The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-10
CHAIRMAN LOWE
 WARNS COMMITTEE.

Birmingham Aug. 9.-(Speclal.)-Ihe following letter addressed to Chair1nan J. H. Megs of the Marshal County Dem- ocratic Executive Committed. is sei-eX- planatory: ,ooo
 Birmingham, Ala, August B. l9o2. Hon. J. H. Meigs, Arbertville, Ala:
 Dear Sir-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 Tn your opinion change the qualification or voters; second. If so. does the resoiu- ton endanger the returns of the County by the probable throwing out or the County's returnsT' The resolution re- ferred to is as follows: 'Whereas, FIX ing the qualifications of participants In Democratic primaries, according to the requirements of local conditions has long been a prerogatve wisely vested in the County Committee, and
 Whereas, We are not ready to sur render this right and power. therefore be 1t resolved, that all white men who will be qualified electors at the next cleo tion, irrespective of past political anna tions who will unite with us an enort for pure, economical and constitutional government by all white people, and who will support the nominees, are hereby cor dially invited to participate in the pri- mary on August 25, 1902, for the nomina- ton of a State ticket"
 Amount to Notification.
 In attempting to answer your questions in the order in which they are propound- ed. I respectfully 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 10 change the qualification of voters as made by the State Committee. The quali- fcations prescribed by the County Com mittee in Marshall are different from those prescribed by the State Commit tee and amount to nullifcation of the act of the State Committee.
 In replying to your second question, | shall not undertake to forecast the action of the State Committee. but 1t Is evident to anyone that it will present very serious question for the State Committee | to determine, and I hope the matter will | not go so far I hope that all the Coun- | ty Committees will see the wisdom and | justice of the provision prescribing uni | form qualifications for voters in the va rious counties of the State. All the Dem ocrats of the State will be expected t3 unite in the election of the candidates to | be nominated on the 18th of August, The | Popultsts and Republicans should he per mitted to vote in all the counties, In this | Democratic primary, or they should not be permitted to vote In any of the coun- | ties.
 State Committees Power.
 The statement in the preamble. namely, | "Whereas. fixing the qualifications Of | participants in Democratic primaries ac- | cording to the requirements of local con- ditions. has long been prerogative wise | ly vested in the County Committee is totally incorrect in every line and letter. | The right to prescribe uniform qualifica- tions for voters in Democratic primaries | for nomination of State officers, was long | ago expressly conferred upon the State Executive Committee and has been mi l formly exercised by that Committee with ] out question or controversy,
 The premises, as I have shown are not true and the resolution ought to be rescinded. Democrats and every Demo- l crat in each County ought to have the
 right to vote, and have his vote counted | in Democratic primary. To permit Re
 publicans and Populists by their vote in | Marshal County to cancel Democratic
 votes in other counties of the State.
 would be a violation of this elementary | proposition.
 The action of the Commi ttee in Mar
 shaI and two or three her counties,
 along the same line. can onfy lead to dis
 cord and strife. and cannot promote the
 cause of fair elections and party har-
 rnonv Yours truly
 Robt. J. Lowe, Chairman.