The age-herald., 1901-03-15
StoTniest Gathering in History
 of Local Democracy, FIGHT OVER ORGANIZATION Six Good Men as Delegates to Constitutional Convention WHITE AND HOWzE ENDORSED Ex-Governor Sims of Mississippi Pre- sided Over the Meetins-coI. w. H. Denson Made Fiery Speech.
 The Proceedings.
WHITE AND HowzE ENDORSED


 The Proceedings.
 For delegates to the constitutional convention:
 c. p. BeddoW.
 Charles w. Ferguson.
 T. J. CornweII.
 James Weatherly.
 John w. O'NelII.
 H. c. Selhelmer.
 The Jefferson County Democratic con- vention was held in the Auditorium yes- terday afternoon and named six candi- dates for delegates to the State Constitu- tional convention and selected thirty del egates to the State Democratic conven- ton, which meets in Montgomery next Thursday. The convention endorsed Capt Frank s. White for delegate to the Constitutional convention from the State at large, Judge A. c. Howze for delegate and Dr. R. M. Cunningham for delegate from the Ninth Congressional district from the Jefferson Senatorial district.
 Resolutions were adopted endorsing Captain White and Judge Howze and in- structlng the delegation to the State con ventton to work for their nominations.
 The convention yesterday was one of the stormiest ever held by the Democrats in Jefferson County. It started off in a very much disturbed condition and at in- tervals during the entire afternoon there were outcroppings of the storm.
 The First Trouble.
 The first trouble was precipitated by Col. W. H. Denson, who held proxy from the South Highlands subdivision of Beat ST. Colonel Denson denied the right of the chairman of the County Ex- ecutive Committee to name the presiding officer for the temporary organization and when Chairman R. H. Thach named former Gov. W. H. Sims of Mississippi for temporary presiding officer Colonel Denson moved as a substitute that MT. Huey of Bessemer be elected temporary chairman. He began an argument against Governor Sims presiding over the conven- ton, claiming that he was a stranger in the county and therefore not able to name the committees to be provided for later, unless they had been previously agreed upon and their anems furnished him. He said he was opposed to slates and wanted the people to have say in the naming of candidates.
 He was interrupted by w. c. Garrett, who raised the point of order that there was nothing before the convention, which point was sustained by Chairman Thach of the executive committee.
 Colonel Denson refused to abide by the ruling of the chair and resumed his speech, but calls and yells from all parts of the house drowned his voice. This did not phase him, however, and throughout the fifteen minutes of pandemonium that ensued he remained on his feet. What he was saying could not be heard even by those sitting in the seats next to him.
 Mr. Huey's name was finally with drawn, whereupon Colonel Denson took his seat and Chairman Thach introduced Governor Sims as the temporary presiding officer.
 Governor Sims Speech.
 On taking the chair, Governor Sims said:
 "Gentlemen of the Democratic Conven- tion of Jefferson County:
 'I greatly appreciate the honor of be- ing called by the executive committee from my quiet corner, a stranger to most of you, to preside for the moment and aid in the organization of this conven- ticn of Democrats. The occasion which brings you together is one of no ordi- nary importance.
 ''Your last Legislature, refecting, as we believe. the wishes of a large ma jority of the people of Alabama, enacted a law for submitting to the voters of this great State the question as to whether they desire to reassume the reins of their sovereign powers, and in con vention assembled to revise or make anew their constitution. You gentlemen of this convention have been selected from the ranks of the Democratic voters of this County, and charged with the duty of choosing here today six delegates, whom your party will present to the voters of Jefferson County at an election soon to be held, as suitable candidates to repre- sent the people in a constitutional con- yention, should the voters decide that they wish a convention to assemble.
 You are also charged by your party with the selection of thirty delegates to the State Democratic convention, which meets at Montgomery next Tuesday. That State assembly of Democrats will in turn be charged with the selection of four candidates for delegates from the state at-large, two candidates from each Con- aressional district and one candidate from each Senatorial district in the State, to be voted for by the people as delegates to a possible constitutional convention.
 ,s'These duties imposed upon you today by your brother Democrats seem sim pie. but they are weighted by responsi- bilities of grave importance. Permit me to say that have confidence, gentlemen, that you have accepted your places as delegates here with full knowledge and full consciousness of the high significance of your position. and with set purpose to discharge your duties as becomes the oc- casion.
 '-The world has entered new century of existence, and Alabama with greater population, greater wealth, greater de- veiopment of her material resources, also has greater responsibilities and should have greater realization of her opportuni- ties and deficiencies. She Is yet burdened with the oppression of ignorant citizen ship and handicapped in her race of pro-