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

EWH Inc state Democratic executive
" committee decided today by a
vote of fifteen to twelve to order a state
Democratic primary to select candidates
for the November elections A resolution
to this effect offered by Carson c. Whit
son of Talladega was finally adopted af-
ter a spirited debate.
William II Sanford of Pike received
more applause than any of the speakers
who advocated a primary and Chairman
Robert j. Lowe made speech in favor
Of the convention system which was
warmly received. A subcommittee will
report tomorrow morning a detailed plan
for holding primary.
The session of the committee today was
marked by the utmost good feeling and
the debate. willie lively. was free from
personalities
Mr.. Sanford illush ated the feeling Of
Dissatisfaction throughout the state
against the convention system by show
ing that Wilcox county, with l750 white
voters, had ten delegates in a convention
while Pike county. with $500 white voters
had but eight.
Tom Hefiin, speaking of the popular de-
msnd for primary, said that every
where he went on his canvass for Sec
retary of State that the first question he
wss asked was: Squire, how do YOU
stand on this primary question:
Meeting Called to Order.
The committee was called to order at
1890 o'clock by Chairman Robert ].
Lowe. The roll was called by Secretary
John Pugh and showed twenty-eight
committe ernen present as fcllows:
Robert J. Lowe of Jefferson, Emmett
| O'Neal of Lauderdale, John V Smith OF
Russell, A. NJ Tunstall OF Hale, T. M.
| Stevens of Mobile, Steven Smith of Sum-
| ter, J. Tom Heflin of Chambers, Upton
Mullins of Chiffon.
First District-W. D. Dunn of Clark,
Howard Douglass of Washington.
Second District-B. NJ Miller of Wilcox.
| Bibb Graves of Montgomery, w H Sam
ford of Pike
Third District-T. s. Frazier of Bull
lock, r. H. Arlington of Coffee.
Fourth Distrlct-H S. D. Mallory OF
Dahas. H. D. Merrill of Cleburne, Carson
C. Wbitson of Talladega-
Fifth District = w. T. Brightman of
Lowndes.
r. L. Scale of Sumter.
Seventh District - r. A Mitchell OF
Etowah w. W. HARRISON of DeKalb. T.
M. Jones of st. Clair.
Eighth District-W. A. Given, of Madi-
son, w. T. Sanders of Limestone, ]. c.
Kumpe of Lawrence.
Ninth District-E. C. Hall of Blount,
c. B. Smith of Hale.
Chairman Lowe then said that 1t would
be proper to state that this meeting was
held little later than usual but not
too LATE considering the date of the elec-
tion.
The prime business Of the committee
was to consider the time. place and man.
ner of nominating the state officers, and
transacting such other business as might
come before It,
w. II. Sanford of Pike moved that the
chair appoint a committee composed OF
the chairman and one member from
each district to draft and submit to the
committee of the whole at four o'clock,
plan for nominating state officers.
State Senator w. U. Acree of Dale.
here arose and attempted to discuss the
matter. On objection he was ruled out
Of order as not being a member of the
committee.
II. s. d. Mallory of Dallas said that he
thought there ought to be discussion by
members of the committee before refer
ring 1t to a subcommittee In order that
they could get the sense of the MEM
bers
Motion for Primary.
Carson c. whitson of Talladega, moved
as a substitute that the executive COM
mittee call a Democratic primary TO
nominate state officers and that COM
mittee be appointed, composed Of the
chairman, one member from the stats
at large and one from each district to
prepare plan and submit 1t to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Mallory moved as a substitute to
this that convention be held as here
tofore. and that a committee be appoint
ed to fix the basis of representation as
II had heretofore been fixed.
Mr.. Mallory said that in opening the
discussion he would briefly outline his
reason for the substitute. The first ques-
tion for the committee to decide was
whether they had the right to abolish
the body of which they we're the
creatures He did not think they had such
power 1t had been the unbroken policy
of the party to hold convention. and
now It was proposed to destroy these long
established precedents. For no temporary
end could the committee ever be sustified
In abolishing a convention. Suppose we
were oper ating under a primary system
end there was cry for a convention.
and this committee should undertake to
do away with the primary system, what
an outcry there would be. II we are to
adopt a primary, 1t ought to be adopted
by the party in convention assembled.
This committee had no power to do away
with the convention.
Senator Acree at this point arose again
and attempted to reply to Mr.. Mallory,
but was ruled out Of order. He then
asked unanimous consent Of the commit
tee to be heard, but objection was raised.
Not Bound by Any Ruls.
Mr.. Whitson then spoke. saying that
he did not understand that this commit
tee was Found by any rule adopted bv n