The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-11

the votes cast. This declaration was APP
plauded.
Mr. Whitson said that under the Tomp-
kins resolution adopted by the State Con-
yention in 1892, the State Committee was
empowered to order primaries. and in the
exercise of Its functions it had an equal
right to refer the matter to the people to
select their candidates by direct vote as
well as by Convention.
Mr.. Whitson's argument was made In
a direct concise and thoughtful manneV'
and at its conclusion he was warmly APP
plauded.
Mr.. T. NJ. Stevens. tbe Mobile member
of the Committee. followed Mr.. Whltson
in a lengthy argument against the prl-
mary plan. He caused considerable COM
ment in the course of his remarks ny
imputing dishonesty to the newspapers OF
the State in their support of primary.
Later in the day Mr.. Whitson challenged
Mr.. Steyens's structures upon the news
papers. ..~,,v
an the argument of Mr.. Whitson, the
mower of the State COMMITTEE is wltnout
Limitation. The committee. ne salo' was
not the whole thing. 1t was merely inc
servant of the convention. u was INC
hi. tory Of Alabama politics that the state
Committee had been criticised for as
sumntion of authority. This unwarrant-
ed assumption of authority by the COM
nittee had been discussed more than any
thing else in Alabama politics IN recent
years. 1t har become such a sore polht
that some time ago subcommittee hao
been appointed to define the party law
and the duty of the committee Ii nus
recollection served him right, ne saiu'
Mr.. whftson had voted for the appoint
hi subj committee.
committee had made a report. ana the
State Committee had adopted 1t, and had
recommended to the State Convention
that this party law be confirmed. 1t had
said in erect that the State Convention
and not the State Committee should make
the party law.
The Whole Question. .
The whole question Mr.. Stevens said
hinged upon whether the committee had
power to do something which it was not
authorized to do, and the question an
swered itself.
Mr.. Hall of Blount asked Mr.. Stevens
II the Tompkins resolution did not pro-
vide that the committee was empowered
to care for the general welfare" of the
party.
MIR. Stevens replied that he construed
the Tompkins resolution to mean that the
committee could pass only upon the CUES
ton of calling primaries in the counties
He declared he would never sacrifice
principles to expediency. Politics might
mean expediency to others, but 1t did not
mean expediency to him. 1t had been said
that So per cent. of the Democrats of Ala
hama wanted a primary. This statement,
Mr. Stevens said he did not believe. The
committee was not a representative body.
1t did not come fresh from the people,
and the members had no way of knowing
what the people wanted. The convention
plan was the only way in his opinion to
get at the wishes of the people. Unless
convention was ordered, the rights of the
people would be disposed of by thirty-five
men composing the committee. He said
he pleaded for the people when he plead
ed with the committee to order a con-
vention. The abolition OF convention he
thought would place Alabama almost in
. the condition of a monarchy.
"A primary might work well one year;
1t might work well two years." exclaimed
Mr. Stevens, but about the third year
there would be a cry of usurpation on the
part of this committee. There would be
no party law except the conscience OF
the committee. there would be no party
machinery except upon the direction of
the committee.
81 have been told. Mr.. Chairman" con-.
tinued Mr. Stevens, that IL a conVen-
ton Is called. our enemies within the
party and without the party will make
trouble. live away down yonder in Mo-
bile, where il is said we are entirely out
of the State. but I will say that we feel
an interest in the Democratic Party. |
will tell you deliberately if we lose ev-
cry one of the State officers If we lose the
United States Senatorship by having a
convention, l would be conscious of hay
ing saved our principle"
Mr.. Stevens said he had no sympathy
nor patience with the clamor to yield to
people who were already enemies of the
party He did not believe in buying the
votes and support of porty of men by
sacrificing to them the principles of the
party. He knew this was poor talk for a
politician but he said he was in the habit
OF saying that which bis conscience and
his integrity directed.
AS to Newspapers.
Then Mr.. Stevens came to his statement
concerning the newspapers. These words