The age-herald., 1899-04-09
HON. J. ]. MOORE
 IS CHAIRMAN
"Machine" Captures Committee
 Organization.
| BAINE MADE SECRETARY
Montgomery, Two Years Chairman, De- feated by One Vote-Deciding Bal lot Was Cast by Abernathy
 of the Fifth Ward.

Hon. J. J. Moore is the new chairman of the city democratic executive committee.
 At a meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon there was a contest between the supporters of MT. Drennen and those of MT. Smith for the organization. Joseph H. Montgomery, who had been chairman of the committee for two years past, was the candidate of the Drennen forces. Mir. Moore was put forward by the leading pol iticians who had gone down in defeat un- der the Smith banner. The latter won by the narrow margin of g to s, and the ma chine' will be in charge of the executive committee for the next two years.
 The deciding vote was cast by II. B. Ab- ernathy, a member from the Fifth ward, under rather dramatic circumstances.
 Tine first ballot was taken before MT. Alp ernathy came into the room It resulted in a tie.
 When the tellers began taking the other ballot Mir Abernathy came in. When he sat down MT. Montgomery came up and whispered something in his ear Mr. Alb ernathy said he wanted to make state ment to the convention before casting his ballot.
 He said that early in the city campaign he had promised to vote for Montgomery for chairman. Since then many changes had came about. Mr. Parker had pulled down and all of his friends had been with Mr. Smith. In this race friends wno were as close to him as father had asked him to vote for MT. Moore for chairman. He had asked MT. Montgomery to release him and he had refused to do so. Therefore, he asked the committee to accept his res- ignation. He had it written out. MT. Burkhalter made a motion that the resig nation be not accepted.
 MT Abernathy sat down and nervously fingered a blank ballot. Mr. Montgomery leaned over his shoulder and said some- thing more.
 q will face the music" said Mr. Aber- nathy, dropping his ballot into the hat with the remark.
 That vote is for Moo-s.
 Mr. Abernathys vote broke the deadlock, and MT. Moore was escorted to the chair and expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him.
 Tom Baine was elected secretary by ac- clamation.
 There were present at the meeting: Sul- livan, Cox. Crittenden, Haley, Howard, Antwine, Moore, Copeland, Wood, Burk halter. Abernathy, Howze, Rosser, Nor gan, O'Hara and Friedman.
 J. J. Moore was made temporary chair man.
 Mr. Burkhalter placed him in nomina- tion for permanent chairman.
 MT. Rosser placed in nomination the name of MT. Montgomery.
 Wanted Member of Committee
 MT. Crittendon advocated the policy that a member of the committee be selected for chairman and not an outsider. He asked for the committee precedents.
 Chairman Moore said that he could only speak of the last election, when a mem- Der of the committee was made chairman.
 MT. Burkhater moved that it be the sense of the committee that one of it's own number be elected chairman. This motion was ruled out of order, and MT. Burkhalter moved that the nominations be set aside until this question could be acted upon.
 MT. Haley antagonized MT. Burkhalter. He thought all party precedents were for electing an outsider chairman. The state committee had always done this.
 MT. Burkhalter said the people had elected their representatives and he thought one of them capable to serve as chairman
 The election was then held by secret bal lot without the question being acted upon.
 F. F. Soltzman, Jr., was elected to fill vacancy from the Fourth ward and the committee adjourned subject to the call Of the chairman.