The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-19
Chairman VI. I, WoIIman
Sends Out a Statement
PETITION BEING CIRCULATED
Some of the Dissatisfied Are Trying
to Call a Meeting, But the Ma
jorty VIII Not Discredlt Re-
publican Convention.

w. L wellman of Huntsville, chair
man of the republican state executive
committee, spent yesterday in Birming-
ham and discussed the question of the
probability of a meeting of the executive
committee being called In the near fu=
ture. Mr. Wellman does not think there
will be a meeting of the committee any
time soon, and he stated that fully four
fifths of the members Of the committee
were opposed to a meeting. He stated
he had gained this information from let
tiers he had received from committee
men in answer to inquiries whether or
not they thought it best to have a meet
ing now.
Mr.. wellman says it is ridiculous to
suppose that the committee could meet
and repudiate the action of a convention
that had named the committee.
It is known from several cources that
a petition is now being gotten up among
those who do not favor the action of the
last convention, to have the chairman
call meeting unless at least a majority
Oh the committeeman dSh ~ oAAo NA4Si -
thinks. will not result from the effort
being made. Last night Mr. Wellman
said that the only body that could change
the policy of the republican party in the
state would be a convention, and 1t was
absurd to think the next convention
would take any steps to discredit the ac-
ton of the last convention.
In an interview given out yesterday
Chairman Wellman defines the policy and
position of the republican party in Ala
bama. He says:
There having been so much discussion
in the newspapers about the ACCESSIBILITY
of calling a meeting of the republican
state committee, I, as chairman, adj
dressed letter to each member of the
committee, requesting his views as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of calling the meeting,
and have received answers from about
four-fifths Of the members, and more than
a majority of the whole committee have
unqualifiedly advised against making
call at this time. Not q single non-office-
holder has advised calling meeting OF
the committee. 1 have also had corre-
spondence with leading republicans of the
state who are not members of the COM
mittee, and l believe that nineteen
twentieths of the republicans of Alabama,
who are qualified voters, are opposed to
any committee meeting at this time.
LAS viewed by the republican voters of
Alabama, the committee would have no
power to undo anything done by the con-
vention, and to attempt to do so would
put the members of the committee in the
ridiculous position of undertaking to dis
credit the action of the convention that
named them as members Of the commit
tee, all of whom were members of the
late convention, and all of whom voted In
favor of the report of the committee on
credentials, not a single objection hav-
ing been made. In my opinion, the next
convention will be called Just as the last
one was, which will admit into the party
councils only republicans who are quail
fed voters under the laws of Alabama.
1.-The only body which can change the
policy of the republican party in Ala
bama will be a subsequent convention,
and 1t is absolutely absurd to contend
that the next convention will do anything
to discredit the action of the last conyen-
ton. committee meeting at the pres
ent time would doubtless result in dis
agreement, and might tend to create dis
cord in the party which is now harmo-
NOUS and practically united on all ques-
tons of party policy,
1.-THE question of a delegation to the
| {. 81 lie
cussed. The convention will take care of
that at the proper time. 1 have heard of
but one candidate so far. Our party is
of supreme Importance, and we intend to
lend every energy to keep our organiza-
ton intact and to upbuild the party in
this state"