The age-herald., 1899-03-30

objector, and his seconds were Warden Perkins, of the penitentIary. and Railroad Commissioner Kyle
 As soon as MT. Pettus took his seat MT. Tunstall. of Hale, was on his feet. de- manding the previous question on the adoption of the platform. MT. Brandon was attempting to gain recognition. and there were cries from all sections of the chamber of Question, question: while others yelled Brandon" Brandon asked Tunstall to withdarw the motion for the previous question. Chairman Jelks was using the gavel with all his force, beating for order. Tunstali, Brandon and Lowe were standing up in their chairs, franu- cally seeking recognition.
 'Is the gentleman from Hale afraid to have his platform dscussed?" Brandon was heard to eXclaim. It seemed that every one of the 800 delegates were yelling at the top of their voices and not one could be recogn- ized. Brandon was speaking in the highest pitch of his voice, but 1t is doubtful if his tones were audible to the delegates nearest him. MT. Lowe, with hat in hand, waived for silence. The chair rapped for silence. Finally such order was restored as enabled a motion by MT. Lowe to be heard that the chair appoint sufficient sergeants-at- arms to preserve order, even if it required the removal of the gentleman from Tusca- loosa from the house."
 A Bedlam Prevailed
 Brandon was still standing in his chair, trying to speak, and .Lowe's remarks only served to arouse the ire of Brandon's fol- lowers. There were yells for everything and everybody by everybody, and nobody could hear his own remarks This turDu- lant scene continued for several minutes
 Frank Pettus. of Dallas, in cool, col Iected manner, mounted a chair. He waved his big black felt hat and asked for silence There is not man in Alabama who com mands greater respect from democrats than Frank Pettus. Democrats all love to honor him. It was but a moment until MT. Pettus had secured the attention of the as- semblage. "As the mover of the previous question, I now ask unanimous consent of this convention to withdraw 1t, In order to allow the gentlemen from Tuscaloosa fif- teen minutes. the gentlemen from Hale five minutes and the chairman of the committee on resolutions ten minutes in which to dis cuss the question:" At last oil had been poured upon the troubled waters, and the convention was once again unanimous on one question. Everybody agreed to the suggestion of MT. Pettus
 MT. Brandon was recognized for his fif- teen minutes speech. He called for the reading of the first plank in the platform. The secretary read the clause. 'T object to the adoption of this plank,' said Mr. Bran don, flor the reason that I am opposed to the party being placed on record as pledged to a constitutional convention. This con- vention was called to nominate thirty-three delegates, and not to pledge it's members to support that to which they are opposed" He said that while some members were pleading for relief for the black belt, that he was pleading for the mountain counties. Tn my county it has been charged that the convention would disfranchise white men. and am pledged to my constituents to oppose any measure which would bring about such a condition" The speaker ask ed what would be the fate of the demo- cratic party should the call for a conven- tion fail. ''In North Alabama we would lose control" he said He moved to strike out the first section.
 MT. Tunstall next spoke. Tn the begin ming" said MT. Tunstall, "I will ask the gentleman from Tuscaloosa one question a plain and simple question, which he can- not misunderstood. If the motion of the gentleman fail, will he fall into line and support the platform for which I am fight ing?"
 Brandon Declares Himself
 MT. Brandon--I answer no. That Is a ''plain and simple" answer. I say this for the reason that the democratic party has notsspoken on the question.
 '1f these are not democrats in convention assembled" replied Mr.. Tunstall, "then will the gentleman from Tuscaloosa tell me
 
 opposition to democracy; their faces have not the same color. Why does the gentle man oppose the first section of the plat form? He opposed the bill calling a con- vention when before the general assembly. That section Is there but for one purpose that the white man should rule the coun- try. If you strike out that declaration, you end the rule of the white man In Alabama. l cannot see the purpose of the convention if this section Is eliminated. His motion is for the purpose of defeating the call for convention and to prevent the perpetual rule of the white race in Alabama. I am against that under any circumstances" concluded MT. Tunstall.
 Judge Aston, chairman of the resolutions committee, did not desire to speak He was willing to let the matter come to vote.
 Clayton's Substitute
 Congressman Clayton offered as a sub- stitute for the first plank of the platform his original resolution declaring the call for convention should not be made a party question: This was declared out of order.
 MT. Huddleston, a very noisy member from Fillmore, wanted to speak. He had been speaking and attempting to get rec ognition, but nobody would recognize him. He claimed much right to speak as the gentlemen from Hale and Tuscaloosa 'I came to this convention as an unterrified democrat-" His tones were lost in the up- roar. EVeryDody was again trying to speak, including the delegate from Elmore. During this scene Chairman Jelks was busy taking vote. He put the question: "All favoring the adoption of the platform will say aye" There was chorus of "ayes," which seemed that thousand men were voting. When the negative was put there was chorus of mays"
 "The ayes have it," announced the chair, land the platform is adopted"
 This statement led to another scene of disgrace. Brandon said the chair was in error for the reason that he had offered a substitute upon which a vote should have been taken. The chair declared that the substitute was out of order. Kyle, Bran don and Lowe tried to get recognition. Kyle said that there had been a demand for the call of counties on the vote. T did not hear it," replied the chair
 MT. Lowe gained the floor. He was now the peacemaker of the convention. He said that as there seemed to be some doubt as to whether the question was carried, he would ask unanimous consent to have the vote reconsidered that vote by counties could he had This SuggeStion was readily