The age-herald., 1900-06-09

Tomlinson stated the plan suggested by the national committee.
 MT. Graves of Montgomery offered a reso- 1ution urging democrats of the state to contribute to the national campaign fund and the resolution was adopted.
 Fourth District Protest
 The Fourth district protest was called on motion of MT Mallory of Dallas, and Mr. Whtson of Talladega, on behalf of a ma jority of the committee, asked for further time. The question of jurisdiction was raised.
 MT. Bowie of Calhoun said the only aues- ton, as he understood it, to be settled at this time was that of the committees iu- risdiction. He suggested that the commit tee settle that question before adjourn ing.
 MT. Pottus of Dallas was in favor of ac- ton at once, and he urged that the com mittee pass on the contest at the meeting then being held.
 Mir. Whitson of Talladega moved as a substitute that consideration of the appeal be postponed
 The substitute was laid on the table
 On motion of Mir Lomax of Montgom- cry each side was allowed thirty minutes in which to present it's case.
 John B. Knox of Calhoun presented the appeal, which was as follows:
 To the State Executive Committee.
 Gentlemen-The district executive com mittee of the Fourth congressional dis trict has called a general primary election In the district for the nomination of congressman From this action an appeal mas been taken to the state executive com mittee.
 l have been for many years past chair man of the county executive committee of Dallas county, and feel a deep in terest in everything pertaining to the well fare of the democratic party in state and county and national affairs.
 l think that this action of the congress slonal committee. if sustained, will very greatly tend to demoralize the democrats Of this county. I do not think that the committee had the right to order the primary and if they had the policy is un- wise.
 We had a primary in that district in 1894, which was set aside by the state executive committee and the delegates to the convention ordered to reassemble. That primary is fresh in the memory of every one, and argument is not needed to show the want of wisdom in repeating the ex- oeriment.
 Hoping that you may vote for and urge the setting aside of this primary, we are, yours truly,
 w. w. BURNS, Chairman
 We, the undersigned members of the dem ocratic executive committee of Dallas county, heartily endorse the above
 w. A. Allen, c. c. Grayson, w. C. Phil lips, D. B. Martin, l.. D. Mullen, J. F. Orr, D. w. Lott, R. H. Bradfield, w. J. Sherley, r. w. Johnson, T. l.. Barker, w. B. Moore and w. D. Pickering.
 Tompkins' Resolution
 In support of his claim that the state committee has jurisdiction in this case, MT Knox read the resolution adopted by the state convention in 1892 and known as the Iompkins resolution, which specifically stated that the state committee had au- thority to fix qualifications of voters and to prescribe rules governing congressional pri- maries or conventions In 1894 he said the committee conferred upon the county ex- ecutlVe committees power to regulet ta the selection of delegates of congressional con- ventions. This, he said in answer to a question by MT. Lomax of Montgomery was, In his opinion, intended to apply only to that year, but, he continued the same resolutions were adopted in 1896. The reso- luton provided that each county committee should have power to prescribe method of expressing choice for congressional nominee of the democrats of their respective conn ties. The county committees could order ei'her primaries or conventions. The same provisions, he said were made by the state committee in 1898.
 Clepurne county has already selected dele gates to the congressional convention Cal houn and Dallas joined Cleburne in the nro- test or appeal rom the action of the dis trlct committee in ordering a general pri- mary to be held on August 20
 Dr. B. Dudley Williams of Calhoun can dldate for congress imthe Fourth district, spoke in opposition to the appeal He said that a large proportion of the democrats of the district favor a primary election for the selection of a candidate for congress- He said the conventions held in the dis trict had resulted in deadlocks and dis satisfaction and for that reason the full democratic strength could not be boiled He said that the sentiment in favor of primaries is growing in the state, and the time is coming when there will be fair primaries, united parties and triumphant victories. He said it was the cus- tom in this state and others for congress- ional committees to call conventions or primaries.
 election ordered in the Ninth district say ing the committee had violated the pro- visions prescribed by the state committee. MT. Pettus interrupted Dr. Williams to say that the primary in the Ninth district was called by the convention, and he said the same condition existed in the Sixth district.
 Dr. Williams concluded his plea in be- half of the contestees, appealing to the committee not to reverse the action of the district committee.
 MT. Knox replied to Dr. Williams call Ing attention to the provision TOT the Fourth district primary that the candidate receiving a plurality of the votes shall be the nominee He said that the qualifica- tions for voters prescribed by the district committee were contrary to the qualica- tions prescribed for voters by the state convention.
 On motion of MT Lomax of Montgomery the committee at o'clock went into ecutive session.
 Action Reversed
 In the executive session the committee reversed the action of the Fourth district committee in ordering a primary election for the spurpose of selecting nominee for congress-. The following resolution was adopted:
 Resolved. That the appeal from the &C., ton of the Fourth congressional commit tee be sustained and the action of said com mittee be and the same is hereby reversed for want of Jurisdiction.
 Resolved further, That said committee be directed to reconyene and call a conYen-