The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-11
49, ortant of Homes, work in that line.

the extent of Jones work In that Inc
saturday morning, when the convention
assembled, the fourth day of the session.
If was quickly made known that Johh-
ston. Richardson and Crook would De
withdrawn The Kolb men, led by henry
d. Clayton, Jr., were far from hopeless,
The result yet depended on the ruling Oh
the chair.
In the early hours of the convention,
Chairman. benson had ruled on some
minor matter that county convention
was not sovereign; that If the county
delegates repudiated the county cSnVeh-
ton and sent up votes to he eounteu on
questions before the state convention me
votes would be entered and counted re-
CARELESS of county convention lhstIuN-
tions. In word, the county convention
was unknown to the state conVeh-oi'
delegates must come from counties WITH
credentials. and if valid, the convention
seated them. The state convention must
NOT he limited or hindered by counties ID
making nomination for state ofnces.
This ruling was carefully hoteo ny
CLAYTON Evans and others among the
Kolb men, 1t sprung a smile OF rehel'
unon their countenances, that Chairman
benson observed from his seat put Gu
not at the time comprehend.
When Montgomery county was caiied
On the first ballot Saturday the holb
members of the delegation, about eight
men. led by John Mccullough, farmer
claimed the right to set ASIDE tneir III
structions from the county conventlon' 10
vote for Jones as long as his name was
before the convention.
Chairman benson ruled the vote OIL
Montgomery county must be cast as
Nit The excitement that followed was
awe-inspiring. McCollugh got up on 'ne
sneakers stand and delivered herce
invectiye. Nothing less than fire COM
nanv,s hose turned on the meeting coulo
have restored order.
chairman benson denied, as soon as ne
could be heard, that his earlier ruins
was a precedent in this later ruling. re
said the delegates from montgomery cou,i
~ had been admitted on their credentials
EVERY one of these delegates had accept
cd his credentials with the personal
nledge annexed, that he would vote ior
THOMAS G.. Jones as long as Jones was
before the convention. The later ruhns
Of the chair. he said, had nothing to do
with the pretended sovereignty OF a coun-
ty convention in the nomination OF STATE
officers This later ruling referred oniy
to the credential rights OF Mohlso,ileiS
county delegates. They had been ADMIT
ted with the full knowledge of all other
delegates that each and every one was
nersonally committed as condition pre-
cedent to his credentials to vote always
for Jones, while Jones was Wiling
Colonel benson was elected to congress
from the Seventh district IN 1872 against
very powerful opposition or the contest
ing populst and republican parties. lie
has often reminded one that ne wrote the
district platform of that campaign long
before the Chicago national democratic
convention of that year. and that the sew
enth district platform was the earliest IN
order of any party committal to 16 to ].
His course In congress was replete with
his characteristic energy. His speeSnes
lost nothing in comparison with the best
there delivered on any question. Senator
Morgan complimented one OF his deliveries
extravagantly.
In 1891 benson received the nomination
for a second term, but was defeated by
the fusion candidate. NJ. W. Howard. an
extraordinary orator In 1898. although
living III Birmingham, he sought the NOM
nation from the Seventh district to Con-
gress The contest before the district
convention was labored and long. The re-
suit was John 7. Burnett, law partner in
Gadsden of benson, received the honor
with the latter's assistance on the floor
The parliamentary accomplishments or
Colonel benson were SO distinguished that
in the state democratic convention of $780,
amidst scenes of unusual excitement on
the floor. he was called to the chair by
the president, the present Governor Jelks,
to take the gavel
The Quaker connections of the Densons
of the south was abandoned. Albert Will
liam Joined the Baptists. Then. 10 pre-
serve complete sympathy with his wife,
he Joined the Presbyterian church and
became a devoted member.
A more earnest, unseltish citizen than