Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-21
Mr.. Fits WIPED HIM UP.
A Full Report of the Debate at Jasper Between
the Candidates for Attorney
General.
Mountain Eagle.

| Mountain IioSAC.
The competing candidates for attorney
general met in joint discussion today.
| The debate was opened at II a. M by w.
| H. Smith, Esq, the fusion candidate.
| About 800 white citizens were In attend
ance and these were equally divided in
| political sentiment, In his opening Mr..
Smith impressed his auditors with the
conviction that he was novice in the
hastings and had been considerably rat
tied by the press comments on his rather
anomalous candidacy. Discussing this
he stated that he was driven against his
will and inclination into an acceptance
of the honor. The disadvantage at which
a fusion candidate was put was clearly
shown. He could not subscribe al
legiance to either the republican or pop
ulist cause and was compelled to assume
an Independent ground. A lifelong re-
publican, he claimed to be an inf1ationist
and insisted on the ability of the govern
ment to stamp paper and make 1t legal
tender, irrespective of intrinsic value or
basic principle. He knew this was not
republican doctrine, but 1t was his sem
timent, and IL the republicans did not
like it he did not want their votes. He
repeated with emphasis Kolbs tale of
woe and declared that while he would be
Overwhelmingly elected he would never
be attorney general. He animadverted
DIT ieI1S III on DldCk Delt DdllOt Stunning ana
fraudulent assessment of school funds.
His structures on various populstic ideas
were in line with those he fired
at republicans :. who did not
agree with him.. and he did
not want their votes either. In fact he
did not want the office, but was In the
race merely to- assert his manhood-his
Willingness and readiness to immediate
himself upon his country's altar. His best
and warmest friends We're. democrats,
and a prepOnderance of the best men in
Alabama were democrats. He imputed
no dishonesty to these but was plagued
to know how Mr.. Kolb could go into the
black belt with 10000 majority and fail
to be governor. Mr.. Smith evidently
imagined himself pressed for time, and
hurried through the discussion. We don't
remember a political speech that was
more vulnerable from start to finish
especially when the. speaker enlisted
throughout the closest and most respect
full attention. His assertion that his
candidacy lowered him in the estimation
of his hearers to the level of "nigger-
lover" or dog" was Its own refutation
for a canvass of this community will re-
veal the fact that no man here enjoys q
wider social or personal popularity. Jas
per is Mr.. Smiths home. His ability as
lawyer is unquestionable and appre-
ciated. He has a host of friends among
our staunchest democrats, who wish him
every desire of his heart except office UNI
der republican administration in Ala
bama. The chief excellence of Mr.. Smith,
speech is found in the fact that so far
as Walker Is concerned, 1t was a demo-
cratic vote-maker ,.g.s.f
In its close he gracefully introduced his
opponent, w. c. Fits, who soon showed
himself to be a fluent, graceful, capti-
waiting speaker, and thorough master of
the subjects under discussion. He fully
equalled his competitor in courtesy, fair
ness of statements and conclusions, but
greatly distanced him in rejoinder, force
full argument and in demonstrating the
true significance of admitted facts. Then,
the advantage of being the candidate of
one party, himself in full accord with its
one faith, he used with telling effect.
He declared, Mr.. Smiths suggestions
% the contrary, that he had been a 16
to 1 democrat from his first breath, had
opposed Mr.. Cleveland's second nomi-
nation, but accepted his party's YER
dict and loyalty supported its candi-
dates and platform.
He showed that Smiths fears of not
being the next attorney general would
counted out, but because being a Mos
leyite, and vaughanite, many popu-
lites would not vote for him, and being
a populite and an infationist many re-
publicans would not support him. The
hopelessness and the righteousness of
Mr.. Smiths position were very humor-
ously presented. Then Mr.. Fits turned
the light on the several tales of woe as
Mr.. Smith had related tos them, clearly
showing that Alabama democracy had
always punished malfeasance in office,
and had given equnl protection to the
negro before the law, equal interest in