The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-23
SUPREME COURT
 WAS ORGANIZED Members Drew Lots for Long
 and Short Terms TWO SEPARATE DIVISIONS pr. Owen Thinks Great Good Will Re- suit From Organization of State IL
 brary Association-other
 Montgomery News.
TWO SEPARATE DIVISIONS
BY HERvY W. LAIRD.

and J. R. Dowdell of Lafayette; for four years, R. T. Simpson of Florence and | Johnathan Haralson of Selma; for six
 years. John c. Anderson of Demopolis and | Nimrod D. Denson of Lafayette. Chief Justice Thomas N. Mcclellan holds for | the full six years.
 The above is the result of the drawing entered into by the members of the su- preme court this morning. just after the | organization of the new court, taking in the three new men elected on November | 8. These three new men are two addi- tional justices allowed by the last legis- l lature, and one to succeed Justice H. A. l Sharpe, who did not stand for reelection. The drawing was by legislative command l to meet the condition that the terms of 1 two justices must end every two years. The organization of the new court took place in the consultation room of the supreme court this morning, all the jus
 tices, with the chief justice, being pres
 ent. Save Judge Anderson, who qualified
 before a young notary friend before he left Demopolis, the whole court was sworn In by Clerk Robert F. Ligon, each one taking the following oath:
 The Oath of Office.
 q solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Alabama, so long as I continue a citizen thereof
 and that l will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which l am about to enter to the best of my ability, so help me God" lis is the constitutional oath; the following, also taken, is statutory and Is known as the dueling oath:
 T do further swear that 1 have not d. rectly nor indirectly given, accepted, nor knowingly carried a challenge in writing or otherwise, to any person being citi- zen of this state, to fight with deadly weapons either in or out of this state; nor aided, nor abetted in the same since have been a citizen thereof; and that l will not directly nor indirectly give, ac- cept nor knowingly carry a challenge to any person being a citizen of this state to fight with deadly weapons, either in or out of this state, nor In any manner aid or abet the same during my continu- ance in office, so help me God"
 They Drew Lots.
 The first thing after the organization of the court was to draw lots for the long, medium length and short terms, in compliance with section 2S of the gen. eral election law of 1905 which stipulates that ."The associate justices of the said court elected in the year 1904, shall draw or cast lots among themselves to deter mine which of them shall hold office for the term ending respectively In the year 1906 and 19OS.e To prevent any trouble about the matter and to meet the emerg- cncy that might arise if some of the justices did not consent to draw, the law goes on to say that If the justices fail in the duty "the governor shall desig- nate the terms for which they respect fully hold office, as above provided, and shall issue his proclamation according ly."
 The terms to be drawn were designated on slips of paper and placed in envelopes and the six justices drew for them. Strange to say the two long, or six year terms were drawn by Justices N. D. Denson and John c. Anderson, just elect ed the two four year places were drawn by Justice R. T. Simpson, the third new man in the list and Justice Haralson Justices J. R. Tyson and J. R. Dowdel
 therefore, fell heir to the short terms and will have to run again at the end of two years.
 Into Two Divisions.
 As soon as the drawing was over the court was divided into two divisions, the first and second, Chief Justice Mcclellan presiding in both. The first division Is composed of Justices Tyson, Simpson and Anderson, who went on the bench this week. Justices Haralson, Denson and Dowdell will go on next week, leaving three associates and the chief justice sit ting at the time, and the others In chambers at work on cases submitted. The men in one division will have noth- ing to do with cases presented to the other except in the matter of consulta- tion and advice.
 The court is now made up of Chief Justice Thomas N. Mcclellan of Lime stone county, elected associate justice in 1889 and chief justice in 1898; Associate Justices Johnathan Haralson of Dallas, elected in 1892; James R. Dowdell of Chambers, elected in 1898; John R. Ty- son of Montgomery, elected in 1898; Robert T. Simpson of Lauderdale, elected in 1904; Nimrod D. Denson of Chambers, elected in 1904; John c. Anderson of Ma rengo, elected in 1904.
 The court also reelected the old of ficers as follows: Clerk. Robert F.. Ligon; librarian and marshall Junius M. Riggs; reporter, Phares Coleman; secre- tary, Leon c. McCord.
 Alabama History Plan. The plan upon which the department of archives and history of Alabama is to be discussed in comparison with the Wis consin plan at the meeting of the American Historical society in Chicago | December 2s and 29. with Dr. Thomas M. Owen, director of the Alabama de- partment and the originator of the plan | in use in this state, as one of the prin- | cipal speakers The Wisconsin idea Is that the money given by the state be ex- pended and the work done by the State Historical society; in Alabama the state | works through one of It's own officers,
 who receives salary and gives all his | time to the service.
 For some time these two ideas have been discussed by all historical move | ments in the United States and they | have become known as the Alabama plan | and the Wisconsin plan. The leading | questions to come up at Chicago involve the problems of the states In their duty | to their history, and what can and ought | to be done in preserving and disbursins | information that is of interest and great | value to the people. The Wisconsin plar will be presented to the members of the American society by Dr. F. J. Turner professor of history in the University of
 Wisconsin and in charge of the state historical work, while Dr. Thomas M Owen of the Alabama history department will discuss the Alabama plan.
 Dr. Owen will also discuss the Alabama | plan at the meeting of the Tennessee Historical society in Nashville in Jan- | uary. being put down for the principal address As the 1opfsIafura win he iY,