Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-25

as to a plan for selecting candidates.
Communications from citizens would al
so be heard.
The following letter from Mr.. George
C. Kelly was handed the secretary to be
read:
Birmingham, Aug. %, 1896.
To the City Democratic Executive Com
mittee-
Gentiemen: In reference to our munic :
ipal election, it appears to the writer that
the most feasible, and satisfactory plan
that could be devised for the selection of
candidates for mayor and aldermen
would be for each ward to call meeting
of its voters-the meetings of all the
wards to be held the same evening, at the
same hour, at some suitable place in each
ward-and in these meetings, by ballot or
otherwise, select two candidates for al
dermen TO represent their wards, and also
said meetings to select candidates for city
executive committeeman, and appoint
Two or more representa- tive citizens of
each ward to afterward meet together
and select a suitab BILE candidate for mayor.
l think If the above plan is adopted and
perfected it would give more universal
satisfaction and prove successful, pro-
vided the representative citizens of our
city are selected for the purpose desig
mated. Respectfully submitted,
GEO. C. KELLY.
Mr.. John Harrington thought the plan
81 good one.
Il y.
toned democratic primary, as also did
Mr.. J. j. Curran.
Mr. w. f. Smith stated that he had
heard expressions from a great many
who favored primary.
Mr.. M. p. Messer said he lived in the
Second ward, and the citizens thereof
were almost universally in favor of each
ward selecting it's own candidates for
aldermen and executive committeeman
and delegations to a convention for a
candidate for mayor
Mr.. Harrington stated that two of the
candidates for mayor were present and
said he would like to hear their opinions.
Mr.. Phil Harris did not see why candi-
dates should be drawn into discussion
of such a nature. He favored the Kelly
plan
Mr.. Harrington gave as his reason for
calling upon the candidates that they had
not only their own interests a t stake, but
those of every citizen and the city itself.
Mr.. H. L. Underwood said that since
the candidates had been called upon he
felt that he should speak. He prefaced
his remarks by saying he was candi-
date for mayor. He was willing to SUBJ
nit to any plan in the wisdom of the COM
mittee, as he knew they would do moth
ing save for the best interests of the city,
and when the plan would be submitted
and accepted by the general committee
he would be pleased to abide by 1t in the
interest of the entire people.
Mr.. Frank V. Evans said he, too, was
a candidate for the mayoralty nominal
ton and would submit to any plan adopt
ed. Referring to the Kelley plan he said
he found grave objection as regards the
selection of a candidate for the mayor
atty and for one he should object to 1t.
He was perfectly willing for each ward
to select its own aldermen and commit
teemen and also wanted the people to say
for themselves who should be the mayor
atty candidate 81 want the men," he
said, who ballot for aldermen to ballot
for mayor. 1t would be unfair for any or
all of the candidates to have five or more
men say who should be the candidate for
mayor because they are not on parity.
/ don't feel that it would be in order to
suggest plan, but want every man to
vote and have every vote counted"
Mr. p. Cosminsky favored the old-fash-
Toned primary, and gave his reasons for
objecting to the Kelley plan as regards
the mayor.
Mr. j. J Curran suggested that the peo-
pie vote for the candidates and the COM
mittee say who should vote.
r Mr.. Harrington favored straight
white primary and every man be pledged
to stand by the results
Mr. J. II. Miller, on being called upon,
said he was member of the committee
and had as yet no plan to Offer desiring
to hear from the people. He felt sure the
committee would adopt a plan fair and
square and satisfactory to all concerned
after hearing the sense of the people.
Mr.. Cosminsky was in favor of the pri-
mary with a pledge that every voter in
the primary stand, by the nominees.
Goats were out of order and the time was
at hand when democracy must stand to-
gether, not as two years ago, but in re-
atty. The time hadDpassed when men
could go to the primary and cast vote
and then bolt the ticket on the day of
general results. He was democrat and
did not desire to have his vote cut down
by that of a man who did not propose to
stand by the results.
Mr.. Dunn reiterated his first statement
as to an old-fashioned primary and said
"let white democrats get together"
The chairman then asked If there were
any others present who desired to be
heard, and there being no response mo-
ton from Mr.. Brown prevailed to go into
executive session.
The committee then prepared report
to be heard at the regular meeting Of the
executive committee.
A Contradiction.
Gadsden. Aug. 24.-iSpecial)-In your