The age-herald., 1898-08-10
s CONVENTION OF
 FOURTH 2 DISTRICT Ballots a Day Without Making a Con-
 greSSman. IT IS A RECORD BREAKER For Dispatch of Business and Friendly
 Feeling Of Delegates. ROBBINS IS LEADING THE RACE Having Gained Shelby's Seven Dele gates-The Fight of Two Years
 Ago Seems to Be On
 Again.
ROBBINS IS LEADING THE RACE
BY EDWARD EUGENE KERsH.

Special Dispatch to Tho Age-Herald.
 Talladega Springs, Aug. 9.-The demo- cratic convention of the Fourth congress sional district has made a record for dis patch of business.
 The convention was called to order at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon and within thirty minutes temporary and permanent organization had been effected, delegates enrolled and assigned to seats, committees appointed, dozen motions disposed of, the roll of counties called, four names placed in nomination for congress, and two dozen ballots cast
 For hurrying up business Czar Reed Is not fin it" with Chairman Dave Goodwin, of this convention. The race just opened is one of the prettiest ever occurring in Alabama. There is friendliness between all the delegates not often seen in a con- vention where the nomination is so stub- bornly contested. Every delegate is en- thusiastic for the candidate of his choice, but there is an appreciative absence of the old method of yelling him in'' that has characterized former conventions. As the counties were called for nominations the candidates were placed before the con vention without eulogy, and not a sign of applause greeted any name except that of Hon. Gaston A. Robbins, of Leeds, when his name was placed in nomination by F. w. Gist, of Shelby.
 Seemed Afraid to Start
 The delegates and friends of the four candidates arrived at the springs by 11:3O o'clock this morning and it was generally understood that the convention would be called to order at l2 but everybody seemed afraid for the contest to begin, and it was unanimously agreed to wait until 2:3O to rap for order.
 This backwardness was probably caused by the unexpected strength developed by MT. Robbins. It has been conceded by the friends of all candidates for several weeks that MT. Plowman would get the delegation from Shelby, but the fine Ital- ian hand" of Candidate Robbins was set to work in that county last week, and iii consequence he secured the seven dele gates at the convention in Columbiana yes- terday. This additional strength sent Robbins stock so. high this morning as to cast little gloom over the others.
 Rumors of Combinations
 Then there were rumors of possible com binatons, which some of the boys did not like. One was to the effect that MerrilPs name would never go before the conven- tion and that Cleburne's vote would go to Robbins, nominating him on the first bal lot. Another was that there was an ex- tremely friendly feeling existing between the Calhoun and Dallas delegates. Time was wanted to investigate all these rumors.
 Plowman's friends, led by Cecil Browne, Sydney Bowie, J. A. Huey, Judge Kemp, w. B. Reynolds and others, were hard at work for their candidate, who was at his home, too unwell to attend the convention. Merrilps interests were being closely watched by Tom Caruth, D. W. Vaughn, William Dpnman and w Merrill who, as chairman of the campaign commit tee of Cleburne, redeemed that county from populist rule on August l.
 Big, jovial Alex Pitts was Robbins chief lieutenant. But he had numbers of able assistants, among whom were Bob Neil, Senator Jim Nunnalee, Bob Walker, of Dallas. F. w. Gist and w. I. Smith, of Shelby.
 Thomasons interests were we'll cared for by John B. Knox, Wiley Tunstall, Jr., R. I. Goodwin, W. c. Gray, L. w. Grant, El- more Garrett, E. w. Ledbetter and others.
 Free drinking of the sulphur water CD gave the boys ravenous appetite And here is where the rule came. One candi- date said he left the dining table just as hungry as before he entered. And there were lots of delegates who responded, ''me, too."
 At Business With Vim d.. A. fuey, OI IdHdueSd, CndlTIndn or the district executive committee called the ! convention to order . :. 230 and by instruc- ton of the committee, introduced D. T. Goodwin, of Calhoun, as temporary chair man. MT. Goodwin was not speech maker, and he immediately started the business.
 As temporary secretaries, g.. A. Reynolds, of Dallas; Thomas Caruth, of Calhoun and John A. Donahoo. of Talladega, were called to the desk.
 John B. Knox moved to dispense with committee on credentials, as there were no contests, and the convention adopted