The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-05
By MRS. ALICE BETHEA SMITH

ments protected the ex-Confederates during the reconstruction period ano was protest against these abuses II power. It was as much a product o1 these conditions as malaria is of 2 swamp and sun heat. IL was brutal II the last degree. but was the outcome of a. dreadful disease, the gangrene oi incapa city, dishonesty and corruption. Il flourished where these qualities climbed into office and withered where the re verse was the case.
 About this time Wade Hampton, dis tir gJished ex-Confederate cavalry leader came forward. He had led the life Of z planter on a large scale. He was a mar of high, forceful character and perfec courage with a real devotion to the wei fare of his state. He was nominated b1 the white people who were in the minor ity in population, but who had all tho wealth, brains and experience in public affairs. lie led the campaign with min gled prudence and aggressiveness.
 After a heated campaign that stirred the state from mountains to seaboard, ht was declared elected and carried through the streets of Columbia on the shoulders of his enthusiastic constituents. But the legislature was claimed by both radica and democrats, or whites. and dua government was set up in the same chamber of the statehouse.
 
 Gen. William H. Wallace of Unior county, the father of Mrs. Victor Gage of Birmingham, and ex-Confederate o1 unprecedented integrity and a lawyer o1 ability, afterwards elected judge of the Seventh district of South Carolina, was chosen speaker by the democrats and E W. Mackey by the radicals or blacks.
 Tuesday, November 28. the legal date for assembling of the state legislature ktx .1~ T. AL. T At. of the House of Representatives an6 found there file of United States sol. diers on each side of the doorway witt guns carrying bright and glistening bay. onets crossed over the doorway. They turned away and went to Carolina hall where they were sworn in by Judge Thompson H. Cook of the circuit court
 At Carolina hail. which now was called ''The Wallace House. they held daily sessions of the legally erected members of the House of Representatives. trans acting such business as came up. Speaker Wallace presided until November 90 when they repaired to the statehouse again.
 The democrats arrived at the state house and found the hall vacant. The ST eaker, William H. Wallace, took the speakers chair and the members found seats. Later in the day E. w. M. Mac key, the speaker of the radicals or black house, came in and walked up the aisle and approached Speaker Wallace, seem. ing much excited. called for sergeant-at- arms. Speaker Wallace called for his sergeant-at-arms and both sergeants were approaching the speakers, followed by members of both houses, and it seemed as if there would be collision. Some one, however. carried chair to Mackey and he sat down in it ana the members returned to their seats After that the speakers kept their same chairs .ay after day and night after night. oil was called for each house and journal read and business of the day gone through with by each house or pretended business. Sometimes there were bills of either house discussed at the same time This continued each day. At night they lounged about the house. It was a novel sight to loolxer-on when the roll was called. There would be two speakers al the desk, two clerks up at the same time calling the roll and members an swering. Thus there were two bodies in session at the same time in the same out the duties of the House of Repre- sentatives.
 The Wallace house, consisting of G members, occupied the 1eft side and the Mackey house, consisting of some five or six white men and 40 or 50 negroes, oc- cupied the right side. Resolutions and motions were offered before each body and discussed separately at the same time.
 This kind of legislature continued all day. Later. 4at. night there was a ces- sation and members lounged in theil seats or sought rest on the floor, meals being sent in by friends. The Mackey house, mostly negroes, who are borr scngsters. enlivened the hall with '-d