The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-28
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1S74-1901
No. 92-The Great Convention of 1890
Thomas Seay. Governor
1S74-1901

| state drew the line deep and immutabe
| between Kolb and the field in the con-
vention of 1890.
| The Birmingham Age-Herald was
now the sole morning daily of the new
ly created metropolis. The Atlanta Con-
stitution had attained TO wide circula-
ton in the northeastern counties. Both
papers refrained from positive resist
ance to Kolb.
We may resume after this paren-
thetical diversion the routine of the
convention in its second day
The committee on credentials went
out Wednesday afternoon. Thursday at
midday Mayor ". H. Skeggs, a dele
gate from Talladega, moved that a conf
mittee of three should walt on the
committee to ascertain what hour a
report might be expected.
| A large number of Kolb delegates
had come to the city the Monday and
Tuesday of the week in response to his
call on them. They We're too poor TO
board and lodge at city hotels for an
indefinite time.
The floor, the Hobbies, the galleries
were packed with men, Chairman Den
son, seeing many ladies without seats,
who had come to wftch the conven-
ton, called to gentlemen" In the gal
! leries to vacate half the seating ca
pacity for their use. "All who are gem
/
said, those who are not, will remain
seated" Very few adopted the chair
mans suggestion.
| The committee reported about .
o'clock p. m. The Chiffon county rival
delegations settled their own dispute
They dismissed the republican, J. A.
>, Logan, who had been sent up as for
Kolb and then divided the remaining
| delegates evenly among themselves.
| IL
Lee and Shelby were seated on the ma
! Jority report from the committee
Nominations for governor were in or
der.
E. L. Russell of Mobile promptly Of
fered the name of Capt Joseph F.
Johnston of Jefferson.
jefferson NJ Fall<ner of Montgomery
offered Col. Thomas G. Jones of Mont
gomery.
G. L. Conner of Barbour offered Capt
Reuben +. Kolb of Barbour.
Chairman benson called John b.
Knox to the chair, came upon the floor
and offered Capt James Crook of CAL
houn.
Samuel Blackwell of Morgan offered
Probate Judge William Richardson of
Madison.
All the nominees were in the prime of
vigorous manhood. All had been con
spicuous for daring and achievement in
the dark days. All had won commits
slons in the Confederate army, CLOSE
the flashing of the guns"
The historic struggle was on.
The first ballot of the long and bitter
contest was called. this Thursday after
noon as the sun was sinking. The re-
suit was called out-Kolb 235, Johnston
1O4, Richardson IS, Crook 81 Jones as.
Fractions omitted.
Two more ballots followed in quick
succession without material change,
from the alignment discovered in the
first and the convention adjourned for
the night
| Kolb partisans were jubilant and con-
fident. The field was resolute and con-
fdent. Five hundred and fourteen dem
ocrats divided into two factions, were
separated by % votes only. Chairman
Russell of the credentials committee
had explained that he and his followers
had not been negligent, that from early
morn to late in the afternoon, without
leaving their seats for luncheon, they
had listened to innumerable witnesses
me night air was pleasant Tho
str ev's --'stv nirvu midnight viii
delegates, visitors and citizens of the
town talking politics. The manag gers
were active.
The Kolb partisans held an i'm
promptu meeting late in the night G.
L. Conner, Alto V. Lee, j. M White
Barbour county delegates spoke
An enthusiastic meeting of Johnston
men discussed the prospects of their
leader that night
There were bets put up while great
excitement filled the air The vote OF
the Following counties on the first bal
lot, Thursday afternoon, is given as OF
subsequent interest. They were known
as the black belt" to-wit: Lee. Ma
con. Barbour, Bullock, MONTGOMERY
Wilcox, Lowndes, Dallas, Autauga. Per-
ry, Marego and Sumter. IL in all. Their
vote in the aggregate, on this ballot
was 1873, of which 70 were cast for
Kolb and the remainder. 116, distributed
among other candidates, largely for
Johnston, Dallas giving him her 80
votes entire. Fractions are always
| omitted.
Thus 1t happens that from the II
| counties OF great plantations Where
planters controlled public sentiment
where the bulk of the negroes lived
IN convention where no negroes sat
holk received about one-third OF the
vote cast for him in the convention OF
| Sc counties.
JOHN WITHERsPOON DUBOsE.