The age-herald., 1899-08-25
A BRYAN CLUB ORGANIZED MT. TomIinson Strongly Opposes
 Present Philippine PoIicy,
 DIR. CUNNINGHAM IS UNDECIDED
CritiQ.7 Y of stallings' Attitude by Mir. JS. 2 nson Loudly Applauded- lis is Not Year for Polit- o ts ical Trimmers He Said
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 my man who is too weak-kneed to cAnd along with W. J. Bryan on the Chicago platform will never be gov ernor of Alabama.-Hon John w Tom hnson in speech at Scale yesterday. 
 $Seale, Ala, August 2.-(Special )-For once in it's history the town of Scale has been full of free silver: or, rather full of free silver talk and Bryan enthusiasm A Bryan club was organized here today, em- bracing the whole of Russell county. It was one of the best and most enthusiastic democratic meetings ever held in east Ala bama The large audience, about five hun dred voters, and few ladies, never tired listening to the strong democratic doctrines expounded by Hon. John w. Tomlinson, chairman of the National Bimetahc com mittee, and Dr. R. M Cunningham, presi- dent of the state senate.
 The fact that Mir. Tomhnson and Dr. Cunningham, both probable candidates for governor, and both residents of Jefferson county, spoke from the same platform on the same occasion, lent a new interest 10
 
 oped in the supposed candidacy of either. At the beginning of the meeting Senator Boykin introduced a resolution, which was unanimously adopted endorsing the Chi cago platform and William j. Bryan and opposing imperialism. MT. Tomlinson spoke first, and he was quick to announce his endorsement of every word contained in the resolution. MT. Tomlinsons speech was so enthusiastically received by the audience that as soon as pr. Cunningham was intro- duced he said that he had heard so much splendid bimetallic talk that 1t had made him feel good, and had put whole lot of good free silver doodle" In him He en- dorsed all that Mir. Tomlinson had said save his anti-imperalism, and on this sub- ject the doctor said he had not determined what was the best policy. As for the crowd, it was solid against imperialism.
 Representative Audience
 The meeting today was held in the court house, and it was a thoroughly represent atve audience that comfortably filled the building Senator W. J. Boykin was "chef cook,' and about four hundred of the boys were good bottle washers" Indeed, the whole meeting was so enthusiastically unanimous on every point that it had the appearance of an old-time cut-and-dried county convention.
 The grand old democratic war horse of Russell, Colonel Lyman W. Martin, pre- sided over the meeting, and was made president of the Bryan club There were many more of the faithful In attendance upon the meeting, assisting to make it thorough success. Among them were such men as Senator Boykin, Judge H. T. Ben ton, Judge w. N Burt, Captain w. A. Bel lamy, Colonel J. r. Tate, J. N. Holt, W. H. Tucker r. B. Long, H. T. Ragand, J. J. Ware, J. D. Henry, J. A. Terrell, c. w. Fields, J. H. Bickerstaff, F. M deGraffen- reid and others
 Some of the candidates for governor did not appear at the meeting. Speaker Waller was expected, as was also Congressman Stallings. Senator Boykin said that he coul5 only explain MT. Stallings' absence by the fact that in the letter extending an invitation to the congressman it, was stated that only candidates favorable to the can didacy of Colonel Bryan were desired at the meeting. The audience wished for tho presence of the congressman when MT. Tomlinson struck him solar plexus blow for his renunciation of Colonel Bryan and the Chicago platform in his famous Rich ardson letter. When MT. Tomlinson in the same breath exclaimed Any man who is too weak-kneed to stand on the Chicago platform along with William J. Bryan will never be governor of Alabama" there was loud and prolonged applause This and other instances proved beyond ques- tlon the loyalty of the silver men of Rus- sell fo their great Iaoder
 o. .eling Of the Campaign
 The meeting here marks the opening of the national campaign in Alabama, and there is no doubt that Russell will send delegates to the next state convention pledged to instruct the delegates to the na- tional convention from this state to vote for William Jennings Bryan.
 It was 11:S0 o'clock when Senator Boykin called the meeting to order He explained fin a brief speech that the meeting had been called for the purpose of organizing club to aid in the election as president of the United States ''the greatest living exponent of the principles of the people-W. J. Bry- an." Colonel Lyman W. Martin was chosen