The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-24
POLITICIANS TALK
 ABOUT ELECTION Returns of Mondays Primary
 Not Yet CanvaSsed
MR. KENNEDY EXPLAINS
Says Committee Has Not Yet Been Notified Officially of the Result at 5essemer-Reports of
 Irregularities Heard.

Bessemer. March 2S.-(Special)-A con- siderable furry has been caused in po- litieal circles by the failure of the city democratic executive committee to meet and canvass the returns of last Monday s primary. Chairman William T. Kennedy of the committee. when seeu tonight, gave out statement in which he says that the committee Is unauthorized to canvass the vote of the primary until the returning officer turns over the return sheets to the chairman of the committee
 Rumor also has it that an effort will be made to question the validity of the elec- tion on account of the failure of the man agers to follow certain instructions given by the committee It is reported that in several instances the managers Ignored provisions laid down by the commit tee.
 The new primary law requires the com mittee or the canvassing board under which elections are held to meet five days after the date of the election to can. vass the returns and certify to the elee- ton of the successful candidates. Under the law the committee has until Satur-
 
 candidates.
 Mir. Kennedy Talks.
 Chairman Kennedy, in explaining the action of the committee, cited section 101 of the new primary which provides that the returning officer of the primary must turn over the tally sheets, which have been certified by the managers and clerks of the primary, and give the results of the election.
 On these grounds, that the returning officer has failed to turn over to me the returns." said MT. Kennedy, T have declined to call the committee to meet for the purpose of canvasslng the returns of Mondays primary. In fact, the com mittee, through It's chairman. has not been notified officially of the results of the election. Personally we know the re- suits but the law requires that the com mittee must be notified officially before the election of the candidates can be cer- tlfied to. If the results of the primary are not turned over to the committee be- fore the expiration of the time limit, l will Of course call the members together to take some action In the premises"
 The returning officer Is Mayor Thomas T. Huey.
 Rumor of Invalldlty.
 While the members of the executive committee have declined to discuss the re- ports that the election inspectors had not carried out the rules made by the com mittec for conducting the primary, 1t Is reported that the refusal of the managers to allow young men under 21 years to vote who will have become of age on date of general election, Is one instance where the rules were not adhered to. It is claimed that the managers refused to ai- low several young men who registered under the conditions to cast their bal lots.
 This rule was adopted by the commit tee In a meeting shortly before the pri- mary, in which a registrar was appointed and a rule was made allowing all young men, who should have reached 21 years by the time the September election Is held, to register and vote. The committee, it is claimed cites the primary law for It's authority on this point while the election inspectors cites the new constitution, which provides that a man must be 21 years of age to vote in any election held in the state. It is prob able that an interesting point will arise from this issue between the committee and inspectors.