The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-13
City Democratic Executive Com
mittee Holds Stormy Session
Without Calling Primary
ANOTHER MEETING TO
Be HELD MONDAY NIGHT
Committee of Five Is Appointed to
Prepare Resolutions Governing
Primary Election and to Sub
nit Them to the Meeting.

After wrangling for two hours and
thirty minutes last night the city demo-
cratic executive committee decided to al
low the names of candidates for chief OF
police to be submitted to the people in the
primary election.
1t also elected three members to fill va
cancies on the committee, appointed
committee of five to draw up whatever
resolutions it was thought proper should
come before the committee at meeting
next Monday night and then adjourned
No date for a primary was set or call
for a primary made. From the beginning
to the end of the meeting there was DIS
cord, and not for one minute did mar
mony prevail.
A resolution was presented by Harry
White to the effect that candidates Tor
mayor, aldermen, members of the police
commission, chief Of police, captain oil
police and lieutenant of police be re-
quired to submit their candidacy to the
qualified voters of Birmingham for their
endorsement. A somewhat heated discus
sion followed the introduction of the res
olution A motion was made that it be
adopted, and an amendment was made to
it that it be adopted with the exception
of the names of candidates for captain
and lieutenant of police The amendment
was lost
A Point of Order.
Mr.. Thompson raised the point of order
that the entire resolution was tabled, as
the amendment carried with it the reso-
luton. The chair ruled that he was right
and declared there was nothing before
the house. For a few minutes silence pre-
vailed, as it was evident that the conf
mittee did not expect the resolution
would be tabled thus. Mr.. Burkhalter
then offered a verbal resolution that the
names of candidates for chief of police go
before the primary and it was adopted.
Mr.. OHear reintroduced the same reso-
luton with an addition in reference to the
recommendation that the police commits
sion be abolished. 1t was then that a
heated discussion arose about 1t. Mr..
Thompson said he favored some of the
things in the resolution but could not
vote for it as whole. 1t was evident
that the committee could not agree, and
at this juncture Mr.. Burkhalter made a
motion that the chair appoint a commit
tee of five on resolutions, this committee
to report at an adjourned meeting, to be
held at the same place Monday night
next. After some discussion the motion
was put to the house and adopted. The
chair then appointed the fol wing as
members of the committee:
B. A. Thompson. w, N Newton, Harry
White, II. b. Alternately and DIR. Charles
Wheelan.
The amended resolution. which caused
many heated discussions and arguments
among different members of the commit
tee as submitted by Mr.. O'Hear. is az
follows. 1t was originally introduced by
Mr.. White in this form except the Sec
tons relating to the police commission:
The Resolution.
Whereas We understand 1t to have
been the specific purpose and intention of
the trainers of our new constitution for
the state in adopting those ordinances
pertaining to suffrage and election to in
franchise only those citizens having the
adequate mental and moral capacity to
govern themselves and disfranchise
those not having the above qualifications;
there tore, be 1t
Resolved; that we the city democratic
executive committee of Birmingham, ac-
cept the above established precedent and
approve of the good resulting therefrom.
and thereby declare that the candidates
for the following city offices, WIS.,, mayor
Aldermen, police commission, chief of
police, captain of police and lieutenant of
police department be required to submit
their candidacy to the qualified voters of
the city of Birmingham for their endorse
ment for said office and offices.
BE 1t further resolved, That no can
didate for any of the aforesaid offices
shall be declared the nominee for the
office for which he is a candidate until
he shall have received a majority of the
votes cast for said office, and in said
primary, should any candidate aforesaid
fail to receive a majority of the votes cast
as before mentioned then the two candi-
dates receiving the highest number of
votes cast in said primary shall be re-
quired to enter into a second primary I'M
der the same rules and conditions as
heretofore mentioned before he shall be
declared the nominee of the democratic
party for the office for which he is a
candidate; said second primary to be held
within fifteen days after the canvassing
of the returns of the first primary.
Whereas, The law creating the board
Of police commission of Birmingham has