The age-herald., 1900-09-25
BREWER REFUSES
 TO JOIN APPEAL
With Colonel Thompson in the
 Fifth District.
THOMPSON MAY ACT ALONE
Asked Congressman Brewer to Unite With Him in Request to Executive Committee to Judge Wfois
 the Regular Nominee

Congres snan Willis Brewer of the Fifth District has declined to join Col Charles " Thompson in an appeal to the State Democratic Executive Committee to judge between those two leaders as to which of them is the regular Democratic nominee for thc Fifty-sepenth Congress.
 Following the suggestion of the State Democratic Campaign Comanitte tee, Colonel Thompson wrote this letter, that is to say:
 Colonel Thompson's Letter
 Birmingham, Ala, Sept, 19, 1900. Hon. Willis Brewer. Haynevi1le, Ala:
 Sir-I have today been ha4sed a copy of the resolution adopted by the campaign committee on yesterday in which 1t stated in substance that said committee has no jurisdiction to decide the matter of differ ences now existing in the Fifth GorlSres- sional District, or to determine who Is the regular nominee In said district, and sug- gesttng that the matter be left to the State Executive Committee to be decided when properly brought before it on appeal; and further stating, in the belief of said com mittee, that the best interests of the party demand that each or both of the parties claiming to be the nominee should appeal to the State Executive Committee.
 Being loath to pursue a course which in the opinion of the campaign committee would inJurieusly effect the integrity of the party and being anxious to restore and preserve harmony ih the party, therefore, in accordance with the above suggestion, request that you unite with me in an appeal to the State Executive Committee of the Democratic party, in order that said com mittee may determine which of us Is the regular nominee.
 Awaiting your reply, beg to remain, very respectfully c. ". THOMPSON.
 Yesterday Colonel Thompson received a rap1x- frap, Copora ccyn Rraver which hh communicated forthwith to his personal representative, Hon Frank s. White, of Birmingham, who gave a copy of it to The Age-Herald. The reply reads:
 Gungressman nrewer's Letter
 Montgomery, Ala, September A, 1900.
 Sir: Yesterday afternoon 1 received your letter of the 18th instant You wish me to unite with you in an appeal to the State Executive Committee fin order that said committee may determine which of us is the regular nominee of the party etc. You further say that you are 'loath to pursue course which, in the opinion of the Campaign Committee would injurious ly affect the integrity of the party etc., etc. Tn answer, must say that have not heard that the Campaign Committee eX- pressed an opinion that your "course would injuriously affect the integrity of the party" l would be pleased to know when and where they expressed it. If true your loathing to pursue such course is fully Justified and you should carry it into ef feet by abandoning your candidacy. If I was convinced (and I am open to convic- tion) that l was injuriously affecting the integrity of the party then would prompt ly join you in retiring altogether, and with you agree to allow some Democrat other than you myself to be made the candidate of the party. But I am of the opinion that I shall again lead the party to success, and that your candidacy will af feet the integrity of the opposition party as much as it will that of our own; more- over, your recent statement in the evening paper of this town that you would not ap peal to the State Committee, and as three weeks have elapsed since your grievance arose after the action of the district con- vention on August 18th, has leff me to be- gin organization of my canvass. which is needful For my part, have no griev ance which seems to me to require any action of the State Committee, and while 1 have the highest opinion of and respect for the judgment and authority of the com Inittee, see no adequate motive in uniting with you in an appeal to them or further troubling them on a question which I am not afraid for the people to decide, espe- ciaHy as you have the privilege to appeal without my cooperation.
 1 will further say that if the state com mittee should hold that I am not the reg ular nominee of the party, I will abide it's decision with the same fealty which have ever shown toward the behest of the party in which I am a veteran. Yours, etc, w. BREW FER.
 To c. w Thompson, Tuskegee.
 What Next?
 In all probability Colonel Thompson will himself now appeal to the state executive committee. He very properly paid his op- ponent the courtesy of asking for a joint appeal, and thereby he abded by the sug- gestion made in formal resolution by the campaign committee.
 Congressman Brewer declines to meet him half way towards settlement of a dispute which threatens the loss of a Dem ocratic seat in Congress and causes grave disturbance to the Democratic party in Alabama; declines to take a step which might result in personal sacrifice; and that leaves Colonel Thompson's way per- fectly clear. Possibly Colonel Thompson