The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-15
SOwell and Poole Rest Their
 Claims with Committee.
Believed That State Committee Will Meet About July and That the Primary Plan Will
 Be Ordered
q do not know what the State Com mittee will order. Personally I favor a primary. ."-Governor Jelks.

a primary. N-doVernof JelKS.
 This statement given to representa- tive of The Advertiser by Governor Jelks at the union railway station yesterday afternoon, just as he was leaving for Flu faula to spend Sunday with his family, puts at rest further discussion of the po- sition of the Governor and gives an im- petus to the movement for primary election to secure Democratic nominees in the forthcoming State election this winter.
 Simultaneous with this announcement of Governor Jelks comes a declaration in favor of a primary election from Hon. Thomas l.. Sowell, State Auditor; Hon. Robert R. Poole, Commissioner of Az. riculture and Industries, and Col. Harvey F. Jones. State Tax Commissioner. Messrs Sowell and Poole are candidates for reelection. Thus far they are with out opposition. Colonel Jones holds an appointive office. He says he has la vored primary election some time.
 The announcement of Governor Jelks Colonel Jones and Messrs. Sowell and Poole in favor of a primary election practically voices the unanimous senti- ment of the State administration of pub lie affairs. Hon. !. Craig Smith, State Treasurer, declared in favor of primary two weeks ago. It is understood that Hon., Robert P. McDavid, secretary or State. favors a primary but he is not a candidate, for reelection. MT. McDavid
 s not in Montgomery yesterday.
 Governor Jelks was in a hurry to eaten
 train when he was asked by a repre-
 native of The Advertiser what he
 ought the State Democratic Committee
 uld order as q method of nominating
 tte officers this winter.
 I do not know what the committee
 order" said the Governor. Person
 v I favor primary. He authorized the publication of this statement.
 Governor Jelks was questioned concern ing the present political situation in Ala hama, the forthcoming election and the probabIe date of the meeting of the State committee He indicated that he pre- ferred not to make any further public statement without more mature consid- eration.
 No surprise was expressed at the State Capitol when it was announced that GoV- ernor Jelks had authorized a statement in favor of primary. In fact State of ficisls declared that they were familiar with the views of the Governor. Several months ago the Governor expressed him. self privately in favor of a primary cleo tion He did not deem it wise to publicly announce his views.
 State Auditor Sowell was asked for an interview. Without knowing that Cover nor Jelks had already expressed himself. MT. Sowell furnished the following signed statement:
 q am always willing to submit my claim for political preferment to the white Democratic voters of the State. Personally 1 am in favor of primary, but will cheerfully submit to the action of the State Democratic Executive Com mittee."
 "Yes. I will give you an interview, said Hon. Robert R. Poole, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, when asked for a statement as to the primary plan. You can say I am candidate for reelection for a second term and pro- nose to abide by the action of the State Democratic Executive Committee wheth- CT a primary or a convention is ordered. Personally I am in favor of Democratic primary"
 Col. Harvey E. Jones. State Tax Con- missioner said: ''I have for some time been in favor of a Democratic primary and present political conditions in Ala hama give me no reason to change my opinion"
 Hon. J. H. Bankhead, Congressman from the Sixth District, who was in Montgomery yesterday, was asked for an interview on the subject of primary.
 I've have had primaries in my district for eight years,'' said Mir Bankhead, "and my record on the primary question has been made Our district committee will doubtless order a primary for our next electiOn.'
 Recently Hon. K. J. Lowe. chairman or the State Democratic Executive Com mittee, in an interview with repres6n- tative of The Advertiser, said 1t was probable the State Committee would meet about July'1.
 The friends of the primary plan believe that there is now little doubt that pri- mary election will be ordered by the committee.