The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-23
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1S74-19O1
No. 103-Unsettled Political Conditions
THOMAS G. JONES, Governor
1S74-19O1

Gambling by wealthy holders of Sc
cufities on the grain and cotton eX-
changes become a pastime.
Labor organizations complained that
wage earners employed by coal miners
especially were paid IN scrip of the cor
poration, payable only at the corpora
tlon commissary counter and for goods
only. y copy of this characteristic
scrip that became historic in the po~
litieal battle of the period read: Good
for 25 cents in merchandise Main Jel-
leo Mount Coal company, Kenseee,
Ky"
1t was estimated that for every dol
lar of gold coin held in the United
States there was 1870 of business done.
The Alliance OF Alabama was greatly
encouraged by the national convention of
the order that met IN december, 1890, at
ccala, Fla, attended BY numbtt of the
leading statesmen OF the lg9pth "a ! stvnen
the free coinage demand was Incorporated
in the platform of the national order
Ali representatives of Alabama in Con-
gress voted for the bill of 1889 for free
and unlimited coinage of silver and gold
at 16 to l. Both Senators Morgan and
Pugh voted against the sherman amend
ment.
Nevertheless the Farmers Alliance had
designs on the organization of the demo-
cratic and conservative party of the state,
10 seize and direct it.
Commissioner of Agriculture r. F. Kolb
was the central force of the alliance poll
tics. If the alliance proposed to enter
the biennial party convention of 1892 to
contest for the nomination for governor.
the effect would be to resist the party
practice The party practice would give
t..t 10 "a
Jones denomination was contested before
the convention. then Commissioner Kolb
must bring the contest.
This was the situation on September |,
1891, when kolb's two years term of Of
flee held by the law OF appointment eX-
pred. kolb's friends We're at loss to
determine his status under the change
from an appointive office whose term ex-
pired in September to an elective office
to be filled the August of the next year
What would be the status of the office
for the IL months intervening between
September, 1891 and August, 1892?
Governor Jones knew well of the pur-
pose of the alliance to attempt to deny
to him the precedent of his party habit
in second term; he knew that Kolb
would be the man brought forward to
displace him. He knew that Commis-
sioner Kolb greatly desired to fill the
hiatus between September 1891, and the
August election of 1892 in the office af-
fected.
The governor decided that the law did
not authorize a special election for COM
missioner of agriculture. He appointed a
farmer of distinction. Hector ID. Lane of
Madison to fill the office from the expira-
ton of Kolb's term until the general cleo
tion the next year. The appointee was
taken with purpose from; the membership
of the alliance. Lane and Kolb were both
members in high standing in the order
Lane with evidence of the governor s
appointment in hand, applied to Kolb for
the keys the books. funds and appurten-
ances of the office of State Commissioner
of Agriculture Kolb refused
The appcintee applied to the probate of
montgomery county, f. c. Randolph for
the necessary process to oust Kolb The
probate declined. The appointee appealed
his case to the supreme court Three of
the five members of the court reversed
Randolph. Justices Thomas w. Coleman
and Thomas N. Mcclellan Joined in an
elaborate dissenting opinion.
So Lane received the office by decree of
the court and the governors construction
of his powers prevailed. Lane was elect
ed at the August election. but did not
live to enter upon his term.
JOHN WITHERSPOON DIIBOSE