The age-herald., 1899-05-03

were but five of us In the state now in twenty years we would rule. I speak to- night with a heart of triumph and joy. Only for few days will we have annoy ance. A few schemers and party fixers may for a few days keep the party from prog ress and cause the world to criticise us Who are these men? Is this man whose political ambition towers high above his ability? (Applause) Is this man passing a law one day and repeating it the next; writing to legislators; backing and filling; doing thing one day, undoing 1t the next, with no consistency of purpose? No people will respect any man who has not self-respect. Don't let us act in this pe- culiar way. Let us go straight to the frant; don't let us take away from the people the right they have.
 "The editor of the court paper here, MT. Hood says I have not been in the state long enough to know the constitution of 1875. But I have been off in your service and have kept up with the state and in twenty-one years have done you service. Don't reproach a man who has been OH in your service for not being at home. Under the act passed by the legislature which Governor Johnston signed, every man to be voted for must be the nominee of a recognized party. Unless such nomt- nee, he should not have his name on the ticket and be voted for. Now, a party con Vention met here to nominate B delegates to the constitutional convention. It was democratic convention when it met. It called itself party convention and ex- pressed opinions Who can say it had no right to express opinions? It did only what it should have done.
 Legislature Not Above Delegates
 ''Now we come to democratic nominees. We have submitted the matter to 133 dele gates. The legislature is only composed of this number, and the legislators are not far above those men which the people have chosen. It is not the convention you dis trust, it is the people, It is a groundiess and unjust suspicion. Some of these men are silver men, some gold men, but they are all democrats. They are democrats on the white mans question. This is the most important. Later, my friends, we can sit down and talk over the silver question: Let us resolve that we will never give up this fight. lApplause). It may be that the legislature will be driven into an unjust act, but we should never give up. If .44is legislature passes that act I shall enter the campaign and do what l can. l Will ask the people if they intend to inflict for ever the sufferings upon the people ot the black belt which they have borne for the past twenty-five years. We are white peo- ole, from whatever section we come. Let us stand together as great white family, defying all opposition, come from where 1t may"
 Senator Morgan was followed by ex-Gov- ernor Oates, who made strong speech, in which he declared that the governor had no legal right to call the legislature ;n extra session to repeal the convention act. He announced that if it was repealed the secretary of state would be mandamused and the supreme court would have to de- eide the matter. Judge Henry M. Somer- vile and Colonel W. H. Denson concluded the meeting in ringing speeches. There were loud calls for Congressman Bankhead and Underwood, but the hour being very late, they declined to retain the audience. The meeting did not adjourn until midnight.
 MT. Lowe Hopeful
 Chairman Lowe of the democratic com mittee said after the meeting tonight:
 "This has been the most memorable meet ing held in Alabama in my memory. No more important political mass meeting has been held since 1874. In my judgment, the effort to repeal the call for a constitutional convention will fail. A majority of the dem- ocrats/ in both houses oppose it. The. law seems plain that the general assembly has no constitutional power to repeal. l be- liev that the constitutional convention will he held