The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-11

years ago. hut that It was
a body to take care Of the party during
an inter regnum, so to speak, and that 1t
had the power to refer questions directly
to the people Conditions had changed,
and the great mass of people wanted a
chance to express their choice directly.
In primary there was no basis of repre-
sentation, but each Demo erat was equal
to any other. He opposed calling a white
primary without the word Democratic.
Oily those Democrats, he said, who were
tried and true should vote, and he thought
the Winning candidates should have
majority of all votes.
T. M. Stevens of Mobile said If this was
an executive committee and not the
whole party it was then only body to
attend to routine matters and had no
power to abolish conventions and call a
primary The committee had frequent
ly been criticised by the press for doing
things which it had no power to do. If
the committee abolished the convention
the people would have no way to be
heard. A convention was the only organ
lied way for the people to express them
selves.
Approaching Monarchy.
To put the entire power and govern
ment of the party in the hands of thirty
five men, unaccountable to any one is
approaching very closely to form OF
monarchy.
He then took up the subject of the
press, saying he had great respect for the
press-more so as a shaper of public SEN
timent than reflector of it. Yet when
1t was considered what demands were
made by the press the committee ought
to use their common sense as in all other
matters.
He then described the management OF
some newspapers and said that the edi-
tor was on salary paid by the business
office and that the right kind of an inter
view with the business manager would
be supurbly and magnifcently reflected
In the editorials.
He did not believe the majority of the
Democrats wanted a primary, but If So
have one, but this committee had no pow
er to order it-it would have to oe done
by the party in convention assembled
He was applauded as he concluded.
e. C. Hall Of Blount then spoke saying
that the committee had authority to
call primary under the Tompkins reso-
luton, but If not, the convention which
elected this committee was dead and
gone, leaving the power of the party in
the hands of the committee.
The committee then, on motion of Mr..
Sanford, adjourned until 8 O'clock
Afternoon Session.
The committee met at o'clock, B. M
Miller of Wilcox presiding Secretary
Pugh read communication relative to
the two executive committees of Gilmore
county, each of which claimed to be
the regular committee. This set forth
that an agreement had been reached and
the fpllovptrp q ha
committee for the county: r. L. Slough,
F. A. Boswell, J. G. Jackson, John E.
Jones, ]. S. Bentley, A. @. Estes, Geo.
D. Patterson, ]. T. Edwards, Demp
Lyle, Jr., and w. H. Macon. This COM
mittee will hold until a new committee
is elected. This agreement was ratified by
the state executive committee
Emmett O'Neal of Lauderdale then
spoke in favor of primary saying that
no matter how the demand for pri-
mary first originated, 1t now had behind
1t the overwhelming mass of Democratic
voters. The new constitution had elimin-
ated the negro from politics made pure
election possible. Old conditions no long
er prevailed and the primary will give
to every white Democrat In the state the
same voice in the election of officials.
Has Inherent Power.
The state committee has the inherent
power to adopt any measure which will
secure an honest expression of the wish
es of the Democratic party. (Applause).
The committee was created for the pur-
pose of meeting just such an emergency
as this, and yet they say that we have
not the power to do-what? To comply
with the wishes of the people. Cap
plause)
A. E. Smith Of Greene spoke against
a primary, saying that the committee had
no power to order one. He did not think
the committee should set aside the estab-
lished precedent of half a century
Mr.. Whitson Of Talladega then replied
to Mr.. Stevens speech and read the
Tompxins resolution, which gave to the
executive committee the power to pre-
serve the integrity OF the party. This he
claimed gave the committee the right
to call a primary under the present cir
cumstances.
Whitson Defends Press.
Replying to Mr.. Stevens remarks about
the press, Mr.. Whitson said that he did
not believe there was single newspaper
In tho state which had been improperly
influenced in the matter of a demand for
primary. He paid tribute to the press
of the state and spoke of the valiant SER
vice they had always made for the Dem
ocratic cause.
Mr.. Lowe at this point resumed the
chair. and Mr.. Mallory followed Mr..
Whitson and spoke again in favor of a
convention. He said he might be taking a
side that was unpopular but that he was
doing what he thought was right. Gap
plause)
Mr.. Stevens then moved that when the
committee adjourn it adjourn to meet
at o'clock, and that no vote be taken