The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-28

~@~@~~~-E< 4fl Williams. and hereby express our ap proval of It's action in that case upon the facts as they then appeared.
 We also endorse and approve ths report of the Committee on Credentials made to this Convention based upon such evidence 'as was before them bearing upon this case.
 But that this caucus alone has ju. risdiction to determine who shall com pose its members, and for this pur' pose has entered upon a trial de novc of the facts of this case and,
 Whereas. it appears that Arthur E.. Williams has been lifelong Demo- crat and has never affiliated with any put the Democratic party and has expressly disclaimed any purpose or intention of defying the party authority or repudiating the action of the State Committee and now as a Democrat seeks admission into this caucus.
 "Bt it resolved that he is hereby admitted
 When the substitute resolution had been read MT. Hinson jumped to his feet and exclaimed: MT. Chairman l accept the substitute,"
 More Evidence is Desired.
 MT. deGraffenreid of Hale, said he desired to be heard upon the substitute resolution. He said that it had been charged that fraud had been practiced in a Democratic primary in Fillmore County. He said the evidence of but one side had been heard and in the in- terest of justice he desired to hear the testimony of the other side.
 MT. Sollie of Dale said he believed the matter had gone far enough. He further believed that the conclusion hal 1,,.< okol <A0A L1k Williams and MT. Mckenzie were good Democrats. As member of the Gre dentials Committee he was willing to see the resolution adopted.
 MT. Pettus of Limestone said he favored the substitute resolution. He thought a mistake had been made in undertaking to hear the evidence in the case. He thought. however, that if Mir. Mckenzie desired 1t, the testi- mony of his side of the case should be heard. He therefore moved that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed for one hour to give MT. Mckenzie and his friends an oppor- tunity to present evidence.
 MT. Lomax of Montgomery seconded the motion for postponement and spoke He said it was not right to shut MT. Mckenzie off without an to present his testimony.
 MT. Smith of Mobile, who was chair man of the Credentials Committee. which originally reported adversely to seating MT. Williams, said that he had discussed the matter at great length with the friends of MT. Mckenzie. They were merely here, he said. to up- hold the action of the State Committee and would raise no objection to the seating of Mir. Williams if the caucus desired to disagree with the State Con1- mittee.
 MT. Greer of Calhoun said he thought the entire matter had been out of order. No one in the caucus doubted that Mir. Williams was a Democrat. It was Hams should be seated. He. therefore, the previous question.
 Question of Party Interest.
 MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale in closing the debate, said the contention was not liams It was between MT. Williams and the Democratic party. Looking to the preservation of party discipline. the best and highest interests of the party demanded the case be settled at once, and, therefore, he asked the unan- imous adoption of the substitute reso- lution.
 MT. Pettus of Limestone made the point that the question was on his mo- tion to postpone for one hour, but MT. Fletcher of Madison, who was presid- ing, ruled that the question was the substitute resolution, which was adopt ed almost unanimously amid cheering.
 This meant that MT, Williams was seated in the caucus and he was warm ly congratulated by his friends.
 On motion of MT. Greer of Calhoun, the caucus at 5 o'clock adjourned, sub 1ect to the call of the chairman.
 There are two Executive Commit tees in Fillmore County, and the State Executive Committee will be asked to determine which of these committees is regular.