The age-herald., 1899-05-03
ON THE REFERENCE FIGHT As to Repeal Bill on Anti-Demo-
 cratic Majority GOES TO A SPECIAL COMMIT TEE Which the Speaker of the House Cam
 not Appoint of His Right.
THIS DOES NOT END CONTEST
The Democratic Governor of Alabama Wins an Advantage By Aid ot the Populist and Republican Vote
 of the General Assembly.

Montgomery, May 2.-(Special)-T leg islature met this noon. The governors message was read. It was a vicious as- mittee, upon the two Alabama senators and the congressman. He declares that the senators, "the creatures of the legislature" have come, assuming to instruct legislators in their duties. Throughout his message he is vicious to the point of venom against party leaders, senators, congressman and the newspapers. His message is full of venom and demagogical appeals to legis- lators. It caught the populists. In the house all IS of them voted solidy with him on the preliminary votes, giving repeal, on apparently test votes, eleven majority. The party leaders, however, claim this majority Kill be overthrown before vote upon the pill is taken. Three Jefferson members Burkhalter, Huey and Houston-followed he governors lead today, but the predic- ions are that at least two of them will cave him to follow party dictates and the Will of the people. So it is claimed, will ,e the result in many other cases
 A Great Meeting
 The meeting tonight at which Senators Pettus and Morgan and several congress men,, and others spoke had great effect. The governor was criticised severely for peaIing to populists and republicans to overthrow the party which honored him with the office he now holds. He was cen- Bured for his efforts to deprive the people of their right to speak for themselves. In- deed both Senators Pettus and Morgan were severe in their denunciations of Gov ernor Johnston for attempting to deprive the people of their rights and set himself up as their guardian and dictator.
 The meeting tonight will undoubtedly have effect. The contest is one to the death. The democratic party is, however, split in twain. There are two clements loyal Chicago platform democrats, who are for the party under all circumstances; and Johnstonites, composed of office-holders, hoPciuioB POP0iiSeS anu ASPoOiSallS.
 The Fight is On
 Whatever may be the result in the legis- lature, the fight is on, and is in the hands of the people, to finish. The election for convention or mo convention will be held in July, and the people will have an opportunity to vote for the delegates al- ready nominated.
 What the legislature will finally do, no man can predict with certainty; but the people themselves will be given the right to speak for themselves on this great ques- tion without dictation from any one.
 The Democratic Majority
 The reading of the governors message and preliminary skirmishing over the ref erence of the repeal bill prepared under the supervision of the governor and lntro- duced by MT. Brandon were the features of today's session of the house.
 Upon the test vote in the house to refer the bill to a special committee those In favor of repeal showed up eleven majority. They, however, had nineteen populist and republican votes. The democratic majority is against repeating the constitutional con- vention act; but the governors followers, actlnS Wltn repuDHcdnS ana popul1StS, were in the majority on preliminary votes and the governors democratic followers declare they will not go into democratic caucus. After the reading of the message tho anti-repeal men in the house moved ad- journment until tomorrow. They were voted down by S7 to 4S.
 Then the repeal bill was introduced, and Mr. Hubbard moved 1t be referred to a special committee of thirteen, which he named. This motion was discussed several hours. An effort was made to refer it to the committee of the whole, but finally the rerealists won.
 The Jefferson Delegation
 Of, the Jefferson delegation, Burkhalter, Houston and Huey voted with the repeal ists.
 The entiro session was one of parlia- mentary scrapping The repealists, having the nineteen popullsts and republicans