The age-herald., 1899-05-03
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i | to nominate the delegates al large provided | for in the act. A great many democrats | did not know that such measure had be- come a law, a still greater number were | totally unacquainted with it's provisions and not the slightest intimation was given by the committee or the press that it was contemplated to be made party question: From the best information attainable can | state that there was practically little inter- | est taken in the primaries, except in four | or five counties, where local contests devel- | oped some votes. In all the state there was | not exceeding 20,000 democrats, about | one-seventh of the party, that participated l in the primaries.
 The convention thus elected assembled | and took action that was claimed by the l friends of the movement to bind the con science and forestall the judgment of every l democrat in the state on the vital question | as to whether or not they desired a new constitution to be established. The right l given all voters by you under the act, was l alleged to have been taken away from them by the convention.
 The power of the convention thus called and elected, to shackle democrats was de- | nied by many. Subsequently, the executive committee of the democratic party, appar- | ently not satisfied that the convention had sufficiently shackled democrats, proceeded by vote of IS, out of a total of 34 mem bers, to declare 1t a party question so far as 1t could. Now, it is claimed that those IS gentlemen, number of whom were can- didates for seats in the convention and ! for like interest could not have sat on a 1 jury where $5 was involved have taken away not only the right of democrats to vote their honest convictions but have | completely deprived the general assembly 1 or the democratic members thereof of the right to consider further this question. | Time for Counsel
 The state of public mind, the supineness | Of the press that tolerates the extraordi- nary claim that a bare majority, or even l all, of an executive committee, the crea- lures of the party, and chosen to execute, l not declare, its will cannot only domina te and dictate to their creators, the 150 900 | democrats in the state, but absolutely con- trol and direct the action of the general | assembly in a matter involving the over throw of the present organic law of our state, shows that 1t Is time for those who | have been fairly chosed by the people and are under solemn obligations to care for the prosperity and well being of the state, | to assemble and take counsel together.
 If an executive committee can declare party questions; If that doctrine be once established, 1t will only be necessary in the | future for the committee of the dominant | party in the general assembly to have in troduced such measures as they may per- sonally desire, declare them party questions
 
 them into laws, or be pronounced as bolters and traitors to their party. It may be re- | membered that this same committee re- fused to endorse a bill introduced amend ing the convention act and making 1t ob- | ligatory to submit any constitution that might be adopted to a vote of the people for ratification.
 | Instructions have now been issued to the 1 chairmen of county committees in effect to assemble their committees if opposed to the repeal of the act and have them so de- clare with request to their representatives to vote accordingly, but if they should fa- vor a repeal it is intimated that 1t is inex- pedient to call them together
 Nature of the Attack
 Scandalous attacks have been made upon the chief executive of the state, not for acting on his own judgment, but for ask ing and accepting and acting on the advice | given him by decided majority of the sem ators and representatives of the general assembly. No more bitter attacks could have been made had he called on those proposed to be disfranchised or on some disreputable and worthless characters for advice.
 The final and supreme effort in this novel method of warfare is to be had tonight. For the first time in the history of Ala bama, a mass meeting has been called, chairmen of county committees and others ! summoned to attend and under the diree- | tion of the state committee final effort is to be made to lntimidate and coerce the | judgment of members of the general as- l sembly in the gravest matter possible for | them to consider It Is proclaimed that senators from this state, the creatures of the general assembly, are to instruct the | members in their duties, and that members of congress are to join in this gratuitous | and unsought advice
 Time for Calm Deliberation Occasion comes in the history of all na- tion and people when madness seems to | seize upon some, calm deliberation and patriotic judgment are attacked, and the motives of all who dare to warn of the perils threatened are assailed. At such times comes the opportunity of those who are most reckless as to the future and l most ambitious of the present.
 These are the times when the represen- tatives of the people should stand un- moved by the surging waves of passion or I the voice of ambition, and, resisting all att tempts, by any person or faction, to CO., cree their judgment, courageously perform their duty to the people by taking such wise and prudent action as shall remove the cause of irritation and restore peace | and moderation.
 Machine Rule
 We have practically ceased to hear any arguments tending to show any necessity