The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-08
Cook, Davidson, Bingham and
Smith Have a Say
REFER TO THE CONFERENCE
They Compare 1t With Last State Con.
Vention-cook and Davidson Do
Not Favor Cutting Down South
ern Representation.

ference In Montgomery Wednesday, called
by the three political advisors of the pres
ident, j. o. Thompson, William f. Aldrich
and Charles H. Scott, was freely dis
cussed in political circles here yesterday.
The Lilly Whites" of the party in Ala
bama, who claim that they compose the
regular republican organization, say they
are pleased with the way everything
turned out at the Montgomery confer
ence and that the referees of the President
did not develop the strength that they
had supposed they would.
In regard to the meeting of the execu-
tive committee In Birmingham next Tues
day afternoon at the Hotel Hillman the
Lily Whites" say that they will be able
to control 1t, and that at that time it
will appear that they have a majority
who favor the former actions of the COM
mitteemen and the Birmingham conven-
ton.
Lily Whites Talk.
A few of the prominent leaders among
the Lilly Whites were seen yesterday
and they were outspoken in their viws.
]. w. Davidson, who was chairman OF
the famous convention, and whose action
In eliminating the negro delegates from
the floor has brought down the wrath OF
the negro republicans and many white
republicans of the state, also that of
President Roosevelt says he as a repub-
iican does not favor the resolution intro
duced and carried at the conference in
regard to the cutting down of represent
tation in congress from the southern
states.
The Lilly Whites also openly assert
that the three referees of the President
went to Montgomery to have action taken
in the shape of resolutions calling for a
reorganization of the state republican ex-
ecutive committee. The refereCs voted
against this resolution when 1t was intro
duced and seemed to be sorry that the
question came up The Lilly Whites"
charge that they found when Montgomery
was reached that the majority of the
white republicans were against such a
resolution and that they decided to stand
against it. The negroes In the conference
with four exceptions voted solidly for IL
when 1t was presented.
The charge of the Lilly Whites" is in
the shape of gossip and was heard many
times yesterday One of the Lilly
Whites" said that the referees absolutely
denied that they ever had any such in
tention and that In this they had been
misunderstood that they only wanted to
get the Alabama republicans In line with
the administration, and in this they had
succeeded.
Following are views as expressed yes
terday by four of the leaders of the Lilly
Whites"
J. Carter Cook In Conference.
]. Carter Cook, who was chairman of
the last republican state campaign COM
mittee:
After six months of strenuous efforts.
blasting of trumpets, cracking of the po-
litical whip and the promises of federal
pie, the great meeting Of the alleged ref
erees of the administration has come to
an end. and in summing up the results
I am proud to say that the legal organ
ization of the republican party is still
intact, and that those who would dis
uultC Jul Rdi ~ nave 6OAS SWh az 10
nominious defeat, never to rise again. BY
brow-beating, coaxing and dire threats
and voluminous invitations issued to those
republicans who believed In their power
and authority, these alleged representa-
tives of the national administration sue
ceeded In bringing to Alabamas capital
as many as 1872 men to participate In their
her w ifQ
men and II were negroes, and of the num-
Der of whites, two-thirds were federal Of
ficeholders. Ye gods. what a comparison
this was with the magnificent body COM
posed of $50 legally elected delegates and
alternates who assembled IN Birmingham
last September to participate In regu-
lar republican convention. Anyone who Is
bama republican politics. can see at a
glance from the personnel Of the confer
ence of the referees that there were men
among the federal officeholders who par
ticapted who were most bitterly opposed
to the negro participating in the Birming-
ham convention, and there can be but
one conclusion to arrive at. and that is
themselves to be driven like dumb cattle
by the administration to do the bidding
of the referees. even though their con-
sciences dictated otherwise.
Quotes Senator Morgan.
Senator Morgan correctly stated the
situation today when he said, the action
of the referees conference was fully I'M
derstood in advance, and its course OF
conduct was inspired from Washington.
and the first lick 1t makes Is to demand
a reduction of our congressional represent
tation These inspired republicans propose
to punish Alabama for having changed
the constitution. do not believe anyone
will fail to understand that this was all
inspired and pre-arranged.' This Is the
statement of the venerable senator. and
it fully and truthfully sets forth the po-
sition of the referees.
II am a republican believing In the prin-
ciples Of my party and believing that the
carving out of these principles Will be
beneficial to the south. / am also SOUTH
erner, born and reared In the confines or
Dixie and / am unalterably opposed TO
any step that will decrease its representa-
ton or jeopardise its brilliant future.
THE referees have unmolested and
without hindrance been allowed to hold
their conference and 1t has been demon
strated that they have no following, and
that their efforts will be no longer toll
Grated by the 5000 voters among the re-
publicans of Alabama, AS they have re-
peatedly stated that they were endeavor-
ing to bring about harmony / wish to