The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-10
HOSPTTABLE DEM0POLIS ENTERTAINS CHURCHMEN
Session of the Diocesan COuncil--MarengO'S MetrOp OliS and Some Of Its Citizens Congressman Taylor and His Excellent Work.

lovely place. There Is much of historic interest here. especially in connection with the first settlement of the county by a colony of French adherents of Ma poleon Bonaparte who came to this coun- try upon his downfall
 This has been the nome of many men famous in our States history. An hon. ored name from one end of Alabama to the other was that of Francis S. Lyon ffls character is beautifully depicted in Baldwin's Flush Times" where as Fran els Slaughter his great and good quali- ties are depicted. When only F years or age he settled in Alabama. In 1921 ne became a citizen of Demopolis, and here he lived until the close of his hon. ored life. As member of both branches or the State Legislature and as member or Congress. he left his impress upon State and Federal legislation. His most signal service. however. was as Commis- sloner to wind up the affairs of the State Bank, position in which he saved mil lions of dollars for the State. ana Thomas D. rabb, from Cotaco (r,ow
 The late William E. Clarke was A citi- zen of Marengo and of Demopolis for the greater part of a long and useful life He served his County in the famous conven- ton or lS6l and afterwards in the State senate with. signal ability As Judge of tnls circuit he so discharged the duties of tne diticult position as to secure the rep utation of being among the best Judicial officers ever known in the State.
 Another honored citizen of Demopolis Tor many years was Hon. Richard H Clarke Of Mobile. He was born and reared in this County and is one to whom the people point with pride and affection. It was not the intention to obtrude any thlng Of a political nature into this letter but no reference can be made to MT. Clarke in this connection without mention or the great campaign for Governor in 1896. He was at that time the represen- tative in Congress from this District. and nad secured a wide reputation. He did not yield to the wild free silver doctrine which took possession of so many of our people and which caused the greatest po- htical disaster of recent years, The most conservative Democrats saw the danger that was coming and sought to check what common sense ought to have taught the country would be the defeat of the Democratic party. :st
 Many in Alabama recognizing MT, Clarke's power as a debater. and his firm stand for sound money, urged him to al- LOW them to use his name as a candidate Tor the Democratic gubernatorial nomfna-
 
 test, and for a time stood out against 1t. At last he consented, and never in the history of this State has any man ever made campaign pitched upon higher plane. He announced everywhere that he was not making e personal canvass but one Tor the preservation of his party in It's integrity and to keep it off the rocks and shoals which would for a time at least destroy it. If only men who up to that time had voted the Democratic ticket without variation had voted in the pri- maries Mir. Clarke in all probability would have been triumphant. There are many thousands who will always believe that he received clear majority of the votes of those who had been unfaltering in their allegiance to the Democratic party. There were many anxious hearts all over this country during that excit- ing campaign. The hopes of those who wished to check the free silver crusade were centered upon MT. Clarke, because they knew he was fighting for his party not alone in this State, but in the whole country. If Alabama, at that time. had gone for MT. Clarke and the views he so ably championed, there might have been far different results at the Chicago Con- vention. Many States which fell into the silver error would not have done so if Alabama had gone the other way. Henry A. Wise stopped the Know Nothing craze in old Virginia and Richard H. Clarke would have stopped the later craze if he had won the great fight of 1896. For his patriotic course in that ever to be remembered year he deserves the gratitude of the Democrats of the State, who must see now, that if we ever gain National victory it must be upon the lines which he so ably and unceasingly advocated. Men who stand for the right under any and all cir cumstances may be beaten down for while, but they will rise triumphant in the end. The wisdom and patriotism of Mir. Clarke shine forth conspicously now that reason has resumed its sway and the Democrats of Alabama will never forget a man who unselffishly risked everything to save their party from disaster and defeat.
 Another honored citizen of Demopolis Is Hon. George w. Taylor, the present able and useful Representative in Con- gress from this district. The people of Montgomery are especially interested in him and have watched with pride and pleasure his splendid record. He is a native of Montgomery County and was born almost in sight of the capitol build ing He married one of the most popu- lar ana attractive women of this city thus creating double interest in him and his fortunes. Mir. Taylor's first public work was as a member of the Legislature from Choctaw County. He was for many years solicitor of this circuit. In 1Se6 he was first elected to Congress and was reelected in 1898, in 1900 and in 1902. From the day he took his seat until the present his influence has continually grown and now no man on the Democratic side can accomplish more for his constituents He was a member of the Appropriations Committee of the last House and only men of great influence can secure so high an honor. That committee ranks among the very highest in all the committee catalogue. Hon. James T. Jones and Hon Richard Fl. Clarke were unremittinR in their efforts to secure improvement of the rivers of the district and of Mobile Bay. MT. Clarke had the work of deepening the channel put unon the continuing plan and secured larga appropriations for the work. The eov- erhment engineer, however, recommended Apahdonment of the channel and only ssO VVV appropriation, thus throwing away the great work already done. In the face of such discouraging outlook which con Tohted him at his first session MT Tav- Tor went to work and with the assistance or MT. Bankhead who was on the River and Harbor Committee, MT. TayIor had | the satisfaction of securing an appronrts- uon Of S6OOOOO and adoption of nroiect 4o | dredge the channel with full width oF m | feet at the bottom and appropriate side l slopes. The next House appropriated |