The age-herald., 1898-01-26
CONTRARY TO THE
 ESTABLISHED RULE Action of the Democratic Executive Con- mitt0e of Tuscaloosa County REGARDING ELIGIBLE VOTERS The Subject of Comment Among tha D0m-
 OCratS Of this City. THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Clearly Defined the Rights of Suffrage in Res olutions Adopted One Year Ago on
 Appeal From Mobile for
 a Ruling.
THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The action of the Tuscaloosa county executive committee of the democratic party last Saturday is exciting much comment among local politicians.
 Dispatches from Tuscaloosa stated that the committee had in executive session resolved that no voters who did not sup port Johnston in the state election in 1896 were eligible to vote in the coming proma- ries not even those who voted for Good wyn in the August election but who voted the Bryan-Sewall ticket in the November election, are wanted in the democratic party by Tuscaloosa county.
 This action is exactly contrary to the ruling of the state executive committee, as decided by that body just a year ago. It will be remembered that just after the last presidential election there was a great deal of talk in the state as to who were not democrats.
 The question was appealed to the execu- tive committee by the democrats of Mo- bile, who protested that Palmer and Buck ner men should not be allowed to partici- pate in the mayoralty primaries of that city. The executive committee adopted the following resolution, which applied to the Mobile case, and to all other demo- cratic primaries:
 The Resolutions
 "Whereas, Differences have arisen in diff ferent parts of the state as to who will or who will not be entitled to participate in the future primaries or conventions of the democratic party in this state; and
 "Whereas, For the purpose of securing harmony in the party and uniformity in the matter of qualifications of voters in the primaries of the party. the state conven- tion of the democratic party conferred upon this committee jurisdiction and authority to define the qualifications of voters in the party primaries throughout the state; now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, By the democratic state exec utive committee of the state of Alabama, That we hereby cordially invite all con- servative voters, irrespective of past polit- ical associations or differences, who can unite with us in the effort for pure, eco- nomical and constitutional government and who will support the nominees and princi- ples of the democratic party to participate in the primaries of the party throughout the state
 Resolved, further, That all persons so participating in the primaries, conventions or mass meetings of the party, hereafter to be held, thereby pledge thmselves to support the nominees of such primaries, convention or mass meetings, whether mu- nicipal, county, state or federal.
 Resolved further That it shall be com- potent for the local executive committee of each county to determine whether any other than white voters shall be allowed to participate in said primaries"
 Chairman Gillespie Talks
 ''It is an unfortunate fact" said pr. J. S. Gillespy, chairman of the Jefferson coun- ty executive committee, that so many of the county executive committees are hold .ag their meetings before the meeting of the state executive committee. Not only have some of the counties acted contrary to the settled policy of the party, but they are very likely to do something which will .iot be in accord with the state committee when 1t meets next month.
 -Tuscaloosas action in prohibiting all anti-Johnston voters from taking part in the coming primaries is entirely wrong. Why should Goodwin supporter, who afterward supported Bryan and Sewell, be kept out of the party, when the Palmer and Buckner men, although they did vote for Johnston, are willingly received?
 '"The policy of the party, as outlined in the resolution of the state executive com- mittee one year ago, is, to my mind, ex- actly right and should be strictly adhered to by all the counties"
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