The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-18
FULL ACCOUNT
OF the Meeting Between Populists and
Democrats

Montgomery. May 17-(Special) IAN af-
ternoon paper prints the following signed
statement which purports to be a review
of the recent conference of democrats and
populists regarding the repeal of the con-
stitutional convention bill:
Editor Journal:--I have been requested
by several of the members of the general
assembly to give out correct statement
of the proceedings of tho populist caucus.
held May 3, 1899. The following is correct:
]. E. CHEATHAM, Secretary.
Montgomery, Ala, May g. 1899.
The pepulist members of the general as
sembly met in caucus in the hall of the
general assembly at p. m. Mr. L. II.
Reynolds was elected chairman and ]. -.
Cheatham secretary. After the caucus
was fully organized the chairman stated,
I'VE are now ready to consider any bust
ness that in any manner concerns the
best interest of our party"
1t was suggested that DR.. Grove address
the body. He did SO, but confined his re-
marks to natic7al matters, stating that we
We're in better , ndition now that we had
ever been. Speeches were also made by
Messrs. Kelly, Buchanan, Brooks, Cheat
ham, Cornelius and Marbut. At this juno
ture the chairman received note to the eff
feet that his presence was desired out in
the rotunda On his return he stated that
Messrs. Lowe, chairman of the state DEM
ocratic committee, and Tunstall, member
of the> state democratic executive commit
tee desired to appear before the body. a
motion was made that a committee con-
sisting of three be appointed by the chair
to escort the gentlemen in Spears, Buch-
anan and Holis composed the committee
Mr.. Tunstall first addressed the body,
stating in substance as follows: You 0he
pcoulists) have an opportunity to control
Alabama and it may be that you viii do So
We are ready to submit to your control
We concede to you that right and hope you
will control ii in the best interest of the
people of the state. We now propose. to
amend the bill calling the convention so as
to add thirty-three more delegates to the
number from the state-at-large and give
to the popuist Thirty of the thirty-three
and the other three shall be entirely salts
factory to the populists party If you VIII
agree to vote against the repeal of the act
calling the constitutional convention.
If you prefer we will put into that con-
stitution a clause to the effect that all
political parties shall be represented at the
polls. We believe you will control right
and we are wiling to join with you. Mr..
Lowe stated that he had endorsed what
Mr.. Tunstall had said and that he would
go further and state that if the populists
see proper to accept that they QLowe and
TunstalD would have a committee APP
pointed to submit the same in writing and
that eighteen of the state democratic COM
mittee would assign the document, and
that Charles Waller, Frank Pettus, Senator
Pettus and other leading democrats would
assign. Mr.. Lowe stated that he spoke
from authority and if your terms do not
suit you name your terms.
He was asked if Frank Pettus would vote
for popuist, in answer to which he stated
that Mr.. Pettus was now willing to lay
aside his prejudices, and he G1owe) was
not only willing to lay aside his prejudices
but part of his principles After Mr..
Lowe concluded his remarks the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, BY the populist members of
the general assembly of Alabama, that we
respectfully decline to accept the propo-
sition submitted to us by Messrs. Lowe
and Tunstall.
Resolved, That we hereby pledge our
selves to vote for the unconditional repeal
of the act known as the constitutional con-
vention act.
The caucus adjourned subject to the call
of the chairman.
L. H. REYNOLDS,
Chairman. S
j. E. CHEATHAM,
Secretary.