Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-28
PRESS ENDORSES THE COMMITTEE.

It Will be seen by reference to the pro-
 ceedings, published elsewhere, that the
 state executive committee has at last set
 tied the question as to the qualification
 of voters in the beat primaries by adopt
 ing resolution that all white men should
 be admitted to participation in them who
 will agree to support the nominees and
 the principles of the party. The Inquirer
 indu1ges the hope that the matter will
 now be allowed to rest where it is. as
 further agitation of the question can do
 no good-Piedmont Inquirer.
 The report of the committee on resolu-
 tions, that all conservative citizens who
 would agree to support the nominee and
 democratic principles are invited to par
 ticipate in the primaries, was adopted
 with the proviso that each county shall
 have the right to determine whether they
 admit any but white voters to the pri-
 maries of their respective counties. The
 body of the resolution is the exact lan-
 guage of the call of the national demo-
 cratic ommittee.-Florence Times.
 The state executive committee has
 ruled that all who promise to support
 the party nominees are to be allowed to
 take part in the primaries. This means
 the return of thousands who have stray
 ed away from the democratic ranks. The
 bosses fought hard, but the committee
 was determined to save the party rather
 than rule in behalf of any pet candidate.
 The action of the committee means a vic
 tory for Johnston in April and demo-
 cratic victory in August. Beat meetings
 will be held April II, county conventions
 April 15 and the state convention April
 21.-Hamilton Appeal.
 The democratic state committee met on
 Wednesday and called primaries and con-
 ventions for April. It prescribed the
 qualifications of participants in the pri- maries. Any voter, regardless of past
 party affiliations, who will pledge him.
 self to vote for and support the democrat
 ic party and principles, will be eligible
 to vote in the primary. This is what the Advertiser calls throwing down the bars, but 1t really was a matter of self-preser- vation. Without it there would have been no showing for success in the democratic party in this state. Judging other com munities by this, at least a fourth of those who voted for Oates would not this year vote for a goldbug candidate. Can-
 didate Clarke claims that calling the pri- maries for the middle of April is an in- justice to him, as it does not give him sufficient time to canvass the state. Who is he, anyhow? He must have queer ideas of the province and mission of the democratic party if he considers that it is concerned in individuals, or if it should be solictous about promoting internecine strife The democratic party should pre- pare and provide for fighting the enemy the republicans and populists-and not for fighting each other. We fear Candi- date Clarke has a very exalted apprecia- tion of himself. However, we must rec ognize the fact that he must feel ag- grieved at discovering that Johnston con- trolled the state committee, and much concerned that bimetaliStS would control the state. MT. Clarke Is arranging to canvass this county in oppositioin to MT. Johnston. This is good. Let him let his light shine. If he can convert the people l to monometallism and Clevelandism he is 4~lr l~s. l. Bessemer Weekly.
 According to the call the democratic state executive committee met in Mont gomery on the 21st instant. We doubt if this committee, or any of its prede- cessors, ever had a more satisfactory session. What it did was just the thing to do, and 1t did it's work with no unnec- essary delay and in the kindliest spirit, and as the results will show, for the very best interest of the party It accepted the resignation of Colonel Tompkins as chairman and as a member of the com mittee Being candidate for the United States senate, he could not, with pro- priety, continue his connection with the committee. Appropriate resolutions as | to his faithful services were passed, and | no doubt he retires not only with the | gratitude and good will of the committee, l but of all Alabamians who have ob- served his patriotic devotion to the party | and to the interest of his adopted state. | There were. besides the vacancy occa- | stoned by Colonel Tompkins' resignation, several other vacancies, all of which were | satisfactorily filled. John B. Knox of | Calhoun was chosen chairman, and, sl- | though he may not be 6 'born general" l it is claimed that he has the qualities of | head and heart that fit him well for the l place. Those who know him best have warmly applauded the committee for making so wise selection. He is for | Captain Johnston for governor as are | all the other new members, so that now | the Johnston men have majority of seven on the committee. This is an indi-