The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-01

he found many others who had been told that they were out of place ir the meeting. oscar S. Lewis, chairman of the Wallace campaign committee, was refused admittance, as were Harry Shorter of Birmingham and many oth- CTS.
 Captain Kolb held a consolation cons ference in tho lobby of the hotel after ward and made a short talk in which he said: q have been refused admittance to this meeting which has been adver- tised as states rights meeting. l was fighting for states rights before many of those in the conference were born
 Judge Oscar Lewis declared that he did not know the conference was to be executive "I thought every man op- posed to the ratification of the federal prohibition amendment would have a right to attend" he said. 'I come here to find that admittance is by card and that no man without a card can at tend"
 THEN OPENED TO PUBLIC
 After the business had been trans acted and certain things put down in writing the doors of the meeting were opened to the public By formal resoll- ton it was agreed that those who had not come within the pale of approval from those who called the meeting would be invited to hear reports from the various counties and committee was appinted formally to invite the ones who were waiting in the lobby. Bob Coleman of Marshall, known as the states wheel horse against prohibition, was made chairman of the invitatioi committee.
 MT. Coleman appeared on the steps leading from the hotel auditorium tc the lobby. Gentlemen, I have been in- structed to invite all democrats to ap- pear at an open meeting and to hear re- ports from the various counties,' he be- gan. Too late, too late" came the cry from the waiting ones. Well, boys, I'm sorry" he said, and he stalked back toward the auditorium A few accepted his invitation and went into the audi torium.
 There it was found that Edward D. Smith of Birmingham, national demo- cratic committeeman for Alabama, was the presiding officer; that Cyrus E. Browrss former secretary of state, was secretary of the caucus, and that the leading lights were Forney Johnston of Birmingham, Former Gov. Emmet O'Neal of Birmingham, Mir Smith, Frank P. Glass, Asa Gibson of Birmingham. Joseph Espalla, Jr., of Mobile: Samuel F. Kennedy of Anniston, Judge Richard V. Evans of Birmingham, Brooks Smith of Montgomery, Alex E. Walker Of Montgomery, Judge N. D. Denson of Ope- lika. Joel Goldsby of Mobile, and Ed ward D. Johnston of Huntsville, who house by A. H. Carmichael, prohibi- tionist
 The declarations in the open meeting were enthusiastic. With the exception of an address by Mir. Glass. the reports merely contained the information that with proper work the people of Alabama may be depended upon to elect a legisIa- ture which will decline to ratify the amendment. An appeal was made for the repression of personal desires in favor of a union which will fight to the last against the amendment.
 After MT. Glass had finished his ad- dress and the various reports from coun- ties, the epitome of each being We will beat the amendment" had been given, motion to adjourn was made, was car- ried and those present filed out of the room.
 STATEMENT PROMISED LATER
 Newspaper correspondents asked Chair man Smith if anything was to be said. IHSS were ISloTreu to secretary BrOWff. Mir. Brown was asked the same ques- tion and the correspondents were re- ferred to Chairman Smith Later Mir. Smitk and MT. Johnston promised that a written statement or report might be expected
 One unique instance of the censorship established over the meeting was that the newspaper representative who had attracted general attention to the meet ing and brought the delegation was re- fused admittanoe. By gosh, it's the first time ] ever heard of a press agent advertising show and then being re- fused a free pass one Of his associates remarked.
 Montgomery January 31-(Special) ) While those in the anti i-amendment caucus Thursday afternoon declined to discuss what took place in the secret meeting, it was contended tonight that no time was given to a discussion of the most available man to lead the fight as a candidate for governor. It was de- clared that no gubernatorial candidate was mentioned.
 Supporters of John H. Wallace, Jr., ad- mitted that they came prepared to wield an influence for him and that this caused the order preventing any person to en- ter who held no invitation. Those in the meeting admitted that they feared an effort would be made to stack the cards.