The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-05
CoI r, | Higdon's Motion is
 OVerrded THE SHR|EVALTY MATTER Case Goes Over Until Today-Aird Is Elected Chairman of the New Jef- ferson County Democratic
 Executive Committee.

The Jefferson county democratic execu-
 tive committee will try the Stiles -Higdon
 sheriffalty contest.
 | Yesterday evening at 6 o'clock the mo-
 ton of Colonel Higdon to dismiss the peti-
 tion of contest filed some days ago by
 Judge Stiles was overruled by the commit l tee
 | Almost all of yesterday was consumed
 in the consideration of this motion. At
 torneys representing respectively the con- testant and contestee argued the motion exhaustively and when a vote was taken
 at 6 D. m. the motion to dismiss the Stiles petition was lost by a vote of g to 19. 1 The petition of contest will be taken up | this morning at o'clock and the hearing
 promises to consume all of today and per- haps several days. From present indica-
 tions it will be one of the most interest ing contests of the kind ever held in Bir-
 mingham.
 l A o. Lane, Leo Oberdorfer and J. H. 1 Miller addressed the committee in support
 of the Higdon motion to dismiss the peti-
 tion of contest and E. H. Cabaniss. R. N.
 Bell and Sidney J. Bowie represented the
 contestant and spoke against the Higdon
 motion.
 After the vote overruling the motion the
 committee adjourned until o'clock this morning.
 The Higdon motion sets up the plea that the Stiles contest was not properly filed with the officer prescribed by law; | | costs and that the committee has no juris-
 diction in the hearing of such cases or
 power to execute orders or enforce at-
 tendance of witnesses.
 Days Proceedings. Retiring Chairman B. A. Thompson call
 ed the county democratic committee to
 order in the city court room, second divis- | ion, of the county court house yesterday morning at Il o'clock.
 l The roll was called by Secretary J. P. Abbott. Almost the entire membership of
 the committee answered present. | The election of a new chairman being | the first business to be attended to, J. | A Aird was put in nomination by A. P. | Rich There being no other nomination, | MT. AlrQ was elecleu Dy dccldIHdtioH. J. | P. Abbott was elected secretary. R. Du- pont Thompson was also put in nomina- ton for secretary. The vote stood 47 to l in favor of Abbott.
 The following committee was appointed
 to escort the newly elected chairman to | the hall A. P. Rich, John Altman and | John Hill.
 | In a few well-chosen words, Chairman 1 Aird thanked the members of the com mittee for the honor bestowed on him and spoke of the great responsibility of
 the county executive body of the demo- 1 cratic party.
 J. R. Copeland offered the following
 resolution. which was adopted: | Complimentary to Thompson. Whereas, our retiring chairman, Hon. B. A. Thompson. has, during his admin | istration as presiding officer of this com
 mittee made us an honest, capable and | efficient officer; and,
 | Whereas his counsel has been wise, his l courteousy universal his fairness unques- toned and his services to this commit | tee and to the party invaluable; there l fore, be 1t
 l Resolved that we do commend him for l his efficiency as a presiding officer, and | further that we do express to him our | sincere thanks for his courteousy con- | sideration and patience towards each and 1 every member of this committee; for his 1 wise counsel and advice; his tireless eff | forts for the party and his fair and im- l partial rulings on all questions arising l for discussion, thereby largely contribut- | ing to the harmony and good will that | has prevailed in the committee during | his administration.
 I rr-t-I- I
 the committee for the expression of con- | fidence and good will. | The following proxies were passed upon | and accepted by the committee as a | whole:
 l A H. Benners for Charles J. Martin, 1 Beat 3; G. l.. Smith for w. M. Ham, mond, Beat 32; B. C. Jones for s. M. | Blake Beat 42; J. w. Nichols for P J. McAdory, Beat 32; M W. Blackwell for NJ A. Wood, Beat AS; T. c. Mcdonald
 for ". T. Poe, Beat 37; T. A. Brown for | ". G. Brown, Beat [; w. c. Montgom-
 cry for J. w. Howard, Beat 2O E. A. Veuch for Thomas G. IIuey, Beat 33 D. J.
 Love for J. A. Massey Beat 15. w. L. C.. | Yam was seated as committeeman from | Trussvlle, there being a tie vote reported 1 from that precinct, and Mr. Vann being
 the only man present claiming the nomi- 1 nation.
 | Mariners Present