The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-25
COMMITTEE TO
 MEET MAY F Republican State Executive Or- ganizatiOn to Assemble Here THE I[bD[Rc TAX [R[[IY
THE LEADERS TALK FREELY
Chairman WelIman, T. p. Aldrioh, Winston Smith and Others Express Themselves Strongly About the
 Coming Conference.

There were developments in the Ala bama republican situation iil Birming ham yesterday. when Chairman W. l. Wellman of the state executive commit tee, Issued call for a meeting of the committee to be held at the Hillman in this city. May 12, at o'clock in the af- ternoon.
 Chairman Wellman was in the city yes terday and conferred with a number of republicans, both from Birmingham and other cities In the state.
 The call was made at the request con veyed in petition handed him yesterday. This petition was signed by majority of the members of the committee. The chairman has sent official notices of the call to every member of the committee.
 Shortly after noon yesterday Hon. J. O.. Thompson, collector of internal rev. enue for the district of Alabama, and one of the three referees of the adminstra- tion, saw Chairman Welman at the Hill man and gave him the petition. which was as follows:
 The Petition.
 Hon. w. L Wellman, Chairman Repub-
 lican State Executive Committee of Ala
 bama, Huntsville, Ala.
 Dear Sir-In view of tie conference called at Montgomery May 5, proximo. by the referees In which all members of our committee together with other republi- cans are requested to be present, we deem 1t advisable for us to meet in an organized and an official way. Looking to that end we respectfully request you to call meeting of the state commit tee at Montgomery, Ala, the day prior to the conference, May 5.
 In this connection Collector Thompson said that nineteen names were attached to the petition and that in addition to that number he had received telegram from J. A. Carey, committeeman from Demopolis asking that his name be placed to the petition.
 Preferred Birmingham.
 Later in the afternoon the chairman issued a call. Asked why he did not call the meeting upon the date requested. he said that not quite a majority had signed it, that a number had said they were not particular about meeting in Montgomery, and that some had said they would prefer to meet in Birming- ham; that as there was a division he decided to call the meeting as he had done.
 He then gave the list of names In this list he did not mention I. Pollock ot Montgomery or N. L. Steele, saying that Steele was secretary ard not a regular committeeman.
 Thompson sanguine.
 Collector Thompson is sanguine over the prospects of the meeting to be held in Montgomery May 6. He expects a large crowd, as do the other referees, who called the conference with Collector Thompson.
 In reference to the call Chairman We'll man said:
 "Yes, I have issued call for a meeting of the Republican State Central commit- tee to meet at the Hotel Hillman in Bir- mingham on Tuesday, May 12, at oolock D. m. An effort has been made for the past four months, by the referees, for a meeting of our committee, but up to the present time a majority of the commit tee has not requested It.
 'I was presented today with letters from seventeen members, requesting me to call a meeting in Montgomery on Tuesday, May B. While seventeen is not a major ity of our committee, still after consulta- ton with a number of other members, I have decided to call the committee as above stated.
 Members That Signed.
 "The following members signed the re- quest for May 5: J. w. Hughes, w. c. Starke, H. G. Ashley, w. w. Miliken, A. G. Negley, P. M. Long, r. T. Hudson, John A. Steele, H. E. Berkstresser J. J. Curtis, B. s. Perdue, James M. Ragan. w. w. Simmons, John B. Isbell, W. s. Standifer. c. M. Cox. Henry F. Irwin.
 "Included in the list of letters was a copy of one written me by Mr. Pollock some days since, which was construed as being request for a meeting, but MT. Pollock informed me today he did not so intend it as such, and was absolutely opposed to the May meeting.
 q know of nothing special to come be- fore the meeting, but such an effort has been made for a meeting, 1 have thought best to call 1t and see what is wanted"
 number of republicans were seen last night and their expressions follow:
 J. o. Thompson-No party can be use full or even respectable unltfs it adheres firmly to it's principles We will eliminate factional differences at the May confer ence, and it is now evident that the ma jority of the state executive committee is in favor of the right thing. Latest ad- vices from the various counties through out the state indicate that large and representative number of republicans from each locality vii be present. and that the sole object of those who attend will be to promote peace and harmony fin party ranks and to get ready for the commmon foe
 Opposed to Conference.
 w. I. Wellman, chairman of the repub- lican state executive committee-I am opposed to the conference of May 6. call ed by the referees, and do not intend to attend I see no necessity for such a conference, and as a rule they do no good There is no lack of harmony in our party in this state, except on the part of the referees. The harmony they desire will never be brought about until the entire republican party comes over to their way of speaking.
 Capt. J. w Dimmick of Montgomery-I would be untrue to myself were I not in faypf of harmony in the republican party I have been trying for the past two years to secure harmony. I think that there is at this time and has been since the Birmingham convention substantial har- mony in the ranks of the party in this state. I did not agree to every act of the Birmingham convention in relation to the seating of some five or six dele gates but the voice of the convention was