Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-13
Meet Pursuant to a Call and Hear
 Communication
FROM REUBEN F. K0LB
On the Recent Election and Other Matters-A Legion
 to Be Formed.

The state populite executive committee met in the Opera House hotel parlors yes- terday at noon, and remained in session most of the afternoon and until late hour last night.
 Tue business was transacted behind closed doors, only members of the com mittee and few Of the party leaders being permitted to remain in the room.
 The following Gwell-known populists were present: Hf
 s. M. Adams, Randolph; Frank Baltzsll, Montgomery; R. T. Ewing, Centre; A. Shamblin and I. Y. Stark, Broomto9n; J. NJ. Whitehead, Greenville; s. A. Leonard, Mobile; w. T. B. Lynch, La Place; A. F. Longshore, Colum- biana; |. L. Brock, Centre; T. B. Powell, Cullman; R. F. Kolb, Bir- mingham; William Wood, Cullman; N. E. Spears, St: Clair; James R. Maxwell, Tuskaloosa; w. F. Aldrich, Aldrich; G. B. Dean, Calera; L. H. Reynolds, Jemi- son; J. H. Harris, Opelika; J. P. Oliver, Dadevile; J. M. McMaster, Birmingham.
 Chairman $. M. Adams of the executive committee presided and T. B. Powell of Cullman acted as secretary.
 As soon as the meeting was called to order Capt. R. +. Kolb submitted the fol- lowing communication:
 BIRMINGHAM, March 12, 1895. Hon. s. M. Adams Chairman Executive Con- mittee, Peoples Party ot Aiabama-
 MR. CHAIRMAN: 1 have earnestly con- sidered my du.y 10 your committee in the extraordinary course of recent events which have called you together at this time.
 The controversy now agitating the mind of Alabama revolves upon the direct and simple proposition advanced by our party that the methods and procedures ordained by the constitution of the state for deter mining an election Of governor and other state officers must be observed. In the non observance we may have defacto government, but it is @ government founded alone upon force, representing no rights of the governed and deserving no higher respect than organized anarchy may command from a community awaiting in profound anxiety the day of it's over throw. The noble people of this state well Know that the organic and supreme law set up by themselves over themselves alone some twenty years ago ordains and estab- fishes an elective government for their present benefit, to be reached in it's per- fected nature through certain plainly writ ten forms Of procedure. Upon the integ- rity and inviolability ef these forms of pro cedure in elections the entire fabric of their liberty depends. It would be as compe- tent for majority to begin at one end of these forms as the other to set up government dependent upon the whole. II bare numerclal majority may eliminate any one feature of the beautiful and complex system of elections set up by the people for their protection, then tue whole is no stronger than the part in nonuse. The people may be deceived into the acceptance of a governor not elected who is bold enough to capture the office by arms and to hold it under promises to re- form the frauoulent methods of which he is the beneficiary. But it is the solemn duty of your committee to pronounce upon this. situation, to keep alive a universal spirit of inquiry into the facts, to expose to your couu,rymen the weakness, dislrac- ton and corruption of their government administered by usurpers and the inevlia- ble peril of decay of liberty where palpa- be usurpation of such magnitude passes uurebuked and uncOrrected by them.
 Our party claims, MT. Chairman, ip the rank and file, and justly claims on indis- putable evidence, that the events attending the state election of 1894 were of charac- ter so menacing to the elective system itself as to require the use and application cf the fall ana final processes lad down by the supreme law to determine that election. If the rank and file of our party are in earnest in their demands, as unquestion- ably they are, is there any oruerly and peaceful way open 10 them to reach the en- joyment of the provisions of the supp eme law of the land, established by themselves for such an exigency? think, assuredIy,
  the party to answer to the rank and file.
 It IS well remembered that when Col. W. c. Oates entered upon the executive duties he now performs he expressly waived his right to continue to hold the office longer than the test of election pro- vision of the constitution permitted him. He avowed his belief in the legality of ballots counted for him, but he distinctly declared the validity of his election, in contemplation of the supreme law, rested upon a contest, the forms of which it was the solemn duty of the general assembly to provide.
 Why, MT. Chairman, should your com mittee not take up this candid avowal of the incumbent of the office of governor of this proud common wealth and pursue it to its logical conclusion? All things consid- cred, it may have been best that the regular session of the general assembly Ignored the suggestion thus urged upon it. The people have not been idle with their thoughts. meantime. They have not failed to see that the party in power is not controlled by its duty to the law. This discovery tends to show to the people their own release from tenure as to evade the plainest requirements of justice under the supreme law.
 Let us follow up the events which have been ripeniDg upon our hands. Whatever may have been the honest mind of Colonel Oates end his adherents last Decent Der, !, when he urged the policy and the right of . legal determination of our party claims in the August election, he cannot success fully stand out against the revelations which our party has brought to public view since December. The testimony of hun dreds ofreputable witnesses removes beyond the pale of doubt the monstrous and fear fvrlf fron Aa hof al n a m n