The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-19
CAFFEE WANTS
PEOPLE TO VOTE.
10 Say at Polls Whether Con-
stitut0naI Convention
SHOULD Be A PARTY ISSUE
Argues That the Democratic
Convention
HAD NO RIGHT TO MAKE 1T SUCH
Appeals to Executive Committee to
Call Another One.
CHAIRMAN LOWE MAKES REPLY
Asserts That the Call Has Already
Been Made Party Issue by the
Executive Committee and
State Convention.
Appeals to Executive Committee to
Call Another One.
CHAIRMAN LOWE MAKES REPLY

A. e. Caffee of Marion, Perry county
formerly a senator, but a railroad COM
missioner, having been recently appointed
by Governor Johnston, sends commune
cation to the Age-Herald appealing to the
state democratic executive committee to
call county primaries and state conven-
tion to enable the party to vote on the
proposition of making the constitutional
convention call party issue. Mr.. Caffee
calls on Chairman Lowe to reply to this on
behalf of the committee.
In an interview last night, after reading
the Caffee appeal, Mr.. Lowe said the call
had already been made party issue. The
communication and the interview follow:
Threatening Trouble
Marion, Ala, April Is, 1899
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
The constitutional convention ques-
tion is threatening trouble in our party
ranks. 1t can be avoided. If it is ad-
mitted that the platform adopted by
the state convention is an order for
democrats to support the constitutional
convention, it must also be admitted
that the delegates to the said state con-
vention were not elected by the people
with the understanding that the ques-
tion of making the constitutional con-
vention a party measure would be
brought before the state convention
hence the delegates had no power to
vote on question of which the people
who sent them had no idea, and ex-
pressed no opinion.
To avoid trouble and set at rest the
charges of trickery and partisanship
that both sides are making-and it is
surely wisdom to do so-let the demo-
cratic state executive committee imme-
diately call democratic primaries and a
state convention for the purpose of al
lowing the democrats of Alabama to
say whether or not the constitutional
convention shall be made party issue.
If primaries are called on May 2, and
delegates elected to attend a democrat
ic state convention to be held at Mont
gomery on May for the sole purpose
of determining the attitude of the de-
mocracy of Alabama on the constitu-
tional convention, the problem will be
satisfactorily and harmoniously solved
and the majesty and power of our great
party will be asserted openly and fairly
and intelligently and promptly obeyed
by every democrat In the state.
If, on the other hand an attempt is
mace TO DdmDOOZI6 ana nOOuW1nK DEM
ocrats into the belief that they are un-
der party orders, there will be useless
and unwise party strife in our ranks,
and the men who attempt to engineer
1t through will feel the strong hand OF
displeasure and resentment laid upon
their heads. l am for unity of party.
1t can only become an assured and a
permanent fact by honest and fair
party laws, honestly and fairly admin
hu hn hicrl of 1artu
The rank and file of democracy will be
satisfied with nothing less. To this
appeal l respectfully request a reply
from the democratic state executive
committee through Its patriotic chair
man, Hon. r. j. Lowe.
A. e. CAFFEE.
Chairman loves Reply
"I have just seen Judge A. E. Caffee's
appeal said Mr.. Lowe. Judge Caffee's S
position in the state and as a recognized
party leader entities him to a reply from
me. 1t will not be denied that state con-
vention has the highest authority to speak
for the party on all questions which it is
called to consider The state convention
has spoken unequivocally by a vote of 2
to l committing the party to a constitu-
tional convention.
"The demand for a constitutional con-
vention is strengthened by the earnest and
eloquent words of the first message sent
by our governor to the general assembly
soon after his inauguration. A majority Of
democrats In both houses, according to my
memory, at that time favored the call. At
the last session of tho general assembly
the bill was passed by the votes of demo-
Gratis in the general assembly. Subsequent-
ly the state executive committee at its
meeting in Montgomery unanimously en-
dorsed tho call and advised against any
change in the bill providing for consti-
tutional convention. Thereafter the state
executive committee called the state con-
vention.
''It is inconcelvable that a convention to
nominate candidates should be Without the
power to adopt a platform. Nearly every
county convention that was held expressly
recognized the right of the state convention
to adopt platform by instructing its dele
gates as to certain provisions that Should