Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-06


Montgomery, Dec. Especial Staff
Correspondence)- )-Senator Hundley to-
day arose to a question of personal priv
ilege in the senate and said:
Mr.. President: rise to a question of
personal privilege. On yesterday the fol-
lowing language was used upon the floor
of the senate by the senator from Russell:
81 am sorry that we are constantly re-
minded that such character as Bene-
dict Arnold ever lived. Benedict Arnold
deserted his country, and the senator
from Madison county deserted the DEM
ocratic party
Mr.. President, I have simply to say
that, in my opinion, no man can truth
fully be said to have deserted his party,
when he declines to follow that party
out of the lines which have marked it's
principles and history from its founda-
tion. No man can be said to have de-
serted his party when he refuses to fol-
low it's new and untried leaders into
devious ways which he deems hurtful
to the welfare of his country and at va
rance with his party's precenpts. be-
lieve that William j. Bryan was right
when he declared that no party conven-
tion could bind his conscience in support
of candidate and platform he could not
indorSe. In taking the course l did L
was simply acting upon that course of
conduct SO forcibly enunciated by the
late democratic candidate. l believe 1t
to be the duty of every man, when he
finds he is wrong, to get right and stay
right.
AS to the personal phase of the re-
marks made by the senator from Russell,
/ want to say that l never deal in per-
sonalities on the floor of the senate, and
shah not permit myself to be drawn
therein, in the present matter. Had L
desired to make an argument on the
same lines as the senator from Russell
(Which l did not desire), l could nave
drawn another parallel with famous
historical character, and / might have
said that 1 am sorry that we are con-
stantly reminded that such character
as Judas Iscariot ever lived, and in that
connection l might have mentioned the
name of a state senator in Alabama, who
was nominated by his party and who
pledged his support to certain candi-
date for United States senator, the lat
ter having such faith in his friend that
at the requets of the said state senator
he declined to urge the nominating con-
vention to instruct upon the senatorial
matter. And might have gone further,
Mr. President, and might have said that
this state senator after his election came
to take his seat in the senate, and at one
of the conferences of the friends of the
candidate for United States senator
acted: as chairman thereof and then
when the crucial test came deserted at
the last moment the cause of the friend
he had promised to support and voted
against him. regret. Mr.. President,
that 1t has been made necessary for me
to take up the time of the senate with
this matter.
In reply to Mr.. Hundley's remarks Mr..
McEIderry said:
"Mr. President: I rise to point of
personal privilege. 1t is understood that
the remarks of the senator from Madi-
son were intended to refer to the sena-
tor from Russell / wish to say that l
was a friend to ex-Gov. Oates in the
late contest for United States senator,
and was In every Oates caucus and was
fully advised of the position of the sena-
tor from Russell relating to his voting
for ex-Gov. Oates for senator No man
ever acted in truer or nobler way than
did the senator from Russell in this mat
ter, as he was released from any prom
ise or implied promise to vote for ex-
Gov. Oates by Capt. Harvey Jones, who
was the formers manager, and as stated
the friends of the ex-governor were fully
advised as to the position of the sena-
tor from Russell and can testify that he
acted the part of a true and honorable
man.
And the dispute was ended as for as
any evidences of the day indicate.