Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-15
CARROLLTON.
The Road Will Probably Be Extended
 White Capping in Pickens.

Carrolton, Feb 14.-(Special 1.-The re-
 cent purchase by Col. H. c. Tomkins of
 the Alabama Midland railroad under a
 decree of the city court of Montgomery
 has led many persons to believe the road
 will soon go into the hands of the Mobile
 and Ohio railroad. President Clark of
 the latter road stated some time ago that
 if the debt for the grading from Mont gomery to Tuskaloosa could be put in judgment and the roadbed acquired then Columbus, Miss, would be con-
 nected by rail, through Pickens county, with Tuskaloosa.
 The line of survey runs near Har-
 groves which now has two general
 stores and several residences; also via
 Reform, village with two general
 stores, drug store, two public gins, saw
 mill. grist mill and eight residences.
 John Van Zant, colored, was arrested
 last week and brought before G. R. Lang
 don, a justice of the peace at Reform, for preliminary trial for the alleged murder of Berry Carpenter, a colored preacher. The testimony was not deemed sufficient to detain him for that charge, but he was put under bond of $150 for carry ing a pistol concealed about his person. A few negroes have been whipped at night in this county by parties said to be disguised. It is stated in defense of such practice that the end justifies the means used to suppress such offenses as carry ing a half pint of ardent spirits to a man in d dilapidated condition, a failure on the part of the accused to observe certain commandment and pure cuss- edness" generally. On the contrary, the landlords say that the law is supreme and is amply adequate to protect society. That the tendency of violence Is to drive l laborers to the black belt. That ma rauder at midnight inspires no respect in the breast of a colored man for magis- trates. juries or judges.
 The white people generally sustain the landlords. They state that no one should sit in judgment against anyone without openly confronting him with formal accusation and allowing him to produce his witnesses.
 The action of the state executive com mittee of the democratic party has given | entire satisfaction in this county. It is asserted that it is in the interest of har- mony and will bring some populites into | our ranks.
 It is believed that in the interest of | harmony in this county the executive | committee of Pickens will authorize each | beat In Pickens to hold a mass meeting or primary election, as each precinct may determine; that everyone may par | ticipate in primary or mass meeting un- der the rule laid down by the state eX- | ecutiye committees; that the question I whether the colorcd democrat will be allowed to vote will be left entirely to each precinct It Is alleged that each voting place is entitled under rule long established in this county to cast vote | in the nominating convention in propor- | ton to the number of democratic electors within the bounds of the precinct; that if | only ten persons participate in the pri- mary election ar mass meeting the vote | of each person will be counted for his | choice for candidate in proportion to the | democratic vote at the election fixed as a test.
 | Pickens and has given entire satisfac- | tion. This has been the practice in this l county and meets the approval of the 1 democrats of the county, as each candi- date gets his pro rata strength according l tn inc number of votes he receives in | the mass meeting or primary election. An old democrat says that the quiet attitude of political parties in this county l indicates that there will be much less l bitterness than In the past that candi- 1 dates for state and county offices are | rarely mentioned by populites or demo- | cratS.
 | The veteran in the ranks of democrats l who gave the above information came l to this county in 1888 and cast his first l vote for the democratic party in Carroll ! ton He has been loyal to his party since l he attained his majority.
 Benja min Pearson of Reform in this | county, has been commissioned by Gov ernor Oates as notary public and justice | of the peace. He Is an upright citizen
 and will make just magistrate.
 The travelling salesman who have visit l ed this county state that the merchants | of Pickens have made unusually large or ders for goods. They say that these or l ders were made because the farmers l have corn and meat. and that the debts