The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28
Lively Arguments Presented When Board Planned to
 Adjourn At 5 O'Clock
AMENDERS REFUSE TO
 JOIN IN HE PETITION
Hewitt and Wright Voted to Stay But Dunlap Insisted on Adjournment. Fifty Men Disappointed
 After All.

Of the Jefferson county court of regis trars in an effort to stop the registering at o'clock yesterday afternoon and then In 50 men being left In line at 1O:sO o'clock without having had even the op- portunity 10 apply for registration pa- pers, while many times this many had been departing in disgust since early aft ernoon.
 With over 2S0 men still in line at o'clock, many of whom had been stand Dunlap, one of the three registrars, want ed to adjourn. Prof. R. G. Hewitt said he was a square fighter hit straight from the shoulder and never below the belt, and was willing to stay In session until midnight. The Rev. ID. A. Wright, the third registrar. showed his fairness by voting to remain in session. The ac- ton of Messrs. Hewitt and Wright brought forth resounding applause from the men In line, but the registrars re- quested that 1t cease. Kisses greeted the words of Dunlap. The applause for Hewitt and Wright came not alone from the men with flags upon their coats, but half dozen men who wore white rib bons also joined in 1t.
 Petition Is Presented.
 When 1t became known during the after noon that the registrars were preparing to adjourn at o'clock a petition was drawn up asking them to remain In ses- sion until midnight if necessary in order to give all the qualified voters seeking to register an opportunity to do so This petition was signed by J. Lee Long, chair man; John H. Miller and Sydney J. Bowie of the state anti-amendment campaign committee; Dave U. Williams, chairman of the campaign committee of the Young Mems anti-amendment committee, and J. B. scully, president of the Young Mems Anti-Amendment club.
 Despite the fairness of the petition the amendment leaders refused to join in on 1t. Dave Williams took the petition to the office of F. M. Jackson and pre- scented 1t to him with a request that they join in. MT. Jackson's reply was a re- fusal to sign with the words, "I will not interfere with anything the board of reg istrars does"
 At s o'clock MT. Dunlap of the board of registrars prepared to adjourn. At this time Dr. J. s. Gillespy, clerk of the city court, stepped forward and asked to rS heard. He was allowed the privilege. He then read the petition and in impas- soned tones asked the board to remain in session and give ''the white-faced and straight-haired men of Jefferson county their God-given right to vote"
 Bowie introduced.
 Dr. Gillespy then introduced Sid J. Bowie and requested that he be heard, which privilege was also granted MT. Bowie read the sections of the constitu- tios governing the actions of the board of registrars. Dunlap contended that the board must adjourn at sunset. Bowie in straight-cut words read the sections and distinguished between tho ruling that said the board must be "in session two days" and "at least from sunup to sundown on each day" Along these lines, he said, "the day runs from 12 at midnight until 12 the next midnight, and the section says two days The act does not say that you must adjourn at sunset, but that you must at least be in session up to this time. You did not open at sunup this morning and no one expected you to. Those who drew up the constitution did not mean for you to do so. You opened at g o'clock. The same rule ap- plies to adjourning. We would not ask you to remain in session If there was no one to register or if you were physi- cally unable to do so, but so long as there are men waiting for their inalien- able right to register 1t is your duty to remain in session, until midnight If necessary, to register them. Judge Greene, Judge Nesmith and Judge Sharpe have stated that 1t Is perfectly legal for you to do so, while many of the brainiest men of the bar have given the same opinion"
 Dunlap replied to Bowie, and the Rev. Wright, feeling weary from the days hard work, was willing to adjourn. The crowd called for Professor Hewitt. He stated that as many knew, he always took sides in political campaign, but that he had always attempted to fight square. hit straight from the shoulder and never below the belt. MT. Dun lap is legitimate in his contention that we can adjourn now if we wish to- but in my judgment 1t would be perfectly legal for us to remain in session until midnight" he said. T am the last per son In the world to prevent man from having the right to vote, and am will ing to stay here until midnight. If, however, the registrars are physically unable to carry on the work. I think we have the right to adjourn"
 Here the Rev. MT. Wright arose and said: Well, let's stay here until Il o'clock. anyway" Prof. Hewitt had been applauded, but he silenced 1t with the words that he didn't want to be applauded, while Dunlap also stated "Stop that applause" When the Roy. MT. Wright made his announcement. though the applause broke forth in a great roar, while many Confederate veterans who were present took a sud- den trip back to '65 and let out some lusty rebel yells.
 Puts tho Question.
 When the applause had ceased Profess sor Hewitt put the question and when he asked, Those in favor of remaining in session signify 1t by saying Aye the crowd forgot that they were not mem bers of the court of registrars and let out forceful Aver !" It was then exe- plained to them that they had nothing to do with the voting. and Hewitt and Wright were permitted to say Aye" while Dunlap came in with a loud "No."
 At 8:So o'clock another effort was made to adjourn and af hour lost in argument, some of the amendists coming in and wanting to say something. They were told that they had been offered the op- portunity and refused to take 1t, but they and Dunlap insisted that they be heard. After the valuable hour had beer lost the work proceeded with the agreement found 50 men still In line, all of whom had been there since afternoon and each of whom could have been registered but for the time spent in argument
 Only e total of S75 men were registered H A .AA