Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-23
THIRD EDITION.
CAPT. JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON
Nominated for Governor on the
First Ballot.
INSTRUMENTATION UNANIMOUS
The Convention Declared for Free and hide
HIS NOMINATI0N UNANIMOUS
The Convention Declared for Free and lnde-
pendent Coinage of Silver
GOLD MEN ASKED FOR REPRESENTATION
But an Instructed Delegation Was Sent to
Chicago-Whit Ellis and Culver
Got the Other Plums-Pet Caffee
Failed to Land Prize.

democratic convention came to order TINS
morning Gen. E. w. Pettus, from the
committee on platform and resolutions,
reported a platform in brief as follows:
Free silver at 16 to l without respect
to other nations; repeal of the state bank
tax; control of state affairs by white
men; extension of public education; fair
and honest elections and purity in pri
maries.
General Pettus reported resolutions in
brief as follows: Delegates to the ma
tional convention shall vote as a unit
Governor Oates administra ton shall be
Endorsed; we indorse Senators Morgan
and Pugh and the ceSSion of public lands
for public schools; we commend Grover
Cleveland for the maintenance of the
Monroe doctrine and for appointing
southern men to public offices; we find
much to approve in President Cleve-
lands administration, but we cannot APP
prove his financial policy.
General PettuS-Your committee on
platform has finished its work and they
instruct me to report a short platform
containing only two propositions of ma
tional Importance, and some PROPOSE
lions added in reference to the affairs of
Alabama. Mr.. President, | will read ex-
actly what the committee has ordered
me to report.
General Pettus (after the four resolu-
tons had been read)--Mr. Chairman: The
conducted without unanimity, but with
out bitterness. We could not all agree
and especially on the first proposition
contained in the platform which the COM
mittee recommends, but generally there
was unanimity, with the exception of
the resolution instructing the delegates
to vote as a unit There are, Mr. Presi-
dent, some members of your committee
who have prepared minority. report to
present to this convention on one or two
of the propositions contained in the re-
port which / have been ordered to pre-
sent to you.
Mr.. E. l.. Russell-Mr. Chairman and
Gentlemen of this Democratic Conven-
ton I desire to say, as was said by your
distinguished chairman, and he is man
whose past history, whose service to the
people of this state. whose long life of
patriotism, whose wisdom, not only rev.
erence, but honor. There are two points
upon which the committee were unable
to agree, one upon the financial clause
contained in the report as submitted by
General Pettus, and the other in respect
to the Endorsement of President Cleve-
land. There is still another proposition
which will be submitted by a distinguish
ed gentleman from Montgomery, Colonel
Roquemore. disagreeing with another
feature, and that is the unit rule. l will
read the report of the members of the
committee that Joined me in recommend
ing to this convention. to be adopted in
respect to the features specified. (Here
Mr.. Russell read the minority report.) Mr..
president and gentlemen of the conven-
ton, l offer this as a substitute for the
report made by the distinguished chair
man, General Pettus, in respect to the
matters of which it treats.
Mr.. Cecil Browne move to lay that
substitute on the ta BILE.
General Pettus-We have not heard
from all the committee.
The charman-The chair holds the
motion out of order under the circum-
stances, as we still have to hear from
the gentleman from Montgomery.
Col. John d. Roquemore-Mr. presi-
dent and gentlemen of the conventions
Preliminary to reading this suggestion
that have to make IN the paper that l
will read l wish to say that I had hoped
that this democratic convention, domi-
mated by the friends of Captain john
ston, would hold a session that would be
harmonious throughout all of their
ranks and that would give satisfaction
to every democrat in the state of Ala.
bama
General Pettus--Mr. President, must
insist that the gentleman is out of order.
Chairman-The point of the gentleman
rom Dallas. think, is well taken. The
gentleman from Montgomery should sub
INIT his report and make his speech after
wards.
Colonel RoquemoreI hope the con-
Nention will give me an opportunity to
be heard. After the report is made, if
you lay 1t on the table I will have no
chance to talk. 0Here Colonel Rouuemore
read the minority report.) / move, Mr..
President that report IN substitution of
the resolution reported from the commit
tee on the unit rule or on the rule of in
strtictions
Cecil Browne---As some gentlemen de-
sire to discuss the substitute, withdraw
my motion to lay on the table.
The chairman suggested that an agree
ment be arrived at as to the time to be
taken up in the discussion.
General Pettus--The matter of time
was talked of in your committee, but
they thought that it would be beyond
their jurisdiction. 1t was, however. talk
ed of in the committee that time ought
20 be limited and suggestions were made,
but and others were of the opinion that
we had no right to regulate your pro-
ceedngs, and therefore we came to no
understanding whatever as to time, and
] novel am speaking now to the gen
tlemen of the committee particula riy--I
move you sir, that The time for debate
or the first proposition in the platform
proposed by the majority of your COM
mittee and the substitute offered there
for shall be one hour each.
Mr.. Bowel move a substitute for
that motion that the true be limited to
thirty minutes.
The motion to limit to thirty minutes
was adopted.
The chairman.-The chair will recog-
uize of course, the chairman of the COM
mittee IL he desires to open the debate,
and will. of course, recognize him for the
purpose of closing the debate, and If the
chairman does not desire first to address
the convention, the chair will recognize
some other gentleman for that purpose.
General Pettus-Your committee I'M
derstands that there are divisions among
us. but we also understand that whoever
speaks honestly to the people ought to
say what he means. ! inherited my
views on this subject. I don't wish now
70 make an argument. I merely say. Mr1
President, that never heard ct demo-
crat that was not in favor Of the PROPOSE
ton contained In the first plank of that
platform until very few years ago. 4
-.---.,- ~. vas advocated by Jackaoii.