Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-23

from, tbeTennessee river to the Gulf or
Mexico. from Georgia to Mississippi, ana
the people have spoken, ana, ny en ',
grace of God let us register their VIII VII,
here today. Why, Mr.. president, we al
know that early in this campaign there
was talk about not preciptating this is
sue. but, Mr.. President, the issue was
made in every newspaper In Alabama,
the stand was taken eltner loi SUM
money, as they called 1t, or Tor Tree sli,
yer. Every stump speaker LOOK a e.ai IN,
upon it. every man voting knew now ne
voted on this question, with the rare
execution, perhaps, in the county Oh
Montgomery Mr.. President, we country
fellows from south Alabama knew "nal
we were voting for, and the men from tne
hills of north Alabama knew wm ,,a,.a rney
were voting for, and shall we SURRENDER
the fruits of this victory? We belleVe IN
asserting our honest CONVICTIONS. me
people have spoken, ana, by the pieS9inS
of God. Mr.. President, let us be men mere
today, registering that verdict ana seiiu-
NO delegation to Chicago pledged to
carry out the will of the sovereign peo-
pie Of Alabama.
Mr. Sol d. Bloch-When I gave my
1oval support to Captain johnston IL
was without pledge, but as loyal ana
conscientious democrat, who Wouid as
charge his duty faithfully to the Demo
cratic hosts of Alabama. l deny the
imputation that this fight was won on
the free silver issue. thousands anu
thousands of democrats in Alabama re"
corded their votes for Captain johnston
because of his services In the dark Gays
of negro rule and down to the time OF
his defeat two years ago. Mr.. Chair
man. after this convention has mace
nomination an election is to ensue, and
TO insure success the opinion what may
be their views on the financial question
should be carefully considered by TINS
convention. Let us relegate this question
to the national convention. This pat
form. If adopted today, must In the END
conform to that of the national conven-
ton, and believe 1T would be wisdom
in fact, 1t would be justice to many sup
p0rters Of Captain Johnston that their
ideas should be considered and consulted
so that after the national convention
meets we can march arm in arm to VIC
tory. l deny that the election of Cap
tain Johnston was secured on a free sill
Yer platform. The nominee was not
elected because of the free silver ques-
ton. but because he was loyal demo-
crat, that he was good man, an able
man. financial man and man satis-f
factory to the people of Alabama.
Mr.. Powell of Jefferson--I want TO read
an editorial from the Advertiser, where
think the question was made plain.
Here Mr.. Powell read the editorial.
Rufus N. Rhodes-I believed at the
opening of this campaign that the best
interests of the democratic party, which
are the best interests of the people of
Alabama, demanded that no factional
fight inside the party should be made for
the nomination for governor. According
liz used what little influenced had. both
personal and with newspaper, to induce
the governor, Hon. William G. Oates. to
stand upon the precedent in Alabama
and become candidate for renomnat on
and reelection. Governor Oates for a
number Of days. even weeks, seemed to
be taking that pioposit.on-urgsd upon