The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-01
THE LAST OF
ROUNTREE
Meeks Resolution Adopted
by Association.
CONDEMNS EX-SECRETARY
Declares Him to Be Unworthy
of Membership.
Charles H. Greer of Marion IL Chosen
President, and sylacnuxa Sc
lected as the Next Place Of
a1eetinS.
CONDEMNS EX-SECRETARY

Bessemer. June 30.-{Special. THE
Neeks' resolution severely condemnins
J. A. Rountree, late secretary, for de-
frauding railroads and members In
connection with annual excursions, was
adopted by practically unanimous
vote of the Alabama Press Association
to-day. Ofiicers were elected and Syla-
cauga was chosen as the next meeting
place. the association adjourning sine
die this afternoon.
Omcers were elected as follows:
President, Charles H. Greer, Marion
Standard; first vice president, S. p.
West, Birmingham; second vice presi-
dent. r. E. L. Mel. Selma; third vice
president, H. S. Doster. Prattville
fourth vice president. H. Y Brooke,
Luverne; secretary. Jacob Pepperman
MONTGOMERY; treasurer, S. H. Morris,
Fayette; essayist. Miss Lula Judson,
Ressemer; orator. H. G.. Benners,
Greensboro; historian. w. w. Screws,
Montgomery.
Fight Over Secretaryship.
All Of the officers were elected by
unanimous vote except Secretary Pep
perman. Rountree's friends had lost
every proposition submitted to the
meeting. They made a last despair
ing effort to elect one of his friends,
]. H. Hard of Bessemer, as his success
sor, but Mr.. Hard withdrew from the
race during the calling of the roll for
the ballot when 1t became evident that
he was defeated.
J. r. Rosson of The Cullman Demo-
crat was nominated for secretary by
Miss Virginia Clay of Huntsville, and
Mrs. Julia Gillespie of Hanceville was
nominated by Editor Brooke of Lu-
name and the race narrowed down to
Pepperman and Rosson, the result be-
ing Pepperman 81: Rosson %.
The resolution of Mr.. Meeks of Gads-
den condemning Rountree, was intro
duced Wednesday when 1t was ascer-
tanned that the necessary constitutions
al two-thirds vote to sxpel Rountree
was not available.
His friends, however, on the floor of
the convention declared that the reso-
luton was out of order. as 1t was
equivalent to an expulsion from the as
ISOLATION. The resolution was as fol-
lows:
The Meek's Resolution.
Resolved. That we hereby severely
condemn ]. A Rountree for using the
Alabama Press Association through the
trust and confidence reposed in him as
secretary for his personal graft. and
consider that his conduct in such po-
sition makes him unworthy of men,
bership in this association"
This resolution was the pending
question when the association ad-
journed Wednesday afternoon, and
Rountree and his friends Immediately
got busy to muster en)ugh votes to
defeat it. Small comfort was had from
belated editors who came in last night.
morning Poupfraa admitted bIs
defeat. imploring the majority to
amend the Meeks resolution.
The word unworthy was especial
ly Objectionable to him and his friends,
but the majority told him in plain
words that they had no. come to Bes-
semer to compromise with him and that
no other word so well fitted his con-
duct.
DilatOry Tactics Employed.
AS soon as the meeting assembled
this morning, Rev. G. v. Read of Ems
ley. floor leader for Hountree, began
dilatory tactics, appealing from a de-
cision of President Ye-by in a frivo-
lous matter and demanding a roll call
The president was sustained, 81 to s.
Major Screws moved the previous
question on the Meek's resolution, and
1t was ordered almo.t unanimously
Mr.. Read then made IN argument on
his point of order that the resolution
was a subterfuge in hat 1t was de-
signed to expel Rountiee from the as
ISOLATION. President Yerby overruled
his point.
Secretary West read the resolution
and a vote was about 20 be taken when
Rountree jumped to his feet and on a
question of personal privilege, went
into a random appeal to former asso-
ciateS not to Gust him. The editors lis
tened to him patiently, and then Pres
ident VERIFY put the resolution OF its
passage. 1t was a viva voce vote,
practically the only members voting
against it being Rountree Rev. G. W.
Read of Ensley. ]. H. Hard of Besse-
mer, H. G. Benners of Greensboro, Emil
Lesser of Birmingham, A. ]. C;Keefe
of Birmingham and J. E. Graves of
Vote Received With Applause.
The result OF the vote was received
with wild applause. The associa ton
was rid of Rountree and it gave GER
tain evidence of its joy a the conclu-
sion of the matter.
Rountree jumped to his feet and
hotly cried that he desired to renew
his charges against officers or the as
socta ton, moving that the association
proceed to investigate those charges.
Major screws DilellS anu calmly
spoke on the conduct of Rountree. de-
cIaring that other members might
have been indiscreet. but that the as
ISOLATION had purged itself of him, and
he therefore moved to lay the motion
or the table,
There were charges against the
president. and he is disqualified from
presiding while this matter is consid-
cred" cried Rountree.
That is true" responded President
Yerby. and I ask Major Screws to
take the chair"
Cheers for Major Screws.
perfect storm OF cheering broke
loose when the editor of The Advertiser
climbed on the platform.
even Rountree smiled at the turn the
matter had taken.
Major Screws said: Gentlemen, l
made a motion to table a motion. and
It has a second. All in favor of this
motion will say Aye"
1t seemed that every one in the hall
voted to table the Rountree motion,
and Major Screws brought the gavel
down hard to stop the applause as he
Yielded the chair to President VERIFY.