The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-30

the contending parties to the dispute were asked for statements as to their future conduct in the event of the State I Executive Committee deciding against 1hen.
 To these questions W B Merrill and l W. e. Porter. the only witness called i upon in the farmers behalf, both an- nounced themselves ready to stand by the action of the authoritative body and to stick to the regular party or sanitation in Cleburne county. The same interrogatories made to Judge Hurst and his witnesses resulted in evasiye answers or in outspoken in- tention of refusal to abide by an ad- verse decision.
 Judge Hurst RcBuked. Frequent attempts were made dur ing the sessions by members of the State Committee to bring out def mite answer from Judge Hurst the last resulting in Q Eeproof from Chairman H. S. D. Mallory on the action of the irregular committee in bringing it be- fore the State body, if action of the latter was syot to be respected. The Anal effort to get a statement on this point from Judge Hurst, was made by Judge F. B. Almon, of Colbert coun- ty. after the committee had decided to go into executive session.
 s.I want to know" said the Tuscum- bia committeeman. whether 1t is worth while for the State Committee to make decision in this matter. It is the wish, believe. of the Committee. to patch up the differences fin the party in Cleburne. We want to take action here, If possible, which will forever end the disputes of faction in that or- ganizatton. And before we take any action, l thinkait is due to the members of this body. that. since Mir. Merrill has stated his willingness to abide by the decision of the committee, Judge Hurst states- what he will do in the event that the decision goes against him.
 Judge Hurst. thus called upon. did not answer the question of Mir. Almon directly. Hs said that he was always willing to obey the expressed wish of the Democratic party in his county. He knew, however. that the people of his district were opposed to the con- vention plan for nominating candidates, which had been carried through by the April convention.
 The question was repeated, and am swereA in terms to the same effect as before.
 '"Do you believe in organized Democ- raay in the county?' he was asked.
 T do, so far as 1t represents the will of the Democracy" he replied.
 s"And who is to be judge of that7"
 At this point Chairman Mallory, ed- dressing Judge Hurst. expressed it as his opinion that If the people who brought the cause of dispute before the State Executive Committee for set tlement had done so with the deliberate intention of disregardihg the decision of that body, if the decision was ad- verse to them they had pursued a poll
 ev irnnroner in the extreme.
 Much Spirit Manifested.
 Throughout the course of the testlmo- ny presented by the coutenders for the chairmanshtp. there was considerable spirit manifested. At one point ques- tion propounded to d witness aroused such heat that MT, Merrill was sub jected to a rebIke from the chairman. He at once apologixed to the chairman and the committee for asking an lm- proper question.
 It was in the cross-examinatton ot Marshal H. W. Butler, of Edwards vile, chairman of the bolting convsn- ton that the trouble arose The mar shal is a large man of quick temper. Referring to an election of delegates to the March convention in Beat T. he declared that the secretary of the meeting there had been voting the Re- publican ticket for fifteen years pre- vtaus to this, MT. Merrill had been put ting him through a severe inquisition.l which the subject of the examination eeemed to resent.
 Don't you know" asked MT. Mer- Till, when the statement mentioned had been made, that Mir. Works has con sistently voted the Democratic ticket for twenty years?"
 ''No sir" responded MT. Butler with viRor and emphasis, "but I do know that he has voted with the Repuoli- can party for the last fifteen years"
 A friend of MT. Merrill here leaned over his shoulder and whispered sug- gestion. ,,
 Isn't 1t a fact" asked Mir Merrill, turning again to Marshal Butler. that election for the last ten years?'
 The Marshal rose half out of his chair. "It is not so," he shouted, shak- ing his finger in Mir. Merrilis face T have always been a good Democrat.
 Chairman Mallory here interposed. reproving the questioner, who inme- diately begged the pardon of the chair man and the committee.
 Tried Like Case in Court.
 TbA nresentation of the arguments of the opposing claimants to the Exec utive Committee chairmanship of Cle- burne county. was made In accordance with the ordinary usage of a court. Each side. Judge Hurst as complain ant in the case, and Mir. Merrill as the attendant, called upon witnesses, the committed as a whole playing the part of judge and jury. At the conclusion of the testimony, a closing argument was made by Judge Hurst of his case, Mir Merrill being content to close ms case without an address to the com
 Through the trial" Judge Hurst made inc contention that the election of delegates at the beat meetings April 14 to the county convention held two days later. was in several instances IT. ventfon were not the choice of the ma