The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-25
DR. HUGHES IS AFTER
CHAIRMAN WELLMAN
Says He Did Not Confer With
All Committeeman
TROUBLE is CROPPING OUT
Postmaster Thinks Mr.. Wellman, as
Chairman, Should Not Have Con-
suited Only a Chosen Few--Sec-
rotary Didn't Sign the Call.

DIR. j. w. Hughes. a member of the
state republican committee, in an inter-
view, severely criticized Chairman w. [.
Wellman relative to his action in asking
that credentials be sent to him before
the convention is held in Birmingham
on May TO- and, as chairman, holding
conference with only a few members of
the state committee while he was in
Birmingham Saturday. The date and
place of holding the convention. however,
seem to meet with the approval of DR.,
Hughes and other members of the COM
mittee
The long expected clash between the
two factions of the republican party I'm
Alabama, 1t seems, will come to a head
when the state convention meets here in
May. The lily white leaders are known
to favor Senator Hanna for the presi-
dency while the other faction. commonly
known as the black and tans, or those
favorable to the administration, will
stand pat for the nomination of Mr..
Roosevelt
At the coming convention four dele
gates and alternates from the state at
large to the national convention are to
be elected, a state ticket to be nominated
and state committee is to be selected.
In his interview DIR. Hughes says:
Or. Hughes Talks.
1.-THE date of the convention is per-
fectly satisfactory to me, and the call
is in proper form in most respects, but it
Is a little remarkable that the state
chairman should request the various
chalrmen and secretaries of the county
conventions to send him the credentials
1t has been my understanding and obser-
walton, however, that it was the duty
of the secretary of the state committee
to have charge of all papers and make
up a temporary roll to be submitted to
the state committee to act upon, other
wise 1t seems to me that the secretary
is an ornament, and il he Is, what was
the necessity OF the committee electing
him.
~ notice that the call is only signed by
the chairman Mr.. Wellman, notwith-
standing the fact that he was authorized
to make the call by the state committee
on May II. 1903. 1t is strange to me that
he failed to have the secretary sign the
call, especially when the recent call
issued by the national committee for the
meellnR Oh lHc convention WIS
signed by both Chairman Hanna and Sec
rotary Heath.
Held a Conference.
81 also notice from the remarks in the
News in connection with the publication
Of the call that Mr.. Wellman was in
conference Immediately after his arrival
Friday night with National Committee
man J. w. Dimmick and Mr.. J. IL.
Bingham, a member of the state COM
mittee In the Age-Herald of yesterday
it is stated that he was in conference
with Mr.. Vaughan, Mr.. Davidson and
Mr. Bingham. all members of the state
committee, and j. A. W. Smith ON Sat-
urday morning.
"If, under these circumstances, Mr.
Wollman, as chairman, is not disorgan-
izer instead Of a harmonizer 1t is strange
that he did not confer with State Sec
rotary Steele, p. NJ. Long, Judge II. B.
Morton, II. G.. Ashley and myself, all OF
whom are members of the state com.
mttee. and could have been found in the
public building as well as T. IT, Miller
and J. Pollak. who are also members of
the state committee and were In Bir-
mingham.
IF Chairman Wellman is not disor-
ganizer every member of the state COM
mittce should have been consulted, IL
there was any necessity OF consultation
as they are all equally interested I'm tho
success of the party, and especially as it
was demonstrated at the meeting at the
Hillman hotel on May -, 1903, that the
state committee which is the organiza-
ton Of the state by large majority
favored the denomination of President
Roosevelt"