Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-21


was elected temporary chairman.
After organizing the committee adj
journed and repaired in body to the
union depot to meet Hon. Oscar w. I'm
derwood on his return home from Wash
ington.
At l o'clock the committee reeonvened,
when it was announced that Congress-
man Underwood was present and the
committee expressed a desire to hear
from him.
committee was appointed by the
chair to escort Mr.. Underwood to the
stand.
Mr.. Underwood's Speech.
Among other things, Mr.. Underwood
said that he never felt better, notwith-
standing his unpleasant contest expert
ence. Il am certainly thankful" said he
"for this cordial greeting extended by
my friends and the heads of the demo-
cratic party of my home county. l was
nominated by the democratic party for
congress from the Ninth district in 1894
and by united effort and a magnificent
fight was elected member of the Fifty
fourth congress. No man who has
studied the facts can truthfully deny
that L received majority of the votes
cast at that election and was legally
elected. l have had but little experience
in politics, but my short experience has
been sufficient for me to learn that when
the republican party desires to accom-
plish certain results it does not hesitate
as to methods.
Chairman Daniels announced that
had received a majority of the votes cast
Notwithstanding that he latterly brought
an adverse report. Three out of the six
republicans on the committee were in
favor of seating me. Notwithstanding
this, one of this number afterwards
moved a reconsideration at a meeting
when there was only one democrat pres
emit, the vote standing 3 republicans and
democrat. They finally got another re-
publican to sign the report. With all
their efforts they could not raise Aldrich's
ma iorfty above 220, and in doing this they
had to count 300 votes at Bessemer and
could not name the men who cast them.
In Marion, Hale county, 238 votes were
thrown out because the booths and the
voting place we're in the same hail."
Mr.. Underwood enumerated beat after
beat that had been thrown out on techni-
calities in order to give MFR. Aldrich his
220 majority.
you can readily see," he continued,
"the grounds on which this contest was
decided. More than 800 honorable, edu-
Gated white men were disfranchised- in
Greensboro alone in order that Aldrich
might secure his seat.
"Of course L am disappointed in not be-
ing able to carry the democratic flag to
victory but 1 have the consciousness of
the party of my opponent refused after
an fnvestfgati ton to vote to seat him and
| fifty-three cast their votes for me. My
Alabama associates stood by me in the
fight and for ten days labored necessarily
with the committee, and at last 1t was
only under the whip and spur of Car
Reed, who was forced to count quorum,
that my opponent was given his seat.
1--WE have a great battle before us in
Alabama. 1t is not so much the ques-
40 &c n
supremacy and good government
When the standard Bearer of the party
with which we are confronted can get
his consent to vote for a negro as black
as night over a white man, and IN the
face of the assertion of a member of his
own party that said negro was not en-
titled to his seat unless all negroes are
conceded republicans as against their
own oath to the contrary, don't you
know he would not hesitate to appoint
negroes to any vacancy that might &C.
cur wherein he might add to his political
advantage by obtaining their vote.
eff you fail in your duty to your state
and your people you had as well strike
out the bright star of Alabama from the
national banner and leave only, the
stripes-fit emblems of your slavery.
"But l don't expect this failure on the
part of Alabama democrats. We have
faced doubtful issues before, and | be-
lieve the determined countenances of the
leaders of the democratic party I see be-
fore me are a true picture of every coun-
ty in Alabama. and we will again carry
the flag to glorius victory
Committee Proceedings.
The roll of the beats was called, and
the following noted present:
/. w. McAdory, j. IL. Hillhouse, l. A.
Brown p. E.. Green, H. r. Dill, N. M.
Strickland, r. FL. Hendon, j. Fl. Epps,
]. w. Price, l.. c. Harrison, F. V. Evans.
II Gi11aar1ia p Wet
more, G.. ID. Knight, A. G. Morris, James
King, A. C. Crowder, c. Turnham, j. d.
Mckenzie, Sam Faucet, G. w. Brown,
William Jackson (proxy), M. w. Steele,
]. b. Gibson j. G.. Worsham, w. L. Kelly
(proxy), H. b. Gray, w. X. Terry, w L.
Kelly, James d. Hillhouse, Jr, w. d.
Gum, d. r. Copeland, ]. L. Standifer.
The Williams Case.
Mr. Nathan L. Miller secretary of the
committee, gave notice that Mr. James
Williams had filed contest for the nomi-
nation of Mr.. George l.. Young, county
commissioner from the Fourth district.
]. r. p. Wetmore moved an executive
session to consider this matter. Mr..
blackburn and Mr.. Evans moved amend
ments allowing parties interested and
newspaper men to remain in the room.
The amendments were accepted. r. I'll.
IIendon, 1. w. McAdory, CIV, Brown
and others were opposed to secrecy, and
Mr.. Wetmore withdrew his motion.
The secretary then read the Williams
petition, which was in the form of an
affidavit. In brief the petition alleges
& l. That George l.. Young, who received
the majority of the votes cast in the dem
ocratic primary, and d. w. Nash, who
received the next highest vote, do not
reside in the Fourth district from which
elected, but in the Third district, viz:
at East Lake.
a. That Mr.. Williams, who lives in the
Fourth district received the next highest
vote, and is, therefore, the legal nominee,
residence out of the district being a bar
to holding the office.
Col G. b. Powell appeared for the con-
testant and Capt Frank White appeared
for Mr.. Young. tH
Mr.. Youngs defense was that he does
live in the Fourth district, East Lake and
Gate City having been put in that district
by the commissioners four years ago.
Contest Resolution.
After hearing the arguments the COM
mittee adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, That after having heard the
contest of ]. G. Williams for the nomina-
ton as candidate for commissioner from,
the Fourth district. it IS the sense of this
committee that George l. Young has