The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Strong Argument in Favor of
 Primary and Convention TICKET TO BE YARD LONG
If All Names Suggested Be Placed on the Primary Ticket 1t VIII Be a Clumsy Affalr--Compromise
 Plan Is Suggested.

If the political weather Vane IS correct in its bearings the subcommittee of the State Democratic Executive. which is to be intrusted with the power of deciding on a democratic primary or an old-fash- toned convention will have the solving of delicate problem.
 From the state press comes an almost unanimous plea for a primary election and backed up by what appears to be a majority of the voting forces this sem timent may be hard to overcome On the other hand many of the party leaders are vigorous in their demands for convention and even the opposition ad- mits there is something to be said in favor of their claims
 Publication has been given to a rumor that Chairman Lowe has appointed a subcommittee, consisting of H. s. D. Mallory, W. I. Bullock, T. M. Stevens, John Proctor and Robert II. Thach but the chairman has taken occasion to deny this rumor and the appointment of such a committee still rests with Mir. Lowe.
 Suggestions in Order.
 HIS COIlIliltce was iiSti uSleo bS NhS last meeting of the executive committee to conclude the arrangement for the nom nation of candidates not later than Janu- ary 15 and until that time discussions and suggestions are in order.
 Advocates of the primary plan maintain that the every day voting democracy is fully competent to name the candidates in a general preliminary election and that there Is no need for a convention to meet and, as has been suggested, parcel out the nominations for the purpose of concluding political trades. Many of these advocates insist that the people in primary should select all the candidates regardless of the office sought. Adherents of the convention plan have advanced many arguments, the most prac- tical of which seems to be that such d ticket would be too long and clumsy and would create confusion in the election booths when voters attempt to intelligent ly make out their tickets.
 Want Convention to Name All.
 The extremists insist that all officials should be named by convention as the del- egates would be able to act intelligently in every case and avoid the confusion which they say would necessarily accom- pany the other plan. Another argument Is to the effect that the average voter IS not well enough informed or Inclined 10 consider the ability of the various candi- dates for supreme court judges. These men, according to the argument or the convention supporters, should be selected by the best lawyers of the state who are in A better position to know the quaihca- tions of the candidates than the average layman.
 Alabama now stands among the first five states on questions of law and the state reports are quoted as authority through out the United States and in many or the courts of Great Britain. 1t is claimed that by a general aimless selection or judges the Alabama supreme court is llaole 10 lose its prestige as is the case in many of the states which have nominated sn- preme judges by the party primary. It IS said this Is true with Georgia wnich stands far below Alabama as an authority on law, practice and pleading.
 Long Ticket Is Objectionable.
 The question raised on the long ticket seems to have struck reader response than any other argument and 1t may be necessary to reach a compromise Tn oruer to satisfy all sides concerned.
 If the primary is held the ticket will contain the names of about IT candidates for supreme court judge, the names of about 60 candidates for delegates to the national convention and their alternates. 20 or more candidates for electors, candl- dates for congress and innumerable candi- dates for county offices
 If all these names should be put on one ticket in Jefferson county 1t would require a slip of paper nearly yard long. To avoid this the advocates of the convention plan argue that a regular state convention should be held for all offices and If this is not satisfactory the committee should arrange a suitable com promise.
 The compromise plan which appears 10 meet with most favor is to elect all coun- ty officers and congressman by primary and to nominate supreme court Judges and delegates to the national convention as well as presidential electors In con yention.
 Convention to Be Held Anyway.
 A convention will be necessary to frame and adopt a platform, and while assem- bled for this purpose 1t is argued that the delegates. alternates and electors could be selected at the same time.
 There will be no trouble, 1t Is thought, in arranging the plan, but the hiteh arises in the nomination of supreme court iudges Many voters think they are fully capacitated for selecting these judges. notwithstanding the ideas to the contrary advanced by the convention advocates.
 With these arguments before them the sub-committeemen to be appointed by Lowe will have indeed an unenviable task.