The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-15
Uniform Qualifications.

| John G. Smith and adopted unanimously
| by rising vote.
Uniform Qualifications.
William NJ Sanford of Pike presented
! resolutions relating to the counties which
3, have prescribed qualifications contrary to
the state committee plan. Mr.. Sanford
said in part:
ITO any well-thinking man, the neces-
sity OF having a uniform qualification
throughout the state for the election OF
state officers is apparent en- its face
| Now, you will observe that these resolu-
lions in no way attempt to interfere with
| qualifications fixed for voters In the diff
| ferent counties In regard to the selection
of their county officers. That this COM
mittee does not attempt, and as l under
stand it, will not attempt to interfere
with. But 1t was the intention Of this
committee, when ordering primary cleo
ton for the selection of state candidates.
that the voters In that primary should be
restricted only to candidates for state Of
| fees. 1t was never the intention OF the
majority of this committee to fix any
other qualification, and 1t would be Pc
culiar situation indeed for us to support
candidates who were nominated by vot-
ers who were not Of the democratic
party
1T seems to me that II these resolu-
tons are not perfect we can correct
them. They embody my views upon the
| subject
| John v Smith then spoke in favor of
the resolutions. Among other things Mr.
Smith said: II want to make a sugges-
ton to the committee. The power to fix
| the qualification of voters is attested by
a resolution passed by the state COM
mittee and which I hold in my hand"
Mr.. Smith then read the celebrated
Tompldns resolutions.
"These resolutions were passed by the
| convention which assembled in Montgom-
| cry in 1892" continued Mr.. Smith, and
| they have been the unbroken law of the
party since that day.
| II have been utterly appalled, at read
ing the resolutions which were, passed at
our former meetings, which, If permitted
to stand. will open the door for the great
est frauds that could possibly be perpe-
trated in a Democratic primary.
ut is conceded by all Democrats that
no man shall be allowed to participate in
this primary who is not a qualified voter
under the laws and constitution of Ala
bama. Now, to illustrate my point. Mr..
A. comes up to the polls to cast his vote.
Mr.. B. challenges his vote because he
has not paid his poll tax or because he
has not registered as required by law.
Mr.. B. says that that Is all right, but
the state executive committee has pro-
vided that If he will simply sign a state
ment not under oath, that he is qualified
to vote at this primary and pledges HIM
self to vote for the nominees of this pri-
mary, that 1t is a complete answer to the
challenge, and 1t does not lie in the
power of the county executive committee
to correct 1t, and he is qualified elector.
1t was never intended by this committee
that no man who Is not a qualified voter
under the laws of Alabama should par
ticlpate in this primary
! Mr.. Smith stated that the resolutions
offered by Mr.. Sanford remeded this
defect and moved that a committee of
five be appointed to consider them, and
that they report as soon as possible to
the state executive committee. The chair
appointed William H. Sanford, John ".
Smith, Bib Graves, s. d. Mallory and
r. NJ. Stevens.
The committee retired to consider the
resolutions and after being out about
! forty minutes reported the original reso-
buttons as introduced by Mr.. Sanford
with but few changes
Messrs. Whitson of Talladega, McKen-
zie of Gilmore and Mallory of Dallas
spoke briefly In favor of the resolutions
| as reported by the subcommittee. Mr..
| Sanford of Pike moved the adoption of
the resolutions and they were unani-
mously adopted.
The resolutions are as follows:
The Resolutions.
| Whereas, This committee has hereto
| fore on, to-wit, the 18th day of July last,
ordered democratic primary election
| for the nomination of democratic candi-
| dates for state offices, to be held in the
| several election precincts of the state,
| on the 25th day of the present month";
| and
Whereas, The resolution ordering said
| state primary election also established
uniform qualifications for voters in said
| state primary in all the various election
| precincts in the state, and
| Whereas, The right and power of the
| state executive committee to prescribe
| uniform qualifications for voters was ex-
| pressly conferred upon the state execu-
tive committee by the state convention Of
| the democratic and conservative party
| in 1892 and has been uniformly exercised
by said committee ever since. and
Whereas. 1t has come to the knowledge
of this committee that certain county
committees have disregarded the action
Of the state committee. and have adopted
other and different qualifications from
those established by the state commit