The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

I of representatives for the purpose of holding a public meeting that day. | Kolb made no secret of his claim that | he had been elected In August and Oates had been counted in. His newspaper in- dustriously and vehemently spread abroad over the state that claim. Some of his | followers openly called for volunteers to take possession of the capitol at the op- perfume moment and hold it for him. | Governor Jones therefore consented to | Senator Goodwyns request on condition | that the hall should be occupied as pro- pc sed only in daylight
 | That night Adjt.-Gen. Harvey E. Jones, maimed Confederate veteran, posted a Montgomery company of state troops in the capitol, armed for action. The meeting as appointed took place on Monday, but not in the capitol The | Montgomery theatre was engaged for it. A. P. Longshore of Shelby county pre- sided. w. H. Skaggs of Taiadega re- ported from the committee on resolu- tons as follows:
 We deem 1t inexpedient at this time to inaugurate de jure government. The accompanying report said President Cleveland would see that his friend and supporter Colonel Oates was made se- cure in the possession of the governor s office.
 This position of the committee did not please many delegates to the convention assembled. Delegate Grove said: "I come from Perry. I would rather go to jail cell or to a graveyard than go back home and tell them no proofs of Kolb's cleo tior were offered here. Yes, We will seat Kolb on the first day of December Perry will send 800 men and I will be here"
 Skaggs protested against such talk. There was no statute sufficient to bring contest of election of governor before the legislature. In the session of 1S92-3 when Kolb claimed he had been elected over Jones, incumbent, the courts passed a bill to meet the defect. The bill was sent to the house. Governor Jones seeing this, declared in the presence of Good wyn that if the house also passed the bill he would sign 1t and immediately re- sign. On motion of Senator John T. Mill ner of Jefferson the senate recalled the bill recommitted it and it was in this process smothered
 Thus there was no prospect of a con test of election between Oates and Kolb, so said Skaggs. But Skaggs said the late election or congressman had returned a. majority of republicans and populists to the House and the cause of good govern ment in Alabama might take heart.
 Delegate Wood from Cullman county offered minority report from the com mittee. He did not countenance Groves suggestion of war. He did not think
 
 ton probable. He had a scheme of his own invention. There should be a com mittee of nine to investigate the election of governor and publish the finding. Three Oats men and three Kolb men from the legislature about to assemble and three private citizens should compose the committee.
 Mir Wood admitted that the Kolb men chosen to the legislature were in a rather demoralized condition. Some who applied for certificates of election had been de- nied by the secretary of state. Those whose election had been conceded and who held the necessary certificates were not united among themselves as to the wisdom of an effort to seat Captain kolb in the governors office.
 The scheme of Wood was rejected and the majority report of the committee ac- cepted. The convention adjourned sine die with the satisfaction of having de- nounced the de facto government of the state as fraud
 JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.