The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-07


 tariff system. so vigorously enforced by our two last administra tions, Is due the credit in largest measure.
 Tt is here in the state, that we must have our chieft concern, and first of all, we must appeal we must demand, we must fight If need be, for justice at the polls in Alabama. The future of our party, the good of our state demands it of us When the new constitution was adopted in Alabama is was promised that we should have no more fraud at the polls in this state, they should have said that the fraud would be transferred to the registrars.
 Raps Election System.
 Tt has been Laid that d nation cannot exist part slave and part free. Are peo- pie free who are forced to bear the bur den and yet denied the highest privilege of citizenship? If it be true that war rant may not be found in the eonstitu- ton of the United States to prevent dis 1ranehsement, then let Us beg of the Congress of the United States that the democrats of Alabama no longer be per n.itted to use the disfranehised and op- pressed to be estimated for the purpose of increasing the electoral strength of their party.
 Our southern people are striving equally with tho north for the honor, well i try The two sections are in perfect unity, peace and concord each with the other. The first one to fall in the Spansh-American war was southerner, sealing his devotion to the union with his hearts blood. No state was ahead Of Alabama in that struggle. Witness the gallant Hobson, whose act of daring self sacrifice on the Merrimac will go down in history for all time Witness the superb eeneralship of Wheeler under whom Pres ident Roosevelt declared he felt honore1 to serve Witness General Wheeler $ daughters on their mission of mercy in the hospital camp.
 The Confederate Soldier q do not blame the old Confederate soldier God bless him, who associates the republican party with the horror of our four years war; for being slow to forget his wound and his losses, for the four years of fighting and privation, l might say starvation, was enough to make an indel1ible impression. My appeal is to the young man who would see our south land again take her place in the govern- i ment of this nation.
 We will win because ours is the party whose principles and policies have given us unexampled prosperity at home and prestige abroad. We will win because our great leader is today the most conspicu- ous, most potential and most popular man on earth, Theodore Roosevelt We will win because we will follow where he has led We will win because we will support the big man for the presidency i who stands by his side aiding and helping him in every struggle. I refer to the dis tinguished Judge William H. Taft, whom we all honor and respect and whom the American people will make the great suc- i cessor of President Roosevelt"
 Fairley Introduced. 1 The chairman then introduced William 1 R. Fairley as the temporary chairman l selected by the executive committee with 1 eloquent words in honor to the leader 1 among the laboring people of Alabama. MT. Fairley's address vas from the l standpoint of the American laborer. l Every mention of Secretary Taft was l greeted with loud applause, and when he i declared that such men as Mitchell and Lewis of the Mine Workers, favor the administration candidate, loud cheers were added to hand-clapping. After committees
 on rules and credentials had been appoint ed Judge Lewis Reynolds introduced the California congressman, Duncan E. Me- Kinlay.
 The speaker is a gifsed orator. He
 reviewed the history of the country for the past 20 years. He was full of sta- tistics showing the marvellous prosperity
 under republican government and insisted that the same system should be returned l at this crisis.
 l "Each era has seemed to require a cer- l tain type of man, and he has always been l furnished. So it came about that when ] the great accumulation O. wealth was be- 1 ing used by interruptions men for the 1 spoliatin of the nation God Almighty . gave us Roosevelt. He has shown us ] what rebates, watered sibcks and pred atory wealth meant and despite the oppo- i sition of allied wealth he has thrown the light of investigation into the dark cor ners. William H. Taft stands for the
 same things and will carry on the work of the President. He stands for much ! more"
 The speaker then recited the accom- plishments of Taft in the Philippines and the many posts of trust which he has occupied. He pictured the future pros perity which will result from the Panama canal and the election of republican President.
 Julius Sternfeldt of Montgomery thanked
 the congressman for his address The convention then settled down to business. On recommendation of Chairman Hutch
 ems of the credentials committee James J.. Curtis was elected permanent chair man. He made a short talk bouncing upon the opposing faction.
 Judge Montgomery reported for the committee on rules and Ad Wimbs col ored sounded the first speech of discord. He opposed the section e.ecting a chair man of the executive committee for four years. but was argued out of his position by Judge Montgomery Delegate Kenne-
 mar made an unsuccessful attempt to bring the election of delegates on the
 floor without a committee for nomina- tions after which Delegate Street intro duced resolution adopting the engrav ing of Vulcan as the party emblem.
 U. G. Mason, colored, introduced 8 resolution calling upon Congress and the interstate commerce commission to en- force the thirteenth, fourteenth and ff- teenth amendments, giving equal treat= ment on passenger trains to white and black alike, commenting Theodore Roose- welt for his stand on this matter, and urging the enforcement of all laws which give all citizens the fair deal.
 This was afterward called up and passed A resolution introduced by Del egate Smith of Tuscaloosa, condemning the democratic administration in the state for everything they ever did was read, but never taken up again.
 The name of J. o. Thompson was pre- scented by Pope Long, the United States marshal, for reelection chairman of the executive committee, and he was unanimously elected. On the nomination 1 of J. Rivers Carter. N. ILL. Steele was re- 1 elected secretary by exclamation. J. O. l Middleton, candidate for Congress from l the Fourth district then made a speech.
 Committee On Platform.
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