The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-04
OUTLYING TOWNS
 WANT CONVENTION Ensley and Bessemer Opposed
 to Primary A PETITION IS CIRCULATED Discussion of County Committees Con. templated Action of Fixing March as Date for Primary contn-
 ues-various Opinions.


 There promises to be still further con fusion injected into the democratic pri- mary situation In Jefferson county. The calling of a meeting of the county execu- tive committee by Chairman Thompson for December 12, and the avowed inten- tion of the committees members to set the date for the primary some time during March has caused unusual activity among politicians.
 1t is now understood that a petition is being circulated in Bessemer, Ensley and other towns outside of Birmingham ask ing that the executive committee call a convention in Jefferson county for the nomination of county officers instead of by primary as contemplated.
 The action Is the result of the feeling in those towns that in primary their can- didates will have no chance. It is main tained that a candidate from one of these towns for a county office could not hope to overcome the vote in a primary of a candidate from Birmingham which has so much greater population, whereas in a convention candidates from all parts of the county would be placed on more equal footing.
 County Plan Widely Discussed.
 The determination of the county com- mittee to fix March as the date for the primary, contrary to the wishes of the state committee is still much discussed.
 Men who side with the state commit- tee in it's desire to have primaries on a uniform date throughout the state are in clined to criticize the seemingly opposite stand taken by the committee of Jener- son.
 They seem to feel that all who are in favor of uniform primaries and of giving the primary system fair show in Ala bama should side with the state commit tee. They are inclined to think that if the suggestions made by the state organi- zation are not to be compiled with, there is no need of a state committee.
 And then the question has arisen as to how far the state committees authority extends. It is asked whether the state or ganization's actions are not more in the province of advisory than entirely execu- tive.
 Old Thompkins Resolution.
 Supporters of the state committees po- sition cite the Thompkins resolution or 1892, as a basis for the authority of that organization. The Thompkins resolution gives the state committee executive au- thority in all matters of fixing the dates of county primaries in the state. It was passed by the democratic convention held in April. 1892. and its provisions have generally been compiled with since that time in state politics although there nave been numerous exceptions.
 The resolution was passed as result of the famous December primary held in 1891 in Jefferson county during the cam paign of Kob and Jones, and was lntend- ed to prevent the serious state of affairs that such early primaries promised to lead to.
 Friends of the state committee further assert that this action of the county com- mittee sets a very bad precedent; that the circuit committees, the congressional committees and judiciary committees may edcn ueciue lo Hoio hiuePehoe'' Pi' and the result will be great burden 10 taxpayers and citizens, It Is argued that it is possible for six different primaries to be held next year if the state commit tees wishes are not to be considered. This involves the attendant interruptions in business, and would be unjust to saloon keepers who must keep their places closed for two days at the time of each primary held