The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-07
ALLEN CAUSES STIR

"FurthermOre. I do not think it
 fair to condemn my man without
 trin1," the judge continued.
 'Grand jury reports are not always
 fair and every man Is entitled to .
 hearing even after the grand jury
 has passed judgment. I came here
 to hear the merits of the case and
 not to take part"
 ''Then you have no business
 here,' said F. M. Jackson, a member
 of the independent democratic
 party. who is strongly opposed to
 Jerry Gwin.
 "Yes I have got business here,"
 Judge Allen contended. ..This
 meeting was advertised and all cit
 izens interested in good govern
 ment urged to attend. I nm in-
 tercsted in good government. hon
 est government and fair trials"
 The applause which followed the judges rejoinder showed that all of those present were unot unfriendly to Jerry Gwin.
 When order was restored by J. M. Norment, acting chairman, o. II. Bowen was elected chairman. In calling the meeting to order, MT. Norment said that he wished 1t understood that the meeting held at the Chamber of Com merce auditorium last Monday night had no connection with the present one. This meeting, he said, was plan ned even before the one held Monday night and was in no wise the after math of the former meeting. This meet ing was called by. the citizens of the county, stock and poultry growers. rather than the business men of Bir- mingham.
 BOWEN TAKES CHAIR
 o. H. Bowen, in taking the chair, expressed pleasure at assisting in strengthening out the political trou bles of Jefferson county Jefferson, he said, stood for democracy, and most of those present were democrats. His native state, Mississippi was noted for it's democracy A white republican is yet to be reared in the state. When Mis- sissippi goes republican, hell will go M ethodist," he said The speaker said that he thought that the part he was taking to help defeat Jerry Gwin was for the best interests of Jefferson county.
 ''Efficiency and honesty are the most essential things in public life said J. M. Norment. Any man Tn public life whose honesty has once been ques- toned can never live it down regardless of his guilt or innocence. It is like the reputation of woman that has been seriously questioned. However, we did not come here to praise or con- demn but select a man to defeat Jerry Gwin."
 Another hitch was struck when J. R. Johnson suggested that in view of the the fact that this meeting had no con- nection with the one held on the pre- vious date that it might be well for those present to vote on the advisabil- ity of nominating a candidate The chairman attempted to overrule the motion as being out of order but the matter was taken up by F. M. Jack son and when brought to a vote the objection of the chair was unanimous ly overruled. It was then voted to se- lect nominee.
 Mr. Johnson stated that it was not his wish, as some had seemed to think, to block the selection of a candidate. He said that he was strongly in favor of doing so He gave as his reason for wishing to defeat Jerry Gwin the fact that money had been unwisely spent In building a road into Tuscaloosa coun- ty; the removal of an efficient man from office and the installing of cous- in, who is said to be inefficient as an engineer; and trying to perpetuate himself in office. Any one of these reasons, MT. Johnson said. would be sufficient reason to oppose an office seeker. Democracy to him did not mean