The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-22
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In HOTEL LOBBIES
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at should be made plain before all the
people That in the Jefferson county demo-
cratic executive committee at its meeting
in Birmingham last Wednesday the attempt
Was made to delegate practically all the
power and authority vested in it by the
party ito a special committee with power to
sit in darkness and deal as it might elect
to deal with all questions, said Chairman
Robert j. Lowe. Usage and the accepted
law of the democratic party provides that
ordinarily the party's committee shall act
publicly and openly Its conclusions are
always made public Immediately. For the
good of the party, wnicIa is equivalent ito
the good of all, the people of Alabama, dis
cussions of party business are sometimes
held privately, away from the newspaper
reporters and the public. But the de-
cisicns arrived at are given to the reporters
without delay. The proposition made in The
Jefferson county committee would, If 1t
had prevailed, enabled a special committee
to keep all the candidates and voters in
doubt and uncertainty if that special COM
mittee had determined. That is power
outside the discretion OF The commiJ,ee
elected by the people, and is w'holy at vari-
ance with the purposes, wishes and desires
Of the Gemoclatic party, and contrary to
the purposes of our governmental institu-
lions 1t became my duty to protest and
contend against the opposition, and happily
it was defeated. lad it been not offered
ehere would not have been mrol d.spate in
the committee. My contention was that
the p-ople lad risht to know what was
going forward and what their own SER
vants had purpose OF doing. The suggestion
which l made in effect tGal the cam
didate for lie United States senate recev-
inS tle largest number OF votes, plurality,
If you please, i'm tne primary election, should
receive aae votes CT the senator and tne
SIX Representatives from Jefferson, and that
was fair, just and sound according to demo-
cratic principles and teachings. 1his sug-
sestion failed; but so did the original prop
ostlon to which l have referred. The mat
ter tnai was at Issue is very plain SO
also is the work of the committee"
Joseph Wheeler was charged the past
week in Gle United States court at Hunts
Vile with having cut open unj,ed States
mail bag. The said Joseph Wheeler, the
bearer by right OF his own birth, of a
name that is famous is described as a
stalwart young man of twensy-six years,
probably. John Towers, assistant post
master OF Birminshain, was summoned as
a Witness Mr.. Towers says That Wheeler
odd NOT answer TO MS name when called
in court, it being alleged for him .tlat he
vas sick. Finally he was brought into
court, and, as uhe story goes, lie declared
that ne had been suffering from lung
hemorrhases. Making trlis declaration. lit
is alleged that the accused man expector-
ated something that appeared 10 be blood
upon seeing which tac jury acquitted him.
The allegation is chat ihe expectoration
was not actually sanguine, ard the judge
has called for the forfeiture of Joseph
Nheeler's bond.
IL IS stated authoritatively. that twenty
seven teal duck We're killed by two shots
from the gun of one sportsman at East
Lake yesterday. This statement Is not
here vouched for; but there may be borne
In the public mindthe fact that ducks are
now flying southwark, and that In seeking
rest and food This sort OF fowl may alight
upon any large body of water. 1t is ouite
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