The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-30
THE ATTENDANCE
WILL Be SLIM
Many Representatives Cannot
Leave Their Crops
POPULISTS IN HIGH FAVOR
They Are Preferred to Demo-
Gratis by the Governor.
LENGTH OF THE EXTRA SESSION
Is a Question Attracting a Great
Deal of Attention.
MASS MEETING OF DEMOCRATS
To Be Held in Montgomery on Tuesday
Night Will Garry Great Weight
With Legislators Who
May be Wavering
Is a Question Attracting a Great
Deal of Attention.
MASS MEETING OF DEMOCRATS

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel MADISON, Mont
gomery. April 29.-(Special)- few rep
resentatives in the general assembly have
arrived in the city for the convening of the
extra session of the general assembly next
Tuesday. The members seem little slow
in coming to attend a session for which no
pay has been provided.
1t seems doubtful if a full attendance will
be obtained. There are a number of rep
Iesentatives who do not feel that they can
leave their crops at this important season.
Then there is probability that the session
may not last for more than two days, in
which instance many representatives would
not care to come. A well-posted politician
suggested that per cent. of the represent
etiyes will not be present. If all are pres
ent the house will have SO and the senate
81 members. Two members of the house
Brandon and McGuire-will probably be
unseated.
Populists Preferred
Several senators and representatives have
been visitors to Montgomery during the
week. Most of them have been populltes.
1t is q fact much commented upon mere
that most of the populist members have
visited the governor. populist is much
more cordially received in the executive
office than a democrat A populist repre-
sentative of a republican newspaper ls on
the most intimate terms with the governor
of any newspaper man at the capital. The
representative of the Montgomery journal
is the only newspaper man at the capitai
claiming to be a democrat who Is permit
ted to enter the holy of hoies. 1t Is
peculiar spectacle.
The friends of the rep-pop Johnston party
are already beginning to predict their de-
Nrfc ninf % q
said today that while he was still working
for "his master" still he foresaw defeat.
Another remarked to me: "Of course, you
people have already bought up enough of
the representatives to defeat u.s. Those
are the kind of charges which the friends
of the governor will attempt to faunt into
the faces of their friends who are more
bound by meeting of democrats than by
the new bolter's dictates.
In the senate the vote is going to be very
close. The governor may win by two
votes or he may lose by one. In the house
the true democrats will have majority
from two to ten. This is the situation as
it appears here today.
Governors Friends Disheartened
The governors friends are very much dis
heartened at the outlook for a tremendous
meeting of democrats to be held here next
Tuesday evening at the theater. The an
nouncement that Senators Morgan and
Pettus, Representatives Underwood, Tay-
lor, Bankhead, Robbins, Clayton Burnett
and Brewer, and many other leading party
men, were coming to the mass meeting has
frightened the repealists. The governor is
busy writing his message to the general
assembly In this message, Joe Johnston
is the foremost theme The governor will
"touch up" everybody and everything
which Is opposed to Joe Johnstonism. A
populist who has seen part of the great
cfa To caid hot oct
political speech that one ever listened to-"
He explained his meaning that the message
was one of those "hot roasts" of his oppon-
ents for which the governor is fast be-
coming famous.
1t is not believed that many of the repre-
sentatives will arrive in the city before
Monday. Hon. John H. Wallace, Jr., of
Madison, was the first member to arrive.
Mr.. Wallace opposes repeal, and is work.
ing to have a democratic caucus to control
the matter.
Will Prevent a Caucus
In this he is leading a forlorn hope. The
governor knows that he has not sufficient
democrats to win, and in his desperate
madness he will use his influence to pre-
vent caucus, 1t is believed that the gov
ernor will greatly injure his cause by this
method.
1t is not probable that any business will
be transacted at the session Tuesday. The
session of both houses will be convened at
noon. After organization is effected the
governors message will be received and
read, and it is most likely that an adjourn
ment will then be taken until Wednesday.
Some resolutions may be offered and some
bills introduced, but these would be re-
ferred to committees.
Speaker Waller will arrive in the city to-
morrow, and President Cunningham, of
the senate will come down Monday There
Is much speculation as to length of the
Special session. Many people think less
than ten days will be required to complete
the job. hEhSH.
FAxfOn TILE rlkI\IC MTIOkI,