1888, on a platform warmly approving President Cleveland's policy of tariff reform, and was elected without difficulty over his Republican opponent, W. T. Ewing. In the November election, Alabama went for Cleveland and Thurman, the Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President, and returned to Congress a solid Democratic delegation. The legislature, being overwhelmingly Democratic, elected John

T. Morgan to the United States Senate for another term of six years.

Five-sixths of all the laws enacted during Governor Seay's second administration were laws of a special or local nature, or else had reference to the ordinary subjects of legislation. One law is quite notable, however, because other States have taken it as a model. It was a law regulating the treatment of insane criminals. Judge Somerville, of the Supreme Court, and Dr. Peter Bryce, the head of the asylum for the insane, were the authors of it. The number of justices of

the Supreme Court was increased to four, and Governor Seay appointed Thomas N. McClellan, who had made a brilliant reputation as attorney-general, to fill the new place. The next year, Judge Somerville resigned and Thomas W. Coleman, of Greene, was put in his place.

The census of 1890 served to put on record the progress Alabama had been making during the decade. It showed that the population had grown to a little over a million and a half, and that the increase among the whites had been relatively and absolutely greater than among the colored people. The State was now seventeenth in the Union in the number of inhabitants. The shifting of population was very striking. Some of the central counties had actually lost, while Jefferson and the counties of the mineral belt had gained enormously. In most cases, the cities, old and new, were apparently growing at the expense of the country.

As to the industrial progress of the State, the most striking figures related to mines and manufactures. It had risen to be the third State in the production of iron ore and in the manufacture of pig iron, and the sixth in the production of coal. Nevertheless, agriculture remained by far the most important of its industries, and cotton the chief of its exports. The general increase of business was shown by the rapid growth in the number of banks and in the total of bank deposits. While vastly the larger portion of the wealth of the State was still in the hands of the whites, there were cheering signs of prosperity among the colored people also.

The condition of the schools was by no means satisfactory, but it was clearly an advance on previous periods. The total enrollment in the public schools for the census year was over 335,000, divided between whites and colored people in the proportion of seven to four; but many of the schools were open only a short time during the year. As to the churches, the figures showed that over thirty-six per cent. of the entire population were church members, that there were over 6,000

church buildings, and that the various denominations owned property worth nearly $7,000,000.

There was a new interest in the subject of higher education. Howard College, in 1888, was moved from its old home at Marion to new quarters at East Lake, near Birmingham. In 1890, the East Lake Atheneum for young ladies was estab

MAIN BUILDING OF HOWARD COLLEGE, EAST LAKE, ALABAMA.

lished at the same place by Major Solomon Palmer, who had won distinction during his long service as State Superintendent of Education.

The candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1890 were Joseph F. Johnston, of Jefferson, Thomas G. Jones, of Montgomery, James Crook, of Calhoun, William Richardson, of Madison, and Reuben F. Kolb, of Barbour. These men had all been prominent in the party, but Mr. Kolb,

FARMERS ORGANIZED.

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who on the first ballot led all the rest, got most of his strength from members of the Farmers' Alliance. This organization had grown very rapidly, and had been very active in promoting the interests of farmers in various ways, as, for example, by opposing a combination of manufacturers who were trying to keep up the price of jute bagging for cotton bales. Mr. Kolb was commissioner of agriculture, and had gone with energy into the work of organizing the farmers throughout the State and encouraging immigration. After a few ballots, it was clear that he could be defeated only by a combination of the other candidates, all of whom, as it appeared, opposed any drawing of lines in the party between the members of the Alliance and other Democrats, and all of whom also opposed certain ideas which Mr. Kolb and his followers supported. In the end, the other candidates combined on Thomas G. Jones, and he was nominated. Mr. Kolb agreed to support him, and in August he was elected by a large majority over Benjamin M. Long, the Republican candidate. As yet, no third party had appeared at the polls, but it was clear that sooner or later there would be one.

In the autumn elections the Democrats were successful in all the congressional districts. The legislature, being Democratic, reëlected James L. Pugh to the national Senate. His rivals for the place were Thomas Seay, Thomas H. Watts, and Captain Kolb, who again received most of the votes cast by supporters of the Farmers' Alliance.

QUESTIONS.

What is said of Governor Seay? Of the President's visit? What did the legislature of 1886–7 do about education? About prohibition? What was the industrial condition of Alabama at this time? What is said of the yellow fever in 1888? Describe the elections of that year. Mention an important law passed in 1888-9. Tell about the census returns of 1890 under these headings: population, cities, mines and manufactures, schools, churches. What is said of politics in 1890 ? Of the Farmers' Alliance? Describe the campaign and give the result of the elections.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR JONES.

GOVERNOR THOMAS G. JONES.

GOVERNOR THOMAS G. JONES was born in Georgia in 1844, of Virginian descent. He was brought to Montgomery in his childhood. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, where he studied military science under Stonewall Jackson. As a soldier, he rendered heroic services to the Confederate cause; the last of his services was to bear a flag of truce at Appomattox. After the war he had some experience in planting and in journalism, but the law was his profession and in it he won his highest successes. A Memorial Day oration which he delivered in 1874 gave him a reputation beyond the bounds of the State. As commanding officer of the State militia, he won further distinction by subduing riots. He also served the State as Reporter of the Supreme Court, and as a member and speaker of the House of Representatives. His administration was marked by bitter political contests, which had for some years been threatening, and in which he could not help making enemies, for he had clear views on public questions and never hesitated about expressing them.

The legislature of 1890-1891 dealt with some important subjects. One of them was the race question as it relates