The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-21
BY D. W. McIVER.

I luc year 1ofS WAS ulSdSlTOuS OAtC lO | the Alabama Democracy. Horace Greeley ' was the nominee for President and my | first participation actively in politics was in this year. when I had just become | of age and cast my first vote.
 I we'll remember how loosely elections were conducted then, and recall the fact that I heard a friend say, as he went up to the polls to vote: '"This is my third vote today for Greeley and Herndon and wish 1 could cast hundred votes for the ticket" He was travelling man and had voted that day at Eufaula, Midway and last at Union Springs, where I was then living.
 General James H., Clanton, the chair man of the State Democratic Executive Committee and upon whom much had de- pended, had been killed at Knoxville, Tenn, by one Nelson, young man the son of an ex-Federal General, on the 26th day of September, 1871. and the party was somewhat demoralized at the loss of so dashing and chivalric leader as General Clanton had proven himself to be.
 The Convention Call.
 The Central Committee, composed of T. J. Judge, Thomas H. Watts and F. T. Sayre called the Democratic State Con vention to meet in Montgomery on We'd nesday, June 19, 1872, and in the call they
 
 said:
 "The business of the Convention will be important, and 1t is desired that every county shall be represented. Let the delegates come up as patriots, with a determination to pretermit all local ques- tions of controversy between party friends, and to subordinate all personal desires to what may be deemed best for the welfare of our beloved State."
 The matters as stated to come before the convention were:
 l. The nomination of candidates for the various State offices to be filled at the next general election.
 2. The appointment of delegates to represent the State in the National Con- vention of the Democratic and Conserva- tive Party to be held in Baltimore on the 9th of July next. if 1t be determined that the State shall be represented in said convention; and the decision of the question whether such delegates shall go under instructions or otherwise.
 8. The selection of electors for Presi- dent and Vice-President of the United States.
 Lindsay Declines.
 Now that the call for the convention had been issued, the talk of candidates began, and it was very plain that there was to be strong opposition to the re-
 
 many strong friends, however. and The Gadsden Times, speaking of him, said:
 Lindsay has made a good Governor. We believe him to be competent, honest and faithful. and incline to the opinion that the Democracy should reward his laborious services by returning him as Governor for the second term. He has supported and faithfully discharged a greater incubus of executive duties and hon bama has had for a long time. We sup port and defend him because he is the Democratic Governor of Alabama and because We believe he has been faithful in the discharge of duty. If he should not be the nominee of the convention, 1t is satisfaction to know that he will at least retire with the plaudit, Well done, good and faithful servant"
 In referring to this article in The Gads. den News. The Advertiser said:
 Governor Lindsay positively declines to be considered a candidate for the success sion. We make this announcement by the especial authority of Governor Lind say himself. Indeed we have known for more than year past that he had form ed the resolution of retiring from the ex- ecutive department just as soon as his present responsibilities to the people would permit. He desires us to say that no one SOuIu D6 more Indn ne IS TOT the undertaking confidence and kindness shown him by the people of Alabama for many years, and particularly in having elevated him by their unbought suffrages to the first offico in the State He has endeavored to labor in their behalf with mind and heart solely devoted to their interests, and is not conscious of having wilfully shrunk at any time from an hon est discharge of every obligation incurred when accepting his post of service. He has turned neither to the right nor left in the path of duty, and hopes that he has done nothing to forfeit the approval of any man worthy of respect. But he Is not vain-glorious enough to imagine that the people cannot dispense with his con- tinued presence in the executive depart ment, that they cannot find some citizea more able, and equally patriotic with him self, to whom the office may now be more acceptable. The peculiar condition of public affairs in the country at large and certain important questions of internal policy arising in the very outset of his administration, have entailed upon him extraordinary labors and an unceasing anxiety from which he has natural dis position to escape at as early a day as practicable. An ordinary regard for his health and comfort demands in the ab- sence O. any necessity for further sacri- 'fices in this particular trust, that he should be permitted to retire at the ex- piration of the constitutional Sterm for which he was elected. The Convention be- ing now near at hand and many friends throughout the State having addressed him letters rendering him their good wishes and support in the event of his consent to be a candidate for re-nomina- tion he feels that it is not immodest or improper to authorize The Advertiser to make the above statement, and to request | that his friends whose kindness to him and affection for him. he will cherish with his last breath, will do him the favor to consider his resolution on this subject as final and imperative"
 Pettus for Governor. General E. W. Pettus was strongly urged by friends all over the State to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor this year and I have often heard 1t said he could have easily been nominated, but he could not afford to give up his law practice to take the office
 On the s1st of May, 1872 The Advertiser said in regard to his proposed candidacy:
 This distinguished and popular citizen