The age-herald., 1899-09-03
PRIMARIES AND
 THEIR AUTHORITY Col w. H. Lawson Gives His
 Views of Party Law. NO NEED OF UNDUE ALARM Yellow Fever Situation is Being Care fully Watched by the State Health
 Officers, and Will Not Be
 Allowed to Spread.
NO NEED OF UNDUE ALARM

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel Mabson, Montgomery, September 2-CSpecial)-lne question of the right of county committees to order primaries in advance of the action of the state committee is one of the ivest political topics being discussed at the eapl- tai. It is generally accepted here that county committees have no such right, as state committee, vested with power by a state convention has the only right to fix dates and say who shall participate in the primaries for the election of state candidates. Colonel w. II. Lawson, for many years member of the state execu- tive committee, in discussing the question this morning, said:
 "The authority to call democratic pri- maries for the selection of delegates to the state convention, fixing the time when the same shall be held, and the qualifiea- ts ms of those entitled to participate is vest ed entirely and absolutely in the demo- cratic state executive committee, and whenever a democratic county executive committee undertakes to call primaries for the selection of delegates to. the state convention it is usurpaton of authority and will not be tolerated, if done in de- udIce Ol tHe Stdle cOinlIlleS
 'The state committee has excepted coun- ties that acted prior to the call of the state committee but they will not except coun- ties that act in defiance of the authority of the state committee. It is apparent to me that the action of the Jackson county democratic committee is in defiance of the democratic state committed, and the dam age that may result depends upon the num- Der of counties that join Jackson county in it's usurpation and rebellion against the organized democracy. It is the initiative step to a split in the next democratic state conv vention.
 ''The delegates selected under the call of the democratic state committee will have prima facie rights to seats in the state convention, and the delegates selected under the call of the democratic county committees will come up as contesting delegates, with the chances of their being denied seats in the convention, as perm anently organized. It will depend upon the number of such contesting delegates and the feeling existing among the other dele gates as to whether there will be a split in the convention.
 If the action of the democratic commit tee of Jackson county is not in defiance of the state committee then 1t should be re- convened and eliminate from it's call the selection of delegates to the state conven- ton If it refuses or fails to do so, the democrats of Jackson county that intend to act with the organized democracy should hold a mass meeting and avow their in- tention not to participate in the selection of delegates to the state convention under the call of the county committee. The ac- ton of counties in advance of the state committee is dangerous move, and should not be tolerated by organizezd democrats. Independent action on the part of the counties cannot result in anything but strife and division in the ranks of the par ty If we expect to remain united party we must act in harmony we must ob- serve discipline, and have one rule for all. Independent action is the breeder of strife, Reorganization and demoralization, and those so acting aiding it cannot be look ing to the welfare of the party. The in dividual democrat does not exercise his in- dependence Individuality and opinions un- der the rules and customs adopted by the authority of his party, and from this there should be no variance. Whenever he un- dertakes independent action. in violation of the rules and customs of the party. he be- comes a disorganizer. and is without the pale of the party"