Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-17
GEN, PETTUS NOMINATED
For Senator by the Democratic
Caucus
AMID WILD EXCITEMENT
Father and Son Arm-in-Arm Present a Pa
thetic Picture
MARCHING DOWN THE AISLE TOGETHER
itol Yesterday Except that of the
Caucus Happenings in
Both Branches.

Montgomery, Ala, Nov 16--(SpeciaI
Correspondence.)- )-Gen Edmund w. Pet
tus, of Dallas, was tonight nomina ted
by the joint democratic caucus of the two
branches of the eg.slature for the United
States senate to succeed Senator James
L. Pugh. Tonight at 7 clock 1t was gem
orally known that Bankhead was out of
the race, and that his name would not
go before the caucus. few minutes
later it was reported that Senator Pugh
had withdrawn leaving only Gen. Pettus
and Gov. William C. Oates in the race.
The reports were soon substantiated, and
the withdraw of Bankhead and Pugh
from the race, of course threw a very
different light on the senatorial situation.
The friends of all candidates except those
who carried votes in their vest pockets
were thrown into a state of uncertainty
as to the exactness of these unexpected
announcements.
Pettus stock Immediately advanced
about 300 per cent, yet there were many
who clung to the forelorn hope that Gov.
Oates would gain enough recruits from
the ranks of Pugh and Bankhead to NOM
mate him, but this belief did not last
long, and before 7:30 o'clock the nomina-
tion of Gen. Pettus on the first ballot was
was monarch of all he surveyed. The
battle had been fought, the victory won.
THE CAUCUS.
Promptly at s o'clock the caucus con-
vened in the hall of the lower house, and
Senator Brewer, chairman of the senate
caucus, was called to the chair amid
cheers. He stated that the object of the
meeting was the nomination of a federal
senator and the selection of a solicitor of
the city court of Admission.
hH- GafA 81 G.11l off n
tion to exclude all from the caucus ex-
cept those who voted for Bryan and Sc
wall and the democratic nominees for
congress at the November election.
Col ]. j. Altman, of Jefferson, moved
to appoint a committee of nine on Gre
dentials and that Mr. Cofer's resolution
be referred to said committee.
Mr.. Boykin of Russell, offered a substi-
tqts t9 Mr.. C9fers Tesolutlonl ekslgqi1g
ed for Bryan and SewalL depocratic
nominees for congress- and for the nom
inees of the democratic caucus of the
legislature last week. 1t was also re-
quired in his substitute that those who
participated in the caucus should declare
their intention to affiliate with the party
in the future.
After discussion extending over half
an hour, in which Hon. j. Thomas Hef-
lin, of Chambers, made an eloquent ap-
peal to the democrats to stand by their
flag and sacrifice nothing to the enemy,
Col. Altmans motion prevailed and a
committee ON credentials was appointed,
five from the house and four from the
senate After an hour the committee
made a majority report in keeping with
the substitute offered by Mr.. Baykin, and
signed by all members of the committee
except Mr.. Cofer, who made minority
report in line with his own resolution.
The majority report was adopted with
only three dissenting votes and populist
members were excluded.
resolution was adopted to choose
solicitor for the city court of Admission.
The name of Hon. w. c. Tunstall Jr.,
was put in nomination by Senator Aber-
crombie of Calhoun, and Mr.. Tunstall
was elected by acclamation. Mr. Tun-
stall is son of Col. Wyley c. Tunstall,
of Hale county, who Is one of the best
known figures in Alabama politics.
PETTUS NOMINATED.
Before the vote for Tunstal had closed,
Col. B. L. Hibbard of Monroe, was on his
feet, and received recognition from the
chair. Col. Hibbard placed In nomina-
tion Gen. Edmund Winston Pettus. amid
perfect storm of applause. Old legisla-
tors say that Col. Hibbard's nominating
speec twas one of the most eloquent ever
heard on the floor of the Alabama house
of representatives Col Hibbard's clos
ing remarks were. IT offer the name of
Gen. Edmund Winston Pettus-not of the
county of Dallas, but of the great COM
monwealth of Alabama, and he resumed
MS seat dnlu l1t WDueSt tAclleUtHt,
coming from the floor of the house as
well as from the galleries.
Col A. A. Wiley, of Montgomery, then
placed in nomination the name of Gov.
William G. Oates. His remarks were rev
and pointed. He referred to Gov. Oates
as the one-armed hero of Henry, and was
cheered, but there was no longer any
doubt about whom the sentiment or the
gathering WAS with Col. Altman arose
in his impressive manner and seconded
the nomin.3 lion of Gen. PettuS.
After short discussion, secret ballot
was chosen as the method of casting the
vote.
Here DR.. w A. Huddleston, OF Gilmore,
formerly populist. was admitted under
the ma ajorty report of the committee. and
was entitled to vote In the caucus. This
made a total of ninety-three members of
the caucus.
on the frs; ballot Gen. Pettus received
67 votes. oates 26-47 necessary to a
choice.
Chairman Brewer announced Gen Pet
tus the nominee OF the democratic
to succeed Senator Jas. L. Pugh. The
house fairly yelled Dust fell in clouds
from the floor of the gallery and dust
arose in clouds from the hoor OF the
house. Cries of THE uohlest Roman of
them ALL the old war-horse," and many
other expressions of admiration COM
mittee of ten. with Hon. Francis L Pet
tus as chairman. was then appointed to
notify Gen Pettus of his nomination and
escort him into the caucus The commit
tee retired for about twenty minutes and
upon their return came the impressive
scene of the evening. The grand old
Roman came down the aisle arm in arm
with his son. whose devotion to his ia
ther's cause has attracted the attention
and demanded the admira ton of friends
and foes during the past few weeks. Two
more statesmanlike. handsome men
could not be found In the councils Of the
democratic party anywhere. They APP
preached the speakers stand la de-
1iberate manner and Mr. Pettus. present
ing his father to Chairman Brewer, said:
According to the pleasure of the house