The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-21

the constitution, which avoids the mui- tiplicity. of elections. and also contra dieting their own statement of gfving the young men an opportunity to reg istef and vote. and to inconvenience the farmer the least: all of which would distract attention and interest from the August primary and have the effect of n.inimizing the vote al that election.
 "As regards the senatorial primary I am in favor of it, in fact favor every officer should come from the highest to the lowest. as believe tha, every officers should come from the people and be directly responsible to the people; but the anticipation of vacancy in that office is without pre- cedent and remarkable in that they only anticipate a vacancy in one office, and the sequences of the plan logical ly carried out would bring endless confusion and utterly destroy the gen. eral proposition to give the young men chance to vote for the officers of their country. If the intent was to have given the people the right to ex- press their choice, why did they not require the candidates for Governor to pledge themselves that in the event of vacancy, they would ask for a pri- mary, then the people could have voted for real and not an imaginary cam didate and the young men coming of age in after years could vote.
 Tt appears to me, the plan laid down by the committee involves indiosyncra- sies and inconsistencies and on account of the suggestions arising from the plan, falls below the high model the leaders of great political party should set before the people.
 The calling of convention to nominate the supreme court judges is questionable, as the people have de- monstrated the capacity to nominate first class men And the statement that the lawyers should pass on the qualifications and fitness of the su- preme court candidates is without merit, as they are amenable to the peo- pie and not to the lawyers.
 Again, if for any reason it could be considered desirable to call a conven- tion to nominate Supreme Court judges, what possible reason can be given for depriving the people of the right of edecting the members of the Executive Committee. which committee should all ways be kept in touch with the people and carry out their views in matters vital to them and to the party. From the various rumors concerning the re. cent method of railroad domination lof the committee. have we not abundant reason to be alarmed at the prospect of bossism and continued railroad rule and extortion for the futuree
 This criticism is not an attack on the Committee as a whole, and 1t Is far from an attack on Democracy, because am an<intense Democrat and believe that Democracy is the party of the people, and believe that the best inc terests and best policies of the State are wrapped up in that party, and be- lfeve that every citizen should rally under its honored banner and carry 1t to success. But while this is not an attack on the Committee, 1t is a erit- icism on some things done by the oom- mittee, because those things, 1t seems to me, will not bear the glorious sun light that should come to everything Democratic.
 '.The majority of the subcommittee, which I understand formulated this plan, are, as I understand, railroad att torneys. Is that Democratic? Is not that in the largest measure subverting the people to the rule of trust and a foreign trust at that?
 ''The Birmingham News we'll says that the Government of Alabama and the Democratic Party of Alabama be- long to the people, and not to any class, clique or interest. the contrary of this Is dangerous in the extreme and not to be tolerated under any circum- rtances whatever"
 As to the subcommittee who framed the report of the Democratic Commit tee, Mir. Conner said: One word as to that subcommittee. They say of me that talk out of meeting; that call a spade a spade and names names, but if I won't do that don't feel that I am doing my duty. Two men on that Committee were who? Mr. George Jones, the pass giver of the Louisville and Nashville. Was 1t right for him, or for the best interests of the State for him to be making rules of the Dem- ocratic Party? Another man on that Committee was Mir. Jones Moore. He is A nice man. Personally like him but Mir. Jones Moore Is President of the Birmingham Southern, a little road controlled by the L.. and N
 Mr. Conner concluded bysagain re- ferring to the present Railroad Com mission as the Supreme Court of rail- road rates and addressing few re- marks to the ladies present
 Among the prominent gentlemen present was H. A. Skeggs of Decatur, Ala, and Mir. Harper of the same city, who is correspondent for a number of local papers.
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