democrat candidate for the guber-
material nomination. Captain Kolb comes
from the famous Shorter family, which
has been ident titled with Alabama's his
tory for years. He is closely related to
United States Senator James L. Pugh and
Colonel Henry r. Shorter, president of the
State Railroad Commission. Personally
he is a man of engaging manners and
charming personality. These traits have
caused him to be called "the Genial Ren-
ben." He is man OF remarkable energy
and has perhaps a wider acquaintance
than any man in Alabama. He lives in
Montgomery. where he has happy family,
consisting of a wife and three children.
Mrs. Kolb is woman of rare accomplish.
IN ents and is exceedingly popular and be-
loved by all who know her.
Captain Kolb's poll ical career dates
prominently from 1890. when be was State
Comm ssioner of Agriculture. The Farm
ers' Alliance was then coming to the
front as political faction, and, being a
farmer, Kolb was soon leader among AL
lance men. They chose him as their
political leader. TOO, and that year be was
the ALLAN ce-DemOcratc candidate for the
Dem ocratic gubernatoral om in alton. He
went into the Democratic State conven-
ton lacking but dozen votes to nomin ate
him. There were four other candidate tes
all anti-AlliaDce men, viz: Joseph John
sion, William Richardson. Captain Crook
and Thomas G. Jones. None OF thss b four
had within forty delegates of Kolb's num-
Der, but among the followers of these four
il was anything to beat Kolb. After days
of balloting the opposition combined its
strength on Jones, who had gone into the
convention with less delegates than any
other candidate, and nominated him. Kolb
al once charged that he had been tricked
out of the nomination, but soon acquiesced
and took the stump for Jones, who was
elected without opposition.
Two years later Kob was again candi-
hat 10 =.
nomination. despite the fact that it had
been customary to renominate the incum-
bent for second term. Kolb's cry on the
stump was that the convention two years
before had swindled him out of the nOmI-
nation. Both he and Jones made vigor-
GUS canvass, and the campaign was the
Dltterest that ever occurred within party
lines In Alabama. Democratic primary
elections were held in the various counties,
and when the State convention met Jones
mad a majority Of the delegates, though
tDere were many contests.
holD and his delegates, when they saw
Jones denomination inevitable, did not go
INTO the convention, but met in a separate
nall and organized a party of their own.
calling 1t the Jeffersonian Democracy.
They nominated Kolb and full State
TICKET. The regular convention nominated
Jones. The campaign of the months fol-
lowing was marked by bitterness never be-
fore known in this State. The Democratic
party had been rent ssunder. for Kolb
carried with him large following. chiefly
farmers and country people. Glasses were
arrayeu against each other; many personal
encounters occurred and exciting scenas
were witnessed in every county. Kolbs
friends claimed he had quit the party be-
cause of alleged corrupt methods in it by
which he WAS twice swinded out of The
nomination. The Republican and Peo-
pies parties. the latter having just been
organized, threw their strength to Kolb.
The election showed majority of 10000
for Jones. Kolb at once charged fraud.
and he and his friends claimed there had
been ballot box stuffing. A great cry was
raised. There was then talk of a dual
Government, but Kolb decided to take his
case before the Legislature. There is no
law in Alabama providing for contest