The Alabamian from Birmingham, Alabama • 1

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BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, JULY 4, 1902. NO. 25 lioned by Mr. Sidney M. Phelan, a successful insurance jnan of St, Louis, to Current Comment.

With Our Correspondents i bile last week "A great bind ranee to the progress of the race ii the two by four, bigotted, selfish, Ignorant Baptist or Methodist preachers. He Is in every community, opposing every measure of progress. I have decided that the only way to get rid of the "Jim Crow" oaria to get rid of the "Jim Crow" negro. If I could use 200,000 bars of soap on the unwashed negroes that travel on trains and hang around depots I would them from the political arena into the vale of utter and everlasting bbucurity. Let them order a primary, open to all who will honestly abide the result and factional strife in the party will cease, and the only question then arising before the people will be that on which all firm and beneficial governments are founded.

What measures and men will work for the best interests of the great body of the people? Keep the force and effect of a white man's vote in doubt and 'the higher questions cf government and citizenship will be thrown in to abeyance. Make the force and effect of a white man's vote unquestioned, fair and equal, and the rancor of wrong done and unfairness of the past elections will give way to honest judgment on the issues of government and party and the men who make them. H. Huntsville, July 1, 1902. Hon.

Alex T. London has this to say amongst other things in the Age-Herald 'It has been urged and argued that the cry for a primary comes only from the disgruntled. If the political managers and politicians will only put their ears to the ground they will discover that such is not the case. The present demand for a primary is a public outcry from the white people, without distinction as to whether they were for or against the constitution, for a test of the truth of the promises made that the elimination of the negro would bring about honest primaries and elections. They want and demand that this issue shall be tried in the open, and until it is done there will be dread and discontent.

One acquainted with the recent political history of the state, and of Jefferson county, can understand the smile of incredulity that wreaths the faces of the men who have been guilty of frauds, and those who have profited by them, when it is suggested that an honest election or primary is possible. Those to whom I have spoken laugh at the idea. If their assumption is true, the state is certainly in a lamentable condition, and with the masses of the people, who are honest-minded and only want what is fair, desire to settle now, is whether, in a democratic primary, or in any other primary or election, the negro being eliminated, every vover is going to be allowed to cast his ballot as he wishes and have it counted as it is cast. In my judgment, if this is not done standing against the State, and over a half million dollars was in the Treasury. The public schools had made splendid progress; annual appropriations for education In the common schools ware Increased by nearly bait a million dollars: the military establishment was vigorous, effective and Harmonious, and every department of the State government instinctive with business energy and activity.

Thousands of dollars had been brought in from defauf ten extravagance checked and faithless and careless officials brought to account. The public-credit reached the highest point ever known in the history of the State, and, with this rise, there began a steady flow of capital from abroad bringing millions of dollars into the State for investment, and creating an easy and natural channel from the strong-boxes of the East to the undeveloped resources of our great State. That economy was perfected during his administration sufficiently appears from the fact that disbursements from the treasury increased nearly half a million dollars within the first year after his retirement, in spite of the nervous haste and anxiety of the present incumbent to take advantage of every short cut and by-path to clearly and distinctly marked out by Governor Johnston. And within this year the State bonds declined about four per cent. It is not remarkable that the' politicians should oppose a man who guarded the treasury with unceasing vigilance for perquisites of' office and the multiplication of offices is forever opposed to economy.

That they should turn upon Governor Johnston and attempt to rend him was the logical result of his unbending policies. And still, admitted by his enemies, he stands before the common people today the strongest man among them all. Should he consent to make the race for Governor there is not a precinct in all the State that does not hold courageous men who stand for Johnston against the field. He has passed through the storm of hatred and abuse, misrepresentation and fraud, courageously and calmly, and with admirable poise, and as the foul waters of vilification and slander recede, he towers higher and higher above the ranks of his d'etractors, possessing the respect of his manly enemies and the devotion and love of all his friends. Strip from the ranks of his opponents those who have been held up for some unfaithfulness, and their friends, and there remain only those who were misled, or fear that his success will obscure their political fortunes.

Thousands who were misled during the passion and heat of the campaign of 1900 are now ready to take up the banner of this man who has never betrayed a trust or abandoned a friend, and to show him that while they preferred Morgan for the senate, they honor Johnston and prefer him for governor. No man is readier to forgive an injury or to receive back a wandering friend than Joseph Forney Johnston. Publius find and purchase this volume, if possible, explaining that Mr. Phelan was cellecting certain valuable copies of Alabama books in order to leave theui as a legacy to his son. For a long time Mr.

Phelan 's agent had made fruitless search for Garrett's Public Men of Alabama" at the bookstores of various cities, laboring under the impression that it had been written by another distinguished Mr. Phelan was born at Montgomery, and when quite a boy entered the Confederate army. After the close of the war he removed to St. Louis, where by dint of energy and business enterprise he now ranks among the prosperous men of that city. With wealth to gratify his tastes, his heart turns lovingly to his native State, and from all the citieB of the South he is gathering to leave as heirlooms volumes writ ten by Alabamians in the years that are gone.

Mr. Phelan's agent was directed to Hon. Thos. M. Owen, at Montgomery, for the desired information, as Garrett's "Public Men of, Alabama" has been out of print for nearly if not quite, a quarter of a century.

Such loyalty and devotion as that of Mr. Sidney M. Phelan, of St. Louis, deserves to be remembered as a beautiful manifestation of sentiment in this utilitarian time. It also recalls the question asked by a Georgian a few days ago, "Why is it that Alabamians are so ardently, so ffrcely loyal to their State?" THE FORNKYS AND JOHNSTONS.

In an address recently delivered by Hon. A. Nixon, of Lincoln county, North Carolina, this reference was made to two families weli known in Alabama "Jacob Forney, first settled in the Creek, near Denver, the scene of Indian troubles. General Peter Forney, son of the pioneer, was inactive service through the American Revolution, and served as a member of the House, Senate, Congress and often elscted presidential elector. His oldest son, Major Daniel Forney, also served as Senator from Lincoln county and member of Congress.

He erected the finest residence west of Raleigh, model ed after a home at the National Capitol. This picturesque old residence with its long white columns, surrounded by a grove of immense oaks, yet stands and retains its architectural charms Major Forney removed to Alabama. Jacob Forney, third son of the General, married Sarah Hoke, sheriff of Linceln county, removed to Jacksonville, and two of his sons became distinguished Confederate Generals, and members of Congress. Henry Y. Webb married a daughter of General Forney, removed to Eutaw, and was the first Federal Judge of that territory.

Colonel James Johnston, son of Henry Johnston, a pioneer settler, per formed distinguished services in the Revolutionary war was one of the he roes of the battle of Kings Mountain, the first Senator from Lincoln county, a member of the convention that re jected the constitution of the United States and refused to make North Carolina a State of the Union, and an elder of Unity Presbyterian Church. Dr. William Johnston, youngest son of Colonel James Johnston, married Nancy, daughter of General Peter Forney, and resided at Mount Welcome, General Forney's old homestead. His sons, Captain James General Robt. Lieutenant Colonel (Dr.) William Captain Jos.

lately Governor of Alabama, and Bartlett were all gallant Confederate soldiers." PRECEDENT. The first Governor of Alabama under the constitution of 1819 was William W. Bibb. He was installed in office November 9, 1819, for the term of two years as fixed by the constitution. He died July 10, 1820, and was succeeded by his brother, Thomas Bibb, President of the Senate, who filled the unexpired term and retired.

Israel Pickens was elected Governor in 1821 and again in 1823, retiring in 1825. John Murphy was elected Governor in 1825 and again in 1827, retiring in 1829. Gabriel Moore was elected Governor in 1829 and resigned in 1830 on being elected to the United States Senate. The unexpired term was filled by Sam uel B. Moore, President of the Senate, who then retired.

John Gayle was elected Governor in 1831, retiring in 1835. Clement C. Clay was elected Governor in 1835 and resigned in 1837 on be ing elected to the United States Senate. The unexpired term was filled by Hugh McVay. President of the Senate, who then retired.

Arthur P. Bagby was elected in 1837 and again in 1839, retiring in 1841. Benjamin Fitzpatrick was elected Governor in 1841 and again in 1843, retiring in 1845. (See Garrett's "Public Men of Alabama'" page 774.) There is no other instance in the his tory of the State when the duties of the Governor devolved upon the Presi dent of the Senate until we comedown to Governor SUBSCRIBE FOR THE ALABAMIAN ONLY ONE DOliLAR PER YEAR. BT MRS.

GEO. C. BAIL. EW PAV COMIJiS FOR ALABAMA a primary may be ordered by he State Executive Committee at its meeting on the 10th inst. gives fresh hope and courage to the great mass of Alabamians whose chief desire is for the advancement of the best interests of their State, political, industrial and commercial.

A new day seem about to dawn for this common wealth, when the disgraceful methods methods, for so many years practiced at doubtful voting precincts, will be consigned forever to the darkness of a night that is gone. The great body of citizenship in Ala bama seems to be about (o be accord ed individual rights, and the privilege of casting an honest, untrammeled vote for the candidate preferred from the most modest aspirant to him who de sires to reach the highest official sta tion. Each year the growth of the primary idea beeomes more and more apparent in every section of the country. With increased educational facilities, with clearer knowledge of public ques tions and a deeper insight into the motives governing public men, the masB of voters in each State are becoming yearly more capable of individual ac tion and a personal choice as between issues and candidates. Any man entitled to exercise the right of suffrage under the present con stitution in Alabama, must be accorded the additional right of having his vote counted for all that it is worth, regardless of which party or faction of party it may benefit The personal ambition of no man.

or set of men must be allowed to interfere with the honest workings of the election laws of Alabama. The ordering of a White primary by the State Executive Committee would act like a powerful disinfectant throughout the length and breadth of Alabama, freeing the good old State from the pestilential asmosphere which for so many years has surrounded the ballot box. To declare against a white primary will precipitate the most serious and dangerous political conditions that have obtained since the latter days of reconstruction. The people of Alabama have caught the spirit of modern prepress have set for themselves higher, purer ideals in politics as well as along other lines of human endeavor. They are weary of party can't and party scheming.

They long for a day and a time when the vote of the individual shall stand for something more than a mere numeral to be added in the final count, according to the dictates of party manipulators. That day and that time are near at hand, no matter what may be the action of the State Committee. Human hands and human wills are impotent to stay the law of human liberty. In the great march of progress the individual signifies but little; only eternal principle remains unchanged and unchangeable. The man is wise in his generation who shapes his conduct according to the immutable decree of that Providence which governs nations and States for the good of the masses, and not for the benefit of the individual.

Alabama has seen her darkest hours, and the shameful reproach of dishonest election methods must pass away and be gathered among the noisome records of a time no longer to be tolerated. The sun of a purer day begins to gild the hill-tops of hope and success. The mists are lifting from valley and the faces of the people are illuminated with the joy of personal freedom. No man shall henceforth despoil the citizen of his rights of citizenship without accounting lor the despicable deed. $he.

ballot of each and every man shall his personal opinion regardless of party bosses and the ambitions of party leaders Daylight is coming over the mountains and the people, with joyous, -expectant hearts await the glorious time, believing that a new era is about to make resplendent a State long burdened with the reproach of questionable election methods and disgraceful election practices. In this struggle for a people's rights the candidate is of trifling significance. A great principle is being contended for, and principle shall eventually triumph. AN ALABAMIAN WHO STILL STATE. LOVES HIS Referring to politics and principles, by no means synonymous terms, generally speaking, it is pleasant to tell of an incident which accurred a few days ago, illustrative of the loyalty of a former Alabamian to his native State, although now a resident of St.

Louis. An Alabama woman, who unwillingly and protcstingly lives in the noisy capital city of Georgia, heard a knock at the door of her apartments recently, which upon being opened, a stranger was discovered who immediately requested information as to where the well-known book "The Publio Men of Alabama" could be found, etc. The stranger stated that he was commis- JOHNSTON. HU Record HIi DtrKton HliOnw ing Btrcngth. Mobile, July 1, 1902.

Editor Alabamian The possible candidacy of Joseph F. Johnston for Governor of Alabama hovers ever the politicians like an appalling nightmare. They deride his strength and decry his influence with the people, and yet there is not one man in Alabama whose candidacy would so inspire them with fear And sap them of confidence as would his. Many administrations have met with the endorsement and approval of its friends, but it was reserved for Governor Johnston to wring from reluctant enemies a thorough endorsement of his administration. In 1900, when he was a candidate for the Senate, under the rotten system of unequal representation and fraudulent counts then prevailing, he was assailed and his administration assaulted with the greatest bitterness.

It was charged that he had created an odious 'back tax law;" that he had invented, put into operation and enforced a cruel and relentless examination and exposure of the accounts Of all public officials that he created a new ami unnecessary office of Judge that by his procurment the Adjutant-General had been put on a $1,500 salary and an additional clerk appointed at the Capitol, (they had to work hard for thunder.) It was also charged that he had procured the sale of lands of the Uui-versity which were of "incalculable value" for an unfair price to aid himself in selling lands of his own. When his opponents came into power it was supposed that all these grievous errors, which were hawked about among the people by political peddlers and echoed by an unthinking press, would be promptly and effectually corrected. Yet a legislature composed almost entirely of his bitterest denunciators, failed to change a law or alter a policy he had adopted. The Judge remains, the clerk's salary was raised, and no cloud has been cast on the title of the Adjutant-General to his salary. The legislature did rend and tear that lone clerk into many parts, but each part draws a full salary and shouts for jelks.

And in the case of -the Bale 'of the coal lands, authorized, by a resolution of the Board of Trustees, the Sloss-Sheffield Company has now obtained every acre of the University land it desired by exchanging therefor other lands of small value which it did not want and has received back, mark that, the $56,000 deposited in the State treasury. Fer the privilege of doing this the company paid $5,000 to several gentlemen in payment of their fees as attorneys of the University who had been foremost in the ranks of those whose only desire was "to'serve the University and the State without money and without price." The enemies of Gov. Johnston admit with candor and frankness that he made an admirable official and gave the State a clean and accurate business administration. Many of those disposed to do him justice were offended by his opposition to a constitutional convention, but even that was endorsed by a majority of the Democrats in each house and by a large majority of the people at the polls. In his race for the Senate against a Democrat of great ability and long service, pronounced the greatest the State had ever produced, with an array against him of the State Dress, the politicians almost to a man, the Fed-1 eral Senators and and, vastly more and effective than all these, 'the managers, so strong was he that a change of 1400 votes, distributed in several counties, would have given him a majority of the jnembers of the 'legislature, and delayed the construction of the Nica-rauga canal now nearing conduct of the finances of the State was so brilliant that after vain attempts to dispute and disprove the official statements of the Auditor, his villifiers relapsed into continued and uninterrupted abuse of the man.

Entering upon the duties of the office he found a deficit of nearly $600,000, the teachers unpaid, only in the treasury, outstanding warrants unsatisfied and the State bonds, infallible thermometers of public health, drag-gingatKB. This state of affairs, which his predecessors, men of the highest ability, had, found impossible improve or avoid under the existing system of administration, confronted Governor Johnston. He realized that relief was be found only in beneficial legislation and a igid, untiring and personal Attention to the duties of his office. He was not Governor by proxy his official acts were done by his own hand. Sound advice to the legislature, indefatigable attention to the duties of his administration, fearless and unswerving enforcement of the law as he found it and made it, Coupled with wisdom, business sagacity and an honorable desire to serve his peo pie had their inevitable result.

When his term expired the deficit had been paid, not an overdue claim was out The esteemed Marion County Demo crat regrets to learn that there Is a feeling in the minds of a number of Democrats in that county who, if the State Committee should refuse to call a primary, will not participate in any convention and be ready to act inde pendently in November. The Bessemer Workman says "The people don't want any fake primary, that no compromises and no substitutes from Georgia or elsewhere will be tolerated. Those who think otherwise should be warned in time. There will be trouble for the Committee or the the candidates who countenance any attempt to deceive the people by a fake primary. The Workman says that Cleveland's speech was in bad taste coining from a man in the minority that he has ability, but that his bull headedness lost us the presidency that the idea of the minority asking the majority to come back and apologize is ridiculous.

The able Register (Mobile) says "that the single fact that "Democratic papers (so-called) that refused to support Bryan don't agree on Cleveland as presidential timber, shows he is not available." The Greene County Democrat says: When old convention is fired, And primary put on roost, The people will-be merry And honest elections on a boost. The Meridian Press speaking of the pardon of lynchers by Governor Jelks, says: "It really does require a little backbone cheek gall or something of that kind, to exercise the pardoning power in cases like this yet it is much easier to turn a criminal loose than it is to catch him." The Talladega News-Reporter says "that the politician who opposes a primary now has a funny-bone up his sleeve and should be given approbation at home." Governor Jelks is the only politician who ever claimed to have a funny-bone. Does the Reporter refer to the Governor in this light now? Be ware Higdon was suspended for a less offense than this. The Opelika News says "Governor Jelks and Hon. Jnor'Y'" Smith; wefe about the only men worth quoting that were not out for a primary before his accidency accidentally dropped off the fence and the demand for a primary continues to grow in this section." The News also says "that Senator Morgan can now spend the remainder of his days in the Senate doing something for his State and people.

That when the testjeame tbe Senate threw him and his pet scheme overboard." The Eufaula Times quotes "'the Montgomery Journal, one of Mr. Jelks' most ardent supporters" as warning Mr Jelks that he will have a hard row to hoe this year. The Times says that the registers have made their final rounds and 2,435 whites and 44 colored men have been registered. The census showed that there were 2.912 white men in Barbour in 1900, so only about 500 have lost the right to vote. It also says that if the com mittee does not listen to the demand of the people and call a primary there may be something else that will stir matters up.

1 The Huntsville Herald "It seems to be hard for some of the machine favorites to realize that the peo ple are after the machine this time in dead good earnest. That since the rat ification of the new constitution th6y have made up their minds that they are going to have their own choice placed in positions of preferment, and not the choice of the minority, which has constituted the machine. The machine may hypnotize itself into believing that the people are indifferent about these matters, and that they can be run over in the same old rough-shod way. No man who has taken occasion to ascertain the wishes of the people on this question, and whose mind is open to the truth, will for a minute make any mistake about the views of the democrats of this state. The people believe in the fundamental principles of democracy, one of the first of which is the absolute acquiescence in tne vnsnes oi tne majority, iney no longer intend that ths organization of the democratic party, which should stand for the rule of the majority as well as the other principles shall be de based and prostituted for the advance ment of of individuals and A primary election for the nomination of the state ticket is not the sole end to be desired, but is the means whereby the people intend to set up a government strictly of their own choice, and to turn the organization of the party into a part and parcel of itself to make the organization a servant and not the master." The Mobile Register quotes a nejro named Lucas as saying the following things at a meeting of negroes in Mo solve the negro problem about 20 per cent.

Lazy, ragged, barefeet fellows, long ing for silver slippers and long white robes and counting themselves worthy neglecting to provide a home for their families on earth and yet claiming a house not made with their hands in God's heaven The white man is trying to make this earth blossom ai a rose and the negro is getting ready to die -i The white man is organizing business enterprises and the negro organizing societies to turn out at their funerals Now, I object to a hundred-dollar funeral for a fifty-cent negro. The negro eats up and dresses away all he makes. One square meal on Sunday sweeps away all the wages of the week. He reminds me of the mule which ate the shipping tag from his lag. An old negro exclaimed: "Gee, dat mule dun eat up his whar-he's-gwine That's what the negro does.

He eats up his living." The stsady old Clarke County Demo crat say "the people are are fickle, and cites the tax commission law, enacted at Governor Johnston's instance, as an example, It says this law was de- nounced as the vilest kind of an enactment, but Governor Samford opposed its repeal and the law stands and is givine satisfaction. No noise is heard of its iniquities, and that it really mainly affected persons of extensive property and managers of large estates." The Journal anticipates a lively fight this fall in the Seventh District between Congressmen Burnett and ex-Congressman Howard. Mr. Burnett favored the new constitution and every county in his district voted the other way, but that does not necessarily mean that it will turn him down. The Cullman Tribune-Gazette has made a manful fight for a primary.

It has never been able to understand why 3774 white men in Cullman should have four delegates in a State council of the Democratic party and Dallas and Lowndes with 3883 white men should have "36 delegates. Nor why the 3863 white men in Dallas and Lowndes should have two Senators and five members of the House, whilst Cull man 3774 should have one-third of a Senator and qne Representative. It is a little hard to make a "hill billie" understand the beauties of such inequali ty. Messrs. R.

A. Mitchell, W. W. Haralson and T. M.

Jones represent Cullman and the Seventh District on the State Committee, and will doubtless speak the sentiments of their people. Mr. Mitchell has already placed himself on the right side and we doubt not that the other gentleman will be fonnd with him. The Enterprise, Dale county, says: 'We went upon the streets of Enter prise last Friday and took a poll of the legal voters, as we met them, on the subject of a State primary, with the following results: For primary 109, against primary 8, undecided 4. The day of the convention howler and po litical montebank has passed.

Henceforth their sad requiem will be sung 'where the woodbine twiueth and the whangdoodle mourneth." The Eufaula Times says "The only way to have and to get harmony in the party this year in the State is to listen to the people and grant them a straight- out primary, not a half primary; and the other half convention, but a primary where all can have a voice in fnaking nominations. A majority of the candidates (the balance don't careX and nine-tenths of the voters want primary, and it is the duty of the com" mittee to aceede to the powers: that created them- and thus save any unpleasantness that may arise." The Centerville Press says: "All the candidates have climbed upon the primary band wagon. Some of them were a little slow about getting aboard, but they were standing a chance of getting left and they could not afford it." The Press also says "there are one or two journals of the State, we won't name them, that still snarl when "primary" is mentioned. The reason is, it would destroy their political idols. Poor fellows we pity their sorrow." These items are from the Bessemer Workman "If, as has been stated, the State Committee does not meet until September, when it does meet orders 8 convention to nominate officers there will be such a rattling of dry bones that some energetic politicials will pray for a shower from Mount Pe-lee.

-f. "A white man's primary for the white voters of Alabama will do more to remove the present unsavory condition of polities quicker than anything that can be we will have a revolution in Alabama that will neither regard party ties nor precedents, and when the fight is over it will be discovered that the. politicians have been taken at their vord, when they promised fair elections, and the people will secure them if necessary by force, and without regard to party lines. Public opinion is what any fair-minded man may think, and the result of my observation is that the sentiment is practically unanimous for a democratic primary to test the new constitution, for it is verv justly said that political trickery in party contests or in elec tions are now hot only without justifi cation, but without even color or ex cuse. In conclusion I trust that the state executive committee will either cheer fully accede to the popular demand for a democratic primary, or if they doubt their power, let them call a convention to authorize a primary, and that con vention being held, unless there is a fair expression of public opinion al lowed in it, I think it will be discover ed that the public is not going to sub mit even to that.

The question of relative representa tion in the state convention already shows the temper of the people, and if a state primary is not held the committee will be face to face with the propo sition as to whether white voters are going to submit to equalization with the negro population that does not vote, for the purpose of controlling party affairs. I am pleased to say I do not think they will, and this opinion is shared by a very large proportion of the people of Alabama with whom I have talked." The Mobile Item says that "the ex periment tried in Louisiana'of making the payment of a poll tax voluntary has resulted, as it will in Alabama, in disfranchising a large percentage of her people. Two serious troubles threaten this plan one is the disfranchisement of white men the bid to them to disfranchise the other is the loss to the common school fund. Governor Johnston and Superintend ent Abercrombie took exactly the other view, and desired the collection of the poll tax to be enforced by the township trustees in order to swell the school funds. The Birmingham "News, "a strong Jelks paper, is making a sincere fight for an honest, clean It says "what is wanted is an Alabama plan where every Democrat's vote is as po tent as every other Democrat's vote, and have every one couuted as cast The Georgia plan is neither flesh nor fowl.

It is a compromise with principle." Such words as these from Governor Jelks would have given him many votes -instead of his timorous "I personally favor a primary but will submit cheerfully to the committee." The News know that any make-shift will drive fromtbe Jelks' ranks two-thirds of those who are giving it now a half-hearted support. Editor Alabamian I am a life long Democrat. I've fought the fight of reconstruction days with the old party and I hope and pray that I may die inside its ranks with peace and satisfaction at its policies. But, Mr. Editor, it looks now like a parting of the ways has came.

The negro is no longer a political force individually he never was, but his scare-crow was an effective factor in party warfare; if then, hereafter my vote shall be paired with and nullified by the voiceless, powerless force of the mere habitation of two or more negroes in the black belt, then, Mr. Editor I must leave the regular organization, the organization which I and thousands like me formed, organized and solidified with the' strongest, most strenuous effort of hand and heart and head. I said that I must, under these condi- Itjons, leave the party, that expression pwas erroneous with me thousands and thousands of rock-ribbed Democrats of long years service and unterrified loyalty, will say to machine, that by party criminality, forces such a step, "The mass and back-bone of the party refuse to be bound by your act, and you may term us what you will, but since we are the majority who leave by Democratic law we are still the party and unless you join us then you are the bolter, the; deserter and the traitor." TJiis, Mr. Editor, is one phase of the matter and my object in writing this is not to lift my voice in threat, but to show how I and many others in my section feel and with the hope that every protest will have weight in forestalling such action by the State Committee as will be certain to produce such dire results. If party harmony be valued ought, if its continued supremacy be the honest, sincere wish of the gentlemen composing the State Committee, then they will -not throw the slap of a black insult in the face of every citizen in North Alabama by nullifying his franchise merely by pairing his voice with that of one or two or three or a thousand disfranchised ne-gioes living in the black counties'.

Is a white man better than one negro and not so good as two or three or four? Jf so, let the gentlemen of the committee order a convention and the white men wiil give them an expression of their opinion on the matter that will sweep.