The age-herald., 1898-02-20


 1898, for the purpose of selecting thirty
 delegates to the state and chancery
 conventions
 The above was the resolution finally adopted by the county executive commit tee of the democratic party at its meeting yesterday.
 B. A. Thompson, the leader of the silver forces, in offering resolution, said that it had been stated on the outside and in the committee that the silver forces feared to have the members of the legislature se- lected by primary; that while he thought a convention was the best mode of select ing them, yet the silver men were willing to rest their cause with the people in a primary election, believing that their good judgment would enable them to consolidate e on six good men to represent Jefferson county in the legislature.
 He said that now because of the splendid organization of the silver forces, which is much more perfect than 1t was two years ago, he believed that difficulties experi- enced in the primaries at that time would now be obviated without the necessity of a convention.
 Called to Order
 The meeting was called to order by Chair man J. s. Gillespy with Secretary Nat c. Miller at the desk In calling the meeting to order, Chairman Gillespy said that the meeting had been called for the purpose of adopting a plan for nominating the demo- cratic candidates for the approaching elec- ton.
 The following members answered to roll call:
 l. W. McAdory, James IIillhouse erix Vines, J. J. Caihalan P E. Greene, J. l.. Sandifer, H. R. Dill, N. M. Strickland. I. $. Fl Price, Henry Simpson, w. A. Heag,es, P. P. Grove, w. D. Gunn, J. w. Hood, J. D. Payne, F. V. Evans, B. A. Thomp- son, R. P. WeItmore, A. c. Crowder, A. A. Paschal, J. E. Camp. D. G. Knight, A. G. Norris, James King, J. C.. Smith, c. G. Turnham, J. D. Mckenzie. G. w. Brown, A. W. Nichols, J. L. Staggers, William Jackson M. w. Steele, J. B. Gibson, D. R. Copeland w. L. Kelley, J. F. Lynagh, George Swenton, H. B. Gray, w. J. Me Murray, John Burlington, William Akin son, J. D. Hillhouse, Jr.
 H. B. Gray, H. R. Hill and J. B. Gibson were appointed a committee on proxies. They reported unfavorably on the proxy of MT. Dreeman for J. B. Compton, MT. brennan not residing in the same beat. A majority report recommended W. B. Kennedy, and a minority report, John B. Handy as proxies from beat s. The jority report was adopted and the proxies seated.
 R. P. Weltmore carsd attention to the fact that new beat had been formed and was without a committeeman.
 A hopeless muddle of resolutions, sIbSti- tutes and amendments followed on the question of primary or convention.
 B. A. Thompson offered the first resolu- ticn which was in effect the same as the one finally adopted. R. P. Wetmore of fered a substitute that the chancellor be also nominated by the primary. F. V. Evans offered a substitute to the substitute which failed to mDeet with a second.
 H. B. Gray then offered a substitute which was seconded.
 In the meantime numerous speeches were made and things got badly mixed. After consultation Gray withdrew his substitute and the vote was taken on Wetmore's sub stbtute to the original motion. Wetmore said that in this cYancery division Jeffer- son county had thdrty votes, while the other counties together had only twenty eight claiming that it was not fair for ffhis county to have a convention and thus dic- tate to the other counties. The chancellor should be elected by a primary. His sub stitute was lost by avote of 40 ito 13
 Tn fine mean,time Thompson had amended his original motion to include the legis.a- tive candidates and the resolution was adopted by exclamation
 No fight for the election of the legis,a- tive candidates by a convention was made. Communications from the German-Amerf- can union and the Union Label league were read praying that no such method be adopted The statement was also made that the whole labordng population Of the county and most of the farmers opposed tine convention idea for the legislative candidates.
 A resolution was adopted authorizing the chairman to appoint subcommittee of i've with himself as chairman, to formulate plans for holding the primary on April g and the convention on April 13. This sub committee will be announced In day or two and their actions reported back to the executive committee at another meeting to be held on March 5.
 Committee of Populists
 A committee of three from the populist conference came in at this juncture headed by Jere Fountain, who was greeted with cheers. MT. Fountain was introduced by MT. Thompson and stated that the populists at their meeting had decided to call mass meeting of their party to decide what ac- tion would be taken in regard to participant ing in the democratic primaries, and the commtte desired public expression of the terms of recognition or of courtesy which would be accorded the populists of Jefferson county should they return.
 MT. Thompson moved that they be well comed back into the democratic ranks and the rule as laid down by the state executive committee be the recognition ex- tended; that Is, all persons would be well comed who would agree to support the nominees of the democratic party. This was carried unanimously, and N. l.. Miller, the secretary, was instructed to present this welcome to the populists in a formal manner.