The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-29
DEMAND MADE FOR
 REPUBLICAN FUND
Federal OficehoIders in Ala
 bama Are Assessed
EASTERN AGENT COLLECTS
North Alabama Officials Pay 10 Per Cent of Salary Into Republican Ma tionaI Campaign Treas
 ury to Help Out.

The federal office holders In Alabama are in a great "state of mind'' over a de- velopment of the last two days whereby they are being officially held up and made to pay ten per cent of the present I years salary into the campaign fund be- | ing raised by Chairman Cortelyou of the national republican committee. | This fact came to light in Birmingham | yesterday T-hen Mir. R. H. McNeil, who has been private secretary to former I United States Senator Prtchard of North Carolina, was in the city, and meeting the federal office holders from the north ern portion of the state by summons, it is stated, from Referee Thompson, they were made to understand that the na- tional committee was hard pressed for cash. It was suggested ss imperative that the officials cough up," the threat being made against the official heads of all those who refused.
 Came Unheralded, MT McNeil seems to have arrived in Birmingham unheralded on Tuesday, and going to the Hillman hotel he was as- signed to room 97. He immediately sum- moned some of the highest of the repub- lican officials for a conference, which resulted in Referee Thompson sending telegrams to the postmasters and other officials throughout North Alabama to come to Birmingham on Wednesday to meet a friend from the east.' During the evening Mir McNeil was the guest of Referee Thompson al Postmaster Hughes at the Bijou theatre. Yesterday morning the subpoenaed of- cials were very prompt to make their ap- pearance. Each incoming train brought one or more until the grand total reached something like couple of dozen. These met Mir. McNeil in his room at the Hill man, and there, to their surprise they were told of the sad condition of Chair man Cortelyou and Treasurer Bliss of the national committee. We need the mon- ey," said the representative of the na- tional chairman, and to show his author ity to make the collection he exhibited letter from MT. Cortelyou introducing him to the public as a ''courteous gentle man."
 consternation Among Officials.
 It is said there was consternation among the officials. They had been ac- customed in past campaigns to receive funds from the east, but here comes Special Agent McNeil and demanded 10 per cent of their salary to be paid into the national fund. You must put up or get out" is practically the way MT. Me- Neil is said to have put the matter. Pocketbooks were hauled out and the merry gingle of the coin resounded throughout the room. All who could are said to have produced" but some of the officials had forgotten to bring their purses. Wont you take check payable to Treasurer Bliss" was suggested. But no checks were wanted. The cold cash was demanded. Some of the officials nur- ried out and it is said that more than one check on homo banks were cashed In one instance, however, a check made payable to the order of Treasurer Bliss was accepted.
 There were perhaps a half dozen of those present who resented the demand and failed to contribute, and they now stand in awe of an official communica- ton.
 Concerning Authority.
 Those who refused to pay seem to doubt the absolute authority of McNeil to make his stiff demand. They have written to MT. Cortelyou to know if he really de- mands the money. and since the Presi- dent has always been known as a great civil service man, they feel sure of a no ttxvn to be brought to the attention of the civil service commission.
 MT. -icNeil finished his "business'' here yesterday afternoon and departed for Montgomery on an afternoon train. He is expected to finish with the central Ala bama officials today and will then go to Mobile for the pro rata of the south Ala bamians None are to escape.
 This action of MT. McNeil and the na- tional committee is being widely dis cussed. It is said that the campaign col lection realized about s30OO here.
 --~-~-~-----~-------~-
 ton, shall be submitted to the oters in the primary of November 21 and that if a majority of the voters. voting in said election, vote in the affirmative on this
 
 the city executive committee but on the failure of said proposition to receive the majority of votes cast at said cleo ton, it shall be considered by the city ex- ecutive committee as a protest against such action by said committee"
 A motion was made to table this resolu- tion but it was lost by a vote of 10 to T. The resolution was then adopted A motion was then made and adopted that the chairman of the city committee appoint a subcommittee of seven to ar range for the coming primary. Motions were made in opposition to this, but with out avail Before naming the sub-com- mittee the chairman made request that i every member of the committee who voted for him for the chairmanship re- | main after adjournment l am with my friends" said the chairman. Let the rest-weli, I have nothing to say on the subject"
 Previous to adjournment, he appointed the following as the subcommittee to arrange for the coming primary: | Committeeman Harry Turner. Walter | Bennett, Charles J. Herbert, Walter Metcalf. W. H. Cutcliff. G. B. Burk- halter and James F. Hawkins. Mir flaw