Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-02

bodied in the resolutions finally adopted. Hence it is. MT. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, that by reason of what transpired at the state committees meet ing-by reason of the adoption of the Mallory amendment-we must take off, cial action upon this question, which can no longer be put aside and pooh-poohed as 1t was two years ago. A failure now by this county committee to exclude ne- .groeS, or to confine the voting to white |persons, would be the equivalent of an express decision that they should par t1cipate. We must, therefore, meet the issue for our county, and meet it boldly. emphatically am in favor of pursuing the practice which has heretofore pre- vailed, and requiring our nominations to be made by white voters, and I have nev- CT favored any other course. It has been charged by manYenewspapers. that the majority of the state committee had, in fixing the qualifications of voters for the approa ching election thrown down the barriers to overwhelm democrats in cer- tain counties by an inundation of negro voters. A greater falsehood was never uttered. And I wish to use whatever in- fiuence I may have with this committee to induce the adoption, in substance, of the proposition embodied in the second paragraph of the committees report. The primary in this county, where valuable offices are at stake, will doubtless be hotly contested. Strong feeling-person- al feeling, perhaps-will be aroused; and if negroes are allowed to take part their votes might become an important factor. This would be a source of irritation, out of which dissatisfaction would grow tending to weaken rather than strength en our party lines. In order that the position of the democrats of this county may not be misunderstood; that the vital part of their action may not be obscured by a multiplicity of words. unnecessary a n of the state committed; and, further, that we may distinctly recognize the ofii- cial action of that committee as authori- tative,' authorized and binding upon us as loyal democrats. I move the adoption of the following as substitute for the second paragraph of the committees re- port:
 That all white voters who come within the terms of the party law adopted by the state democratic executive commit tee at its meeting of January 2l lS96' be invited to participate in said prima- ry."
 The substitute was accepted by MT. McAdory.
 pr. Gere again moved the striking out of the word white"
 The Gere amendment was lost by a large majority.
 pr. Gere then moved the question be left to each beat committeeman. Ihe motion did not receive second.
 The Weakley resolutions then prevailed unanimously.
 Section was unanimously adopted.
 Section was read. w. K. Terry nov ed that committee be appointed to re- port to the county committee meeting, to be held on Saturday, February 15, and that said committe report at this meet ing plans in detail for the county conven- stion and for the holding of the primary Elections in the respective beats S On motion of Dr. Gillespie Chairman Waldrop was added to the committee to be appointed.
 The report as amended was adopted.
 The chairman was given time to ap- point the committee provided for. He Will notify each member of the proposed committee by mail.
 The committee then adjourned to meet Satr,IaV February 15.