The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-06
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-J901
No. 47-Administratio of Governor Cobb
Significance of Federal Politics

IL nominated a presidential ticket and
announced platform demanding the suf-
frage for women and the abolition of the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors in the District of Columbia and
the territories.
The democratic party: The national con-
vention was assebled at Cincinnati June
Y. The platform pledged the party anew
to original and ancient states rights the
ories to home rule, honest money, con-
sisting of gold and silver. and paper con-
vertible to coin on demand; the strict
and national, and a tariff for revenue
only The great fraud of 1867, by
which, upon a false count of the electoral
votes of two states, the candidate de-
peated at the polls was declared to he
President was denounced.
Senator Garfield of Ohio and Arthur OF
New York were nominated by the re-
publican party. Gen J. b. Weaver, a
member of Congress from Ohio and officer
of the union army, and Gen. r. J. Cham
bers of Texas, by the greenback- labor
party, Neal Dow Of Maine. A. Nj. Thomp-
son of Ohio, by the prohibition party; Gen.
w. S. Hancock of the army, hailing from
Pennsylvania, and William H. English,
member of Congress from Indiana, were
nominated by the democratic convention.
Senator Conlling led a desperate band
in the republican convention, 304 strong,
for General Grant, but was defeated
finally.
Gen. e. w Pettus led the Alabama dele
CATION In the democratic national conven-
tion The vote of the delegation was di-
vided between Senators Bayard of Della
ware and Thurman of Ohio, Justice Field
of the supreme court and General Han
cock.
While the campaign preceding the state
election of August, 1890 had been without
remarkable interest that for represents
tives in Congress and for electors to he
voted on in the November following was
full of incident
In the First, or Mobile district, there
were four candidates. Colonel Herndon,
democrat; Mott. greenback; Gillett White.
republican and Frank Threatt, a negro
from Washington city also republicans.
Herndon's vote was larger than that Of
the three opponents combined. In the
Second, or Montgomery district. Colonel
Herbert defeated Paul Strobach. repub-
lican. and Townsend, greenback. Col. w.
C. Oates won his first election in the Eu-
faula or Third district. He easily de-
feated MADISON and Zachary. In the
Fourth, or Selma district, General Shelley
received the certificate of election and
held the seat from December, 1881, until
july 1882, when on report of a partisan
committee, the partisan House declared
there had been no election. 1t seems the
republican Fourth district convention di-
vided. Under the same roof at the same
hour the white republicans led by Ben
Delornos, carpetbagger, nominated Cir
cult Judge James q. Smith, scaiawag,
while the negroes, led by ex-Congressman
Ben Gee, negro, nominated a negro or
Mobile, Stevens by name. Smith con-
tested Shelley's election and avoided tax
ing sides, as between Smith and Stevens,
...I,.. ..Iaa kIN u.aat "a InnGn l.
validated the election and threw General
Shelley out near the close of the first ses-
sion.
Governor Cobb Immediately ordered a
special election and Shelley carried 1t. lie
resumed his seat in December In The
Wetumpka, or Fifth district, Thomas Will
liams democrat, had no opposition.
Goldsmith W., or Hewitt of Birmingham
was elected from the Sixth.
N N Clements of Tuscaloosa was
chosen eto fill out the term of b. B.
Lewis, who had resigned TO become pres
| ident of the university
| In the Seventh. or Admission district,
| Gen. w II. Forney defeated j. G. Bing-
ham, republican.
| In the Eeighth, or Huntsville district
the situation became most fnterestin gand
! even tragical The returns gave General
Wheeler 4s mapority over the incumbent,
| Col William M. Lowe, as we have seen
| a man of unusual individual force and Of
an ancient and influential family. GEN.
eral Wheeler was seated. Lowe brought
a contest for the seat Late in the session
Wheeler was ousted and Lowe seated.
Feeling between the rivals became strong.
Wheeler challenged Lowe to the field OF
honor and the challenge was promptly and
rather enthusiastically accepted. The
meeting ground agreed upon was the vi
cinity OF Memphis. Seconds and surgeons
were selected in due form. Suddenly Col
onel Lowe was prostrated by the chrome
disease from which he. had long>suffered,
put abed. helpless. AS the day approached
for the duel he insisted that he should be
transported on his bed to the field and
propped on it in position to fire and re-
ceve the fire of his antagonist. OF course,
there was no duel.
Colonel Lowe soon died. Governor Cobb
ordered special election and General
Wheeler was thus again returned the sec
ond time to the same Congress. In the
special election he encountered no opposi-
ton.
JOHN wITHERsPOoN DUBosE.