The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-09
 Democratic Committee Met in Montgomery. PLURALITY RULE SAVED Bitter Fight on Proposition To Abolish It. Chairman Mallory and Others Made Earnest Appeal Not to Throw Bombshell Into Ala bama's Democratic
 Camp.

The Democratic Executive Committee of Alabama. at its meeting in Montgom- cry yesterday. 50 amended its primary plan. adopted January S. that the name of Richmond Pearson Hobscon will be print. ed on the ballots as candidate for Con- gress from the Sixth District. The modI- hcation was made to apply not only to the Sixth District, but to thes entire State.
 The Hobson matter was only an incl. dent In the gathering of the committee yesterday. A resolution brought in at the heel of the session, suddenly and unex- pectedly opened an episode, fraugft with importance and significance.
 The resolution abolished the plurality plan of nominating candidates in the primary, and substituted for 1t the ma 5ority plan. It provided that the two candidates for a State office having the largest number of votes should be the candidates in ''run-of" on May 16th
 Crowd Caught Its Breath.
 The committee caught its breath at the reading of this resolution. The crowd in the rear of the Council Cham craned in eager interest. The importance of the resolution was gauged at it's true weight It was looked upon as the crisis of deep and significant move. Just what It's significance was the outside crowd might not have accurately deter mined, but they were not left in doubt for the lack of frank statements made from the floor of the committee.
 1t was characterized as a play in the race for. President of the Railroad Com mission, the declaration being made that it could have no possible bearing upon the contest for the Supreme Court bench. It was defined as a move in the interest of one candidate for President of the Railroad Commission and to the, detri- ment of another.
 T. M. Stevens, of Mobile, in strcng argnmentative speech, protested .aAgaisst the resolution. ... ---., ..,.E "we cannot afford to take such po- sition. We are the representatives of the Democratic Party. and clothed with ex- traordinary powers" declared MT. Ste- vens. "For our own sakes, for the sake of the Democratic Party. for the sake of the State of Alabama, we must he just and impartial If this resolution Is adopted 1t will be keld by the people of Alabama to be unjust and unfair, and we'll hear. from it-we'll, hear from It from all over Alabama ''
 Hon. H. S. D. Mallory vacated the chair and pleaded earnestly and passion ately with the Committee to take no such action as proposed by the reso!1- ton. .
 Would Be a Bombshell..
 "In my humble judgment declared Chairman Mallory. eff this resolution is adopted our action will go over the State like bombsheli. You have great pow CT. No committee has power like this committee, How will you exercise that power?"
 ''I cannot say this resolution Is in the interest of any one candidate" Mir. Mall lory went on, but I can say at this time that thousands of voters in Alabama will say that 1t is in the interest of one candidate. And that man. whoever he Is. that the people say this resolution was introduced for, will never receive certificate of nomination from this Com mittee.
 "I urge this Committee-I most earn estly urge you-not to do this. How can you 20 home among your constituents end deferd the chtrge that this Com mittee in passing this resolution did not act fairly and impartially? 1 most earn estly urge you with all the power of my heart and mind not to do this thing"
 Messrs. Nathan, Whitson and Ro6en fought the resolution on the floor. John r. Proctor opposed 1t In a short speech but he was not in the room when the vote was taken.
 Howard Douglas of Washington. the mover of the resolution, stood manfully ! by 1t in its brief but troublous exl3t- ence. He was helped out by J. J. King and J. c. Eyster.
 A quorum of the Committee was lack ing at 12 o'clock, the hour appointed for the meeting. The members of the Con- mittee who had arrived in town, sat about until the tardy ones came in.
 Members Present.
 At l2:45 o'clock it was evident that a x quorum was in the hall and Chairman Mallory rapped the members to order The roll call showed that the following members were present:
 Chairman H. s. D. Mallory
 First District-W. A. Carter, Howard Douglas, J. J. King and T. NJ. Stevens. Second District-George w. Jones and NJ. R. Porterfield
 Third Distrlct-H. H. Foster and A. H. Merrill.
 Fourth District-Tlpton Mullins and c. C. Whttson.
 Fifth District-George F. sedberry.
 Sixth District-Rufus A. O'Rear and c. Brooks Smith.
 Seventh District not represented.
 Eighth District-John c. Eyster. Joseph II. Nathan and John F. Proctor.
 Ninth District-Jones c. Moore and Ben F. Roden
 Secretary John c. Pugh reported that nineteen, a duorum. was present. MH F1yster coming in after the roll had been called and the result announced
 Chairman Mallory briefly stated the reasons which induced him to call the Committee together. He read to the Committee a communication from the Sixth District Congressional Committee. rhis communication contained resolu- lion unanimously passed by the District ,ommittee asking the State Committee n modify Section 20 of its primary plan hdopted by the Committee at the Janu- nv meeting The resolution asked that he section he so changed that the name bf an unregistered voter but one who Is untitled to registration, should be permit ed to be printed upon the official ballot O be voted in the Democratic primary.
 The communication was in brief a re- uest from the Congressional Committea