The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-21

All of yesterday there was a Iarge crowd assembled about the Exchange Hotel and the scene thereabouts re- mined one of old convention times. Last night when two-thirds of the dels gates to the Constitutional Convention had arrived. the hotel office was like 2 bee hive and it continued so until late into the night. the interest being in the race for the presidency.
 Mr. Tennent Lomax of Montgomery had decided early in the afternoon that he would withdraw and authorized tn, announcement at night. Curiosity then became rife to know what former Gov ernor Oates would do. He had con- ference with his friends in his office and at midnight decided to withdraw.
 Governor Oates authorized the fol- lowing announcement:
 After deciding to become a candi- date for delegate to the Constitutional Convention, was solicited by numbers of prominent men. many of whom had been nominated for delegates. to be- come a candidate for president of the body. I yielded and became can- didate solely for the reason that from my experience in legislative work be- lieved that I could do much more to- wards making such a constitution as the people of the State should have, than I could on the floor Fas a mem- Der. did not seek 1t as a new honor, because have had higher, but for the reason above stated.
 "Now that MT. Lomax has with drawn from the race it has so changed the situation that MT. Knox is now the choice of majority of the dele gates for president of the convention.
 After a free conference with such of my friends and supporters that I have been able to see and with their approval do not feel that I should con- tinue in the race and tax the energies of my friends to make an unnecessary contest. With profound gratitude to them for their faithful and generous support I withdraw my candidacy"
 Will Convene at Noon.
 At noon today the Constitutional Con- vention will assemble in the hall of the House of Representatives and organ ize as the Act providing for the calling of the convention directs.
 The Act provides that before enter ing upon the discharge of the duties as a member of said convention, each dele gate shall, before Chancellor or Judge of ho CfrO11if+ GNnIIrf nf tho State take the following oath: T do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitu tion of the United States, and l will honestly and faithfully perform the duties which are now to devolve on me as delegate of this convention, so help me God"
 The Act further provides that "the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or in his absence, one of the Associate Justices, shall call the convention to order and preside until temporary of- ficers are elected" The Chief Justice or Associate Justice is only to preside until temporary orgS nization Is per fected by the selection of some one of the members of the convention to act as temporary President until the per manent organization can be had.
 It is further provided by the Act that after the convention assemblies in the hall of the House of Representatives, 1t shall then and there proceed to organ Ize said convention by the election of President from among themselves and such other officers (who need not be delegates) as caid convention may deem necessary for the proper performance of the duty assigned to the conven- tion.'
 MT. Knox is the only candidate for President that will be presented to the Democratic caucus and as a matter Of course he will be unanimously nomi- hated.
 Had General Oates and MT. Lomax remained in the race and gone in the