The age-herald., 1899-05-03
LOVES SCATHING SPEECH Reunited Party Will Seal John-
 g s>s Fate.
 sT OVATION E.@- @-i0RGAN AND PETTUS
 ES
 : z Pettus TrSS the DiscOrd to a Chief csS Exec g Elected by Democrats.
JOHNSTON RoUNDLY SCORED
Morgan Magnifcently Defended Alas bama Democrats Who Were Att tackled by the "Juggler" and
 Termed Clamorous Lobby

Montgomery, May 2-(Special.) )-The democratic mass meeting opening the con- stitutional convention campaign at the theater tonight was perhaps the most unanimous and enthusiastic demonstra- ton ever held in the state. Senators Pettus and Morgan, ex-overnor Oates, Judge Somerville and Colonel Bill Denson were the principal speakers. All the con- gressmen were present and an audience of two thousand people heard them and ap- plauded wildly. Senator Morgan's speech was one of the best and most forcible of his iii1 Cslaa.l Oats met with a re- sponsive and hetty echo when he an- nounced that if thee legislature repealed the convention act that would not be the last of it. The secretary of State would be mandamused and the supreme court would have to decide it.
 The meeting was called to order by Hon. Robert J. Lowe, chairman of the state democratic executive committee, who threw few hot shells into the governors camp with the approval of the audience. MT. Lowe referred scathingly to the dis cord which, he said, had been thrust upon the party by Governor Johnston, whose political fate he predicted would be sealed by the final actions of reunited demo- cracy. With becoming modesty MT. Lowe refrained from entering into a full dis cussion of the subject stating that he pre- ferred to leave the discussion to the speakers of the evening, to whom he re- ferred as the jewels who fought the party battles in the dark days of 1867 and 1888. He then introduced Hon. Francis l.. Pet tus, Alabama's junior member Of the United States senate
 Pettus Gets a Tremendous Ovation
 Senator Pettus was given a tremendous ovation when he arose to address the meeting, the applause lasting for some minutes. He began slowly and spoke clear ly and distinctly, at times his voice falling to low pitch, due in a measure to his feebleness, which is apparent, although he would occasionally reach the climax Of his eoquence in tones which would have done justice to more youthful orator As he rested against the procenium box on the right of the stage he presented picture of loyalty as is seldom caught by the artist upon his canvas--a gray-haired elo- quent old man fighting for the party prina oiples of his youth and clung to with an almost selfish tenacity; still as dear to him as when he first realized the duty Of his trust-to guard and keep them pure.
 "I do not appear before you tonight as a stranger within your gates" he said, in opening his remarks, because 1 always feel at home in your city with her hos
  defend the principles of the democratic party.
 "I was taught in the school of General Jackson" he continued, and have not turned to the right or left"
 Launching at once into his subject, he said. in part: 'I believe all democrats should obey the laws of the party organi- zation. I do not mean office holders more than plain citizens, but man who is put in office by party should regard it's man. dates with at least as much, if not more, zealousy as the citizen who mas recelVeu no direct benefit.
 "I was in Montgomery in 1S47 when the first legislature met here," he continued, land have returned almost every year since, and always met a hearty welcome at the hands of the splendid people of your city
 To an Organized Democracy
 "I belong to the organized democracy. I have always belonged to 1t; always will belong to it, and will fight bolters where ever I find them. I am a of plain, blunt speech, but would not offend any man, especially a democrat
 What is the party?" he asked. 'It is an organization of men bound together in a common purpose, to prescribe it's liberties and limitations No man need belong if he disagree with its methods; he has the priv elege of retiring.
 What does all this bitterness in Ala. bama mean? Who caused 1t? How came 1t here?
 'It can easily be answered. A democratic caucus divided In favor of a constitutional convention, democratic legislature passed bill providing for convention call, dem- ocratlc governor signed the bill, demo- cratic executive committee indorsed 1t, Q democratic state convention approved, and now the self-same governor asks the leg islature to repeal it's own bill. which he himself signed. Then there came discord of which the able chairman of the executive committee has told you.
 "On the day the executive committee met in this city the governor issued his proclamation calling together the extra
 
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