The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-29
Dallas Will Give About 200
 Against Amendment
JEFFRIES GIVES FIGURES
Meeting Wednesday Is Regarded as Largest Political Meeting in the Recent History of
 the Black Belt.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

Selma, October 2S.-(Special.)- )-The po- litical prestige of the black belt was lost when the people of Alabama ratified the constitution of 1901.
 In years gone. Dallas, politically and otherwise. was one of the strongest coun- ties of Alabama. Politically it has lost it's strength.
 Selma claims about 1SOO0 people. Yet the entire county of Dallas will not poll more than 12O0 votes It is conservatively estimated that the vote will be even smaller In one beat of this county Burnsville-t are but four qualified voters it is stated today. In other beats tales almost as startling are told.
 But Dallas, 1t is indicated, is certain to defeat the proposed amendment. Half the crowd to which Congressman Bowie, Senator Moody and Colonel Russell talked yesterday was made up of farmers. The wool hat boys of this county, beyond all doubt, are alive to the danger, which for political reasons has been thrust upon them.
 In charge of the fight against the amendment are some of the strongest cit
 
 of Selma: L, E. Jeffries, law partner of the late Senator Pettus, and now his grandson; Edmund W. Pettus Jr., Dr. Crawford Phillips, Joe Pumpkins, consid- cred one of the wiliest politicians of the black belt and Jim Doherty are some Of the anti-amendment leaders nere They say the amendment will lose No one aware of the strength of these leaders and aware of thir popular following, can doubt that Dallas will do othrwise than wiring the heart of Governor Conner.
 Lewis Jeffries, one of the leaders of the Alabama bar, in speaking of the situation, said:
 Dallas will not cast many more than 1200 votes. In spite of the fact that the majority of those disfranchised because of the action of the legislature in calling the election this fall, would have voted against the amendment, we will win new ertheless.
 'I predict that Selma will give ma jority against the amendment of 200. l predict that the rural beats will increase this majority to 300
 If the vote of Dallas, therefore, is 1200. and If the prediction of Mir. Jeffries is ac- curate, the amendment will receive 450 votes in this county and 750 will be cast against 1t. Judging from the sentiment expressed In this city by residents of the city proper, and by the farmers who yes terday heard the splendid ads-esses of the anti-amendment orators. one reaches the conclusion that the prediction of MT. Jeff fries is conservative.
 AS indicative of the sentiment in the counties of Montgomery. Lowndes and Dallas, a poll was made of the passengers aboard the Western from Montgomery to Selma last night with the result that the amendment was overwhelmingly defeated declined to express an opinion.
 The citizens of the county-defenders and amenders-are still discussing the rally of the old guard of the black belt in this city yesterday It Is agreed by both sides of the question that the rally was a splendid success, and that the speeches were excellent. That the crowd was enthusiastic Is admitted. That Sel- ma and Dallas will go against the amend ment is positively affirmed by the de- lenders. Many of the conservative amend CTS make an admission to the same eff feet.
 As to whether the crowd which heard the speakers was made up of 2o00 or 5000 people is the only feature concerning which there is doubt.
 Congressman Bowie gives it as his opin- 2090.
 The rally was the greatest in the recent history of the black belt.