The age-herald., 1900-07-15
His Strongest Opponent Was
 George w. Ellis.
THE COMMITTEE IS VERY ACTIVE
Petitions Signed by 500 Citizens Have Been Prepared, and Will be Sent to Every Probate Judge
 in the State

Thomas Lamar Sowell of Walker County has been nominated for State Auditor by the Democrats of Alabama to fill the va- cancy on the State ticket caused by the death of Judge Walter H. Matthews, which occurred at hls Marion County home last Thursday. The nomination was made yes4 terday afternoon by the State Executive Committee, MT. SoweIl winning on the sec- ond ballot
 The campaign committee prepared the necessary petitions with five hundred sigma lures each, to be presented to the Probate Judges of .--e different counties of the State, and by tomorrow night every one of these officials will have been provided with one. The work of getting five hundred qualified voters to attach their names to the petitions was big job, but by the aid and cooperation of Dan A. Greene, Chadr4 man Robert H. Thach of the Jefferson County campaign committee and other Democratic workers Chairman Smith and Secretary Pugn of the State campaign com- mittee succeeded in securing the necessary number of names yesterday, and by mid- night last night everything had been att tended to except the filing of the petitions with the different Probate Judges.
 Candidates Were Active
 The candidates for the nomination and their friends displayed much activity yes- terday morning and up to the time of the converting of the committee. While the majority of the committee would not ex- press themselves on the question, 1t was pretty well known by the time they had all arrived that the race would be between George W. Ellis of Montgomery and Thomas L. Sowell of Walker, with J. Kirk Jackson of Montgomery holding the ball. ance. Just how much strength the latter would develop could not be ascertained un- til the first ballot had been taken.
 So far as could be learned from express- ions heard after the committee adjourned, the nomination of MT. Sowell gives satisfac- ton to the party leaders, and he will poll the full vote of the party in the August election.
 It was ten minutes after l o'clock yes. terday afternoon when Chairman Lowe called the committee to order in the state SebhpoiSh hCauduai III tue MOTHS Hotel. Secretary John c. Pugh called the roll and the following members of the com- mittee answered to their names:
 From the state at large-Robert J. Lowe. chairman, Jefferson; Emmett O'Neal, Lau, derdale; John V. Smith, Russell; Remnant Lomax, Montgomery; Francis L. Pettus, Dallas; T. M Stevens, Mobile; Steve Smith, Sumter; J. Thomas Hefiin, Cham. bers
 From the First District-W. D. Dunn of Clarke.
 From the Second District-B. M. Miller. Wilcox; Bibb Graves, Montgomery. zier of Bullock
 From the Fourth District-H s. D. MaI- lory, Dallas; H. D. Merrill Cleburne; Car son c. Whitson, Taladega.
 From the Fifth District..F. L. Mckenzie, Fillmore; D. M. White, Coosa.
 From the Sixth District-A. F. Smith of Greene
 From the Seventh District-R. A. Mitchell, Etowah; w. w. Haralson, De- z Kalb; T. M. Jones, St. Clair.
 From the Eighth District-Not represent. ed.
 From the Ninth District-E. c. Hall of Blount.
 Chairman Low els Speech
 In calling the committee to order Chair- man Lowe said: You are aware of the sad occasion that has called us together today. young men in the prime of life has been called to his reward. You have been called here today to fill the vacancy on the state ticket caused by his death. The committee is ready for business" MT. Lomax moved that the chairman be instructed to tender to Mrs Matthews the sincere regrets of the committee by wire and that a committee of three be appoint- ed by the chair to draw up suitable resolu- tions on the death of Judge Matthews. The motion was adopted.
 MT. Dunn moved that in making nomina- tions no eulogies be allowed The motion prevailed.
 MT. Graves moved that the committee take up the question of selecting a candi- date for State Auditor, and that majority vote be sufficient to nominate, and that the vote be by vive voce.
 Chairman John V. Smith, of the Cam- paign Committee, opposed the vive voce vote, saying it was contrary to party cus- tom, and moved as a substitute that the vote be by ballot MT. Graves said 1t was a question of great importance to every person in Alabama, and he thought the people should know just how each member of the committed voted.
 vo;ed by Ballot
 Mir Smiths substitute was adopted. The chair announced that the selection of a candidate for State Auditor was next i6