The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-29
Demand for a State Primary

If one is permitted to judge from what he hears, these things they are determ- ined to have.
 II has urged and argued that the cry for a primary comes only from the dis gruntied; If the political managers and politicians will only put their ears to the ground they will discover that such is not the case The present demand for a primary is a public outcry from the white people, without distinction as to whether they were for or against the Constitution, for test of the truth of the promises made that the elimination of tho negro would bring honest prfrn- aries and elections, They want and de- mand that his frsue shall bc tried in tho open, and until 1t is done there will be dread and discontent.
 One acquainted with the recent politi- cal history of the state. and of Jefferson county. can understand the smile of in- credulity that wreathes the faces of the men who have been guilty of frauds, and tho SC who havc proi1ted by them. when 1t ls suggested that an honest election or primary, Is possible. Those to whom I have spoken laugh at the idea. If their assumption is true the state Is certainly in lamentable condition, and with the masses of the people who are honest minded and only want what Is fair, de- sire 10 SeILle now, IS WleLneTt III d D6lll- ooratio primary or in any other primary or election, the negro being eliminated, every voter Is going to be allowed to cast his ballot as he wishes and have 1t counted as 1t Is cast. -
 In my judgment, if this Is not done, we will have revolution In Alabama that will neither regard party ties nor precedents, and when the fight Is over 1t will be discovered that the politicians
 
 they promised fair elections, and the peo- pie will secure them if necessary by force, and without regard to party lines.
 Public opinion Is what any fair-Ininded man may think, and the result of my ob- servation Is that the sentiment is prac- tically unanimous for a Democratic pri- mary to test the new Constitution, for 1t Is very justly said that political trick cry in party contests or in elections are now not only without justification, but without even cclor or excuse.
 It Is not a question of who is to be nominated for Governor or whether one wing or another of the party is to con- trol. The question is whether white Democrats are to be allowed to give ex- precision to their wishes in the control of the party and of the state. If this is denied, the new Constitution Is farce and we are really in a worse condition Lnan we were De1Ore IL became the law of the land.
 In conclusion I trust that the State Executive Committee will either cheer fully accede to the popular demand for Q Democratic primary, or if they doubt their power, let them call q convention to authorize a primary, and that con- ventior being held unless there Is a fair expression of public opinion allowed In it, I think it will be discovered that the public is not going to submit even to that.
 The question of relative representa- tion in the State Convention already shows the temper of the people. and if State primary Is not held, the commit tee will be face to face with the prop osition as to whether white voters are going to submit to equalization with the negro population that does not vote, for the purpose of controlling party affairs I am pleased to say I do not think they will, and this opinion is shared by a very large proportion of the people of Alabama, with whom I have talked.
 ALEX. T. LONDON.