The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-12
PLAN FOR PRIMARY ELECTION
Is UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED
Continued from First Paee)

Continued from First Page)
have the names of all candidates for state
offices and for the state committee.
Section provided that the state COM
mittee should be composed of four men,
bers from each Congressional district
with a chairman to be elected by the
committee. The committeeman were to
serve for four years, and In each district
no two should be from the same county.
Section 10 required a list of the regis
tered electors and those VINO mad paid
their poll taxes to be furnished the man.
ayers of elections.
Section IL required the candidates for
each office to file a written notice of their
candidacy with the chairman of the state
committee not later than August I.
Section twelve prescribed the qualifica-
tions of those who could vote This al
lowed every white man to vote who by
law was entitled to vote for members of
the general assembly provided,
First-That he believed in the principles
of the Democratic party and pledged him
self to vote for the nominees.
Section-Those who had supported the
Democratic nominees in the last election
for State and county officers. An offer
to vote in the primary should be consid-
cred pledge to support the nominees.
Any qualified voter could challenge a
vote, in which event the one offering to
vote must sign a pledge to support the
nominees of the party.
Section thirteen provided that If none
of the inspectors opened the polls any
three qualified electors should open the
polls and hold the election.
Section fourteen provided for the, oath
of the inspectors.
Fixes Date of Election.
AS soon as the report was read John
v Smith moved that it be considered by
sections. This motion was adopted and
section one was read which fixed the date
of election on August IS. Mr.. Graves
of Montgomery moved to amend the Sec
ton by fixing the election for September
s. He said 1t would be impossible for
the candidates to canvass the State In
thirty days which was about all the
working time allowed them. On motion
of Mr.. Sanford of Pike this amendment
was tabled by a vote of 20 to 7.
Mr.. ONeal of Lauderdale moved to
amend the section by fixing the first
monday in September as the date for the
election. He said it would not be right
to force a primary at as early a date
as August Is, as it would not give the
candidates a chance to canvass the state
and present their claims to the voters.
Fixing the election at so early a date
would look like attempt by the COM
mittee to forestall the action of certain
candidates. 1t would take until August
10 to prepare the list of registered voters.
All that he wanted was fair play and
an equal chance for all.
Mr.. Stevens of Mobile spoke In reply
to Mr.. O'Neal saying that he did not
| know that candidates had any vested
lrirx &c IN ha 1af -
days was ample time to enable any voter
| to find out who he wished to vote for,
and that IL he did not have sense enough
to make a choice by this time he ought
not to be allowed to vote. The section
contemplates three primaries and an cleo
ton should be held as early as possible.
| Mr.. O'Neal then amended his motion
by fixing August 25 as the day for an
election and this was adopted.
Sections >. 3, and were then read
and adopted without debate.
| Section which contained the dates for
the second and third primary were re-
ferred to q committee of three to ar
range them and report back.
| Section Z relating to the preparation of
! ballots was adopted with an amendment
of John v. Smith which authorized the
chairman of the state committee to as
sess the candidates for the cost of print
! ing the ballots.
Section eight relating to the form of
ballots, was amended so as to allow the
county committees, If they saw fit. to
add to the official ballots the names OF
the county officials.
A Lively Debate.
| Section nine which related to the cleo
| ton of the members of the executive
committee, was then read and led to a
| lively debate between Mr.. Lowe of JEFF
! fersOn prd Mr. Hall of R1nunt
| Mr.. Lowe said that the section ignored
entirely the basis of representation as 1t
existed in all our legislative bodies He
said thst his county had within 1900 or
| $1,000 population of a Congressional dis
trict; that the intention of the report was
| to provide that only one member should
| come from a county. Jefferson county
| Ind sly vntea In the I.enislatIlre and she