The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-03
HigdOn FO.css More Than 2OOO Strong Assemble At
 Skating Rink
PROMINENT SPEAKERS
 ADDRESS THE PEOPLE
Colonel Higdon and Manager Kinds Peevey Are Given Prolonged Ova- tion Upon Entering Auditorium.
 Voters March Through City.

An enthusiastic mass meeting of sup porters of Col. F. l.. Higdon, candidate for sheriff of Jefferson county. was held at the skating auditorium at Twenty fourth street and Avenue r last night It is estimated that more than 20O0 people were present, representing almost every precinct in the county.
 Short addresses were made by the fol- lowing gentlemen: A. o. Lane, Sterling A. Wood, Judge J. H. Miller, E. L. Hlg- don, II. P Burris. P. G. Bowman, James Trotter, Emil Lesser and A. Leo Ober- dorfer.
 After the speaking, most of the people at the meeting marched through the streets of the city in a body.
 Colonel Higdon and his manager, Hinds Peevey, received an ovation as they en- tered the hall separately. The cheering was loud and prolonged
 Meeting Called to Order.
 The meeting was called to order by Fred M Jackson, who introduced A. 0. Lane, the first speaker
 MT. Lane declared that the people of Jefferson county were aroused as never before in it's history. In fact, he said. 'the people have been wronged and they are determined to right that wrong. What is the object of a party? Is it the result of means or the means to an end? The party is not half so important as the principles it represents. Let us purify the party. Let Us make it honest This is what the people of this county want and what we must have. The voters are determined and on next Tuesday will voice their just disapproval of the parti- san action of the county executive com mlttee in robbing E. L.. Hgdon of the regular nomination. The campaign is closed. The victory is won, and the peo- pie of Jefferson county will certainly elect Higdon sheriff next Tuesday,
 MT. Lane closed by admonishing the voters to continue the work until election day. and warned them against indifference and confidence
 Sterling Wood Speaks.
 Sterling A. Wood was introduced and made a pointed address advocating the election of Colonel Higdon. He charged the executive committee with stealing the nomination for Judge Stiles. He referred to the stealing of the Lewisburg box" and denominated the incident as one of the most disgracefu acts in the history of state politics. Mir Wood told the fol- lowing story:
 "The defeat of the gang that is oppos- ing Colonel Higdon is written in their faces as plainly as it was in the face of a certain candidate for sheriff in Jef- ferson county few days ago-it was not Higdon either-who had a shave in a Bir mingham barbershop. He gavethe barber $l and received only 30 cents in change. When he protested and wanted to know if 50 cents was the correct charge for q shave the barber replier: Yes, boss we charge 30 cents for shaving a face as long as yours
 Judge Miller.
 Judge J. II. Miller reviewed the action of the county democratic executive com mttee in the trial of the Stiles-Higdon contest, and declared that the declaration of Judge Stiles as the nominee for sheriff was unfair and unjust and without regu- larity and authority.
 He said that the people of Jefferson county are dissatisfied with the action of the committee and will register their disapproval at the polls next Tuesday. He read several clippings from papers over the state outside of Jefferson coun- lA EODutDlIlnS Lut dCllpH ol l1t JtI- ferson county committee and favoring the election Of Colonel Higdon. The reading of these clippings was loudly applauded.
 Colonel Hiedon Speaks.
 Colonel Eigdon was introduced and was given rousing ovation that lasted for some minutes before he could speak.
 Colonel Higdon spoke in part as fol- lows:
 MT Chairman and Fellow Democrats: I am here tonight to tell you that this battle has been won by the men who face me here. This battle has not been won by me, because | was poor working man, who took this fight up and went through this great county of ours and asked the people to give me this great office, so that 1 could get in that court house one time. and let 1t be said that the peo- pie could elect man to this high of- fee. (Applause.)
 'I promised you then and there if elect ed to this great office to give you every moment of my time. and. to show that d man from the ranks could come in there and enforce the law without fear or favor to any man. (Applause)
 With all the machinery and with all the management that my friend Judge Stiles had, they were determined that they would not let me have that office but you rallied to my support, and gave me a majority of the democratic votes of this great county (ApplauseD
 "I shall never forget the noble people of this county who rallied around me and came to my relief when that com mittee, called together-supposed to be the democratic executive committee of this great county of ours-not to take sides with Judge Stiles or F. L. Higdon. but to fight for the democratic party and what was right.
 It was the duty of that committee not to say we are here to see whether any illegal votest have been cast for E l.. Higdon, but If we go into these boxes, let's throw out every illegal vote, no mat ter for whom it was cast. Did they do that? No; they wanted just enough votes, as the attorneys have told you here, to carry out the plans that had been gone