The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-10
STATE COMMITTEE MAY
MEET TO ACT ON PLAN
OF MARSHALL COUNTY
Executive Committee in Several
Counties Let Down Bars Vio-
Iating Instructions from the
State Chairman.
Lowe Says They Must Correct
the Matter or He viii Call
Together the Executive Com
mittee for Action.

llllll66 lUI HCllUllI
It now appears highly probable that
Chairman Lowe will call meeting of
the state executive committee to take
action In the matter Of the ignoring by
Marshall. st. Clair and other counties
of the resolution by the state committee
that none but democrats should parti-
oipate in the coming primary. The
executive committees of these counties
have entirely disregarded this resolution
and have thrown down the bars, so to
speak, and invited all qualified voters
to participate in the primary.
The following letter. addressed to J. NJ
Meigs of Marshall county, by Chairman
Love- in reply to a communication from
Mr.. Meigs, requesting an opinion on the
call issued by the democratic county
executive committee of Marshall coun-
ty, explains the state committees atti-
tude in this matter:
Dear Slr-I am in receipt of your re-
cent favor requesting my opinion "as
TO the call issued by the committee in
this county. First, does the resolution,
In your opinion, change the qualification
of voters; second, If so, does the resolu-
ton endanger the returns of the county
by the probable throwing out of the
countys returns?" The resolution re-
ferred to Is as follows:
Whereas, fixing the qualifications of
participating in democratic primaries,
according to the requirements of local
conditions, has long been a prerogative
wisely vested in the county committee;
and
Whereas. we are not ready to sur
render this right and power; therefore,
be it
Resolved. That all white men who
will be qualified electors at the next
election, irrespective of past political af-
hliations, who will unite with us in an
effort for pure, economical and constitu-
uonal government by all white people,
and who will support the nominees, are
hereby cordially invited to participate
in the primary on August o. 1902, for
the nomination Of a state ticket"
In attempting to answer your questions
In the order in which they are propounded
l respectively submit that the answer
to the first question is contained in the
preamble as above set out as well as In
the body of the resolution itself. In the
reading of the resolution no room for
doubt is left that the purpose was to
change the qualification of voters as
made by the state committee The quail
ihcations prescribed by the county COM
mittee in Marshall are different from
those prescribed by the state commit
tee, and amount to a notification of the
act of the state committee
In replying to your second question,
l shall not undertake to forecast the
action of the state committee, but 1t Is
evident to anyone that it will present a
very serious question for the state COM
mtttee to determine, and l hope the mat
ter will not go so far. l hope that all
the county committees will see the wis
dom and justice Of the provision pre-
scribing uniform qualifications for voters
in the various counties of the state. All
the democrats of the state will be ex-
pected to unite in the election of the
candidates to be nominated on the 25th
of August The populites and republicans
should be permitted to vote in all the
counties in this democratic primary, or
they should not be permitted to vote In
any OF the counties. The statement in
the preamble, namely, Whereas, fixing
the qualifications of participants In demo-
cratic primaries according to the require
ments of local conditions has long been
a prerogative wisely vested In the county
committee" is totally incorrect in every
line and letter. The right to prescribe uni
form qualifications for voters in demo-
cratic primaries for nomination of state
officers was long ago expressly confer
red upon the state executive committee
and has been uniformly exercised by
that committee without question or con-
troversy
The premises as I have shown, are not
true and the resolution ought to be
reseinded. Democrats and every democrat
in each county ought to have the right
to vote. and have his vote counted In a
democratic primary. To permit republi-
cans and populists by their vote in Mar
shall county TO cancel democratic votes
in other counties Of the state would be
a violation of this elementary proposition.
The action of the committee in Marshall
and two or three other counties along
the same line can only lead to discord
and strife, and cannot promote the cause
of fair elections and party harmony.
Yours truly, ROBERT ]. LOWE,
Chairman
Chairman Lowe was seen last night
as he was leaving the city for Blount
Springs, and In reply to a question re-
garding this matter, stated:
II consider it the duty of the state ex-
ecutive committee to provide plan un-
der which there can be a fair express
sion OF the democrats of the state. There
would be danger under the plan present.
ed In Marshall county If contest should
arise there, and 1t should be made to APP
pear to the committee that the rules and
regulations prescribed by the state COM
mittee had been utterly ignored and dis
regarded, and acting upon this evidence
the committee should throw out the re-
would be practically to deprive the DEM
ocrats in that county of an opportunity
to express their choice for state officers.
What will be done about it," was
asked.
IT am undecided what I will do about
it." replied Mr.. Lowe. 'If the matter
does not correct itself, then 1 am in
clined to believe that n meetinp of tba