The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-17
Party Men Like Plan Suggested
 by The Age-HeraId
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
Main Bone of Contention Seems to Be Selection of Supreme Court Judges and Delegates to the Ma
 tional Convention.

The suggestion contained in the edi- torial columns of the Age-Herald of Sun day that the state democratic executive committee at the January meeting order a primary election for all officers, in- cluding the president of the railroad com mission, supreme court judges and all county officers down to beat constables, seems to have taken well with many democrats. The same editorial suggested that the democratic state executive com mittee be permitted to name the delegates to the national convention and also the electors and alternate electors for the party in the state in the national cam paign next year.
 There seems to be some little opposition to this last suggestion, principally be- cause it may have the appearance of giv- ing the state committee too much author ity but the objection has in a measure been dispelled by the further suggestion that blank be left upon the ticket to be voted In primaries, offering the elector a chance to express his opinion as to his choice for the nomination for presi- dent
 Is Not Binding.
 This is not intended to bind the delega- tlon to any particular man who may be- come a candidate for the nomination, but merely to give the delegation select ed an idea as to the popular will of the party in this state.
 There is an expressed objection to the selection of the delegates to the national convention and the electors in general primary, and this is the length of the primary ticket. Alabama has twenty-two delegates in the convention, with as many electors. Four each of these should come from the state-at-large and two from each congressional district. This means that should there be even two can didates for each of these positions, it would build a ticket of sixty names Add to these names something like fifteen candidates for members of the supreme court three or four candidates for presi- dent of the railroad commission, circuit judges. circuit solicitors, chancellors, pro- bate judges, tax collectors and assessors, county superintendents, coroners and minor beat officials and it makes ticket that will spread over an excessively long sheet of paper.
 Many Endorse the Plan.
 great many persons interviewed ex. pressed privately their preference for the suggestion to have a primary for all state and county officers, leaving the se- lection of the delegates and electors to the state committee.
 There are many lawyers, however, who want the members of the supreme court selected in a general primary. Other lawyers seem to object on the grounds that it may carry with it a scheme tc nave certain favorites placed upon the supreme court bench. For instance, ii was stated by one well informed, tha1 the proposition to name the suprems court judges in a convention was the plar of the friends of a certain distinguished lawyer who Is not now on the bench tc secure his election to the chief justice ship However this may be, it is known that there Is to be strong fight in the committee at the January meeting for the state convention to nominate the candidates for the supreme court.
 Mr. Thach Talks.
 Robert H. Thach, a member of the
 
 Lowe, said:
 "Without forecasting my action or com hitting myself in advance of the commit tee meeting November 24 am candid to say that l doubt the advisablity of nom- mating supreme court judges by the peo- pie. Above all things our judiciary ought to be lifted above the plane of politics If the party desires a primary for all offices, however. I believe the plan sug- gested in the Age-Herald edlsorai a good one. If the executive committee is empowered to select delegates to the national convention and Presidential elec- tors 1t will lift heavy burden of expense from the party. While a selection of this kind is looked upon as an honor. no salary attaches to the office and I believe the executive committee would select suitable men. On account of being a member of the subcommittee I do not care to dis cuss the subject at length in advance. am great believer in doing as a major ity thinks best"
 MT. Gray Favors the Plan.
 Henry B. Gray had no hesitancy in saying: q think the plan suggested in The Age-Herald a good one. It looks as if the voters want a primary. and if this be true, then I think the executive com mittee should be empowered to select the delegates and electors. There Is no need for a convention just for nomnat- ing delegates and electors, and If the power is delegated to the executive com mittee 1t will save the party nearly S10- 000."
 Mir. Moore Opposes the Plan.
 Walter Moore is opposed to the plan. He says: T am opposed to the sugges- tion for the reason 1t does the very thing the primary men seek to avoid. If the party Is afraid to leave nominations in the hands of a convention 1t seems as if they would be afraid to leave 1t with an executive committee. It makes a still greater centralization of power. At heart I am in favor of convention for the nomination of supreme court judges. but if the people want a primary straight through they should have It."
 Black Better Talks.
 T think the suggestion of The Age Herald good one," said black belt democrat who was in the city yesterday. It is a habit of these same black belt fel- lows not to have their names used. and in this case the speaker was not an ex- ception to the rule. He was. however. a close observer of things political in his section.
 suffers a great loss in strength by virtue of the primary plan, but at the same time there are probably not more than one-tenth of the voters in my county who are in favor of return to the old convention idea. Since the enactment of the franchise clause of the constitution eliminating the ignorant negro vote. our people are more than willing to let every uhita vote cotnt whether if be cast