The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-24
Case of Delegate Williams
 RcOpened. SOME HEATED DEBATEs
Hearing Will Be Resumed
 This Afternoon.
Several Witnesses Were ExAmano1 by Attorneys and Election 1rsth- ods of Elmore County Were
 Recited-The Contsst
 Grows in Intsre0t.

The controversy over the mateer o1 whether Hon. A. E. Williams. the deIe- gate to the Constitutional Oonventtou from Fillmore County. is entitled to v seat in the Democratic caucusy 9ty9a promise of going into history as tho |all-absorbing topic amsng the ln1o- gates to the Convention of 1901 dux1nn its first few days. More. than this, lk gives promise of developing q faetional spirit in the Convention.
 The friends of MT. Williams peti~ tioned Chairman Lowe of the Demo- cratic caucus to call the Democratfo members together in order that the ax,~ tion of the caucus denying Mir. Wil- Hams seat in it's deliberations might be reconsidered.
 In pursuance of this petition, the day afternoon in the hall of the Houso of Representatives. The Williams case was reopened and for four hours 1t was considered. Several witnesses, among them MT. Williams, were sworn and testified before the caucus. Mir. Fitta of Tuscaloosa was the leader for MT. Williams, and MT. Smith of Mobile for the Democratic State Committee, and conducted the examination.
 At 8 o'clock the caucus adjourned un- til 4:15 o'clock this afternoon, when the hearing of witnesses for MT. Mo- Kenzie, who was defeated by MT. Wil-i Hams. will take place.
 Several times yesterday afternoon the caucus became involved in parliament tary wrangles and the discussion be- came very heated.
 MT. Lowe, who is chairman of the State Committee, as well as chairman of the Democratic caucus. became in- ham of Talladega. who was presiding. and. to the astonishment of the mem- bers of the caucus. Mir. Lowe displaced AsT. Graham ffTosn the President. . usisir.
 Later in the afternoon, when Mir. Wilson of Clarke appealed from the de- cision of MT. Lowe. MT. Lowe declined to put the appeal to the caucus.
 A number of citizens of Fillmore Coun- ty were present yesterday afternoon and last night. and they will no doubt watch the proceedings this afternoon with great interest.
 The Democratic caucus was called te order by Chairman Lowe at 4:1b o'clock.
 MT. Lowe read a request for a meet ing of the caucus signed by a number of Democratic members and said that in pursuance of this request he had called the meeting of the caucus. He said that he understood that the only matter to be considered by the caucus was the contest from Fillmore County. MT. Lowe said he wished to add that if he had said anything in the pre- vious caucus to wound the feelings Gf his friend from Tuscaloosa, Mr. F1tts. he wished to retract those remarks and to apologize to Mir. F1tts.
 MT. Fitts made acknowledgements of this statement and the Chairman al- nounced that the caucus was ready for business.
 Mir. willett of Pickens. asked for in- formation as to the call of the caucus. and the Chairman explained that the caucus was called to consider any question.
 Mir. Sollie of Dale, began to say that he was a member of the Credentials Committee when MT. Willett made the point of order that there was nothing before the caucus.
 The point was sustained, and Mir. Parker of Cullman sent forward q resolution setting forth that it was not to the best interest of the Democratic Party to reopen the Fillmore County It was suggested that 1t had not been ascertained If quorum was pres ent.
 The roll was called and it was found that 1O2 members were present.
 MT. Fitts of Tuscaloosa, then spokes in opposition to the resolution of Mrs Parker of Cullman.
 Changed Their Views.
 MT. Fitts said that since the caucus of Wednesday nigh& there had been a general feeling that there had not been a full and free discussion of the Fillmore County case. He said he was author ized to say that at least 8 minority of the members of the Credentials Com mittee had had reason to change their views and were anxious to have a fur ther hearing. Consequently MT. Fttts said the friends of MT. Williams were anxious to have a further hearing be- fore excluding the young Democratic member from Fillmore from the caucus.
 Mr. Fitts sent forward and had read a resolution which paid high tribute to MT. Williams and declared that he was entitled to a seat in the Democratic caucus.
 At the conclusion of the reading of the resolution several members jump ed to their feet.
 Mir. Reese of Dallas, asked for sec- ond reading of the resolution, which was done.
 MT. deGraffenreid of Hale, made the point of order, that the exclusion Of MT. Williams had not been reconsid- cred.
 MT. Fletcher of Madison. presiding. sustained the point of order, and Mir. Fitts immediately moved that the ac- ton of the caucus excluding MT. Will Hams be reconsidered
 1Cnntinued on Pace Eipht.l