Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
ALABAMA POLITICS.
Chairman Thompson of the State Re-
publican Committee Resigns.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

'PeSi"l bispatcH 10 lbe star
BIRMINGHAM. Ala, June 9.-An-
nouncement just made that Joseph o.
Thompson will tender his resignation as
chairman of the republican state execu-
tive committee at a special meeting of
the committee to be held here June 13.
and that when his term of office expires
as internal revenue collector for the dis
trfct of Alabama next February he will
not be an applicant for reappointment,
has caused the biggest sensation which
republican circles In this state have wit
messed for several years Chairman
Thompson and Capt. Charles Scott of
Montgomery. republican national COM
mitteeman from Alabama, have been rec
ognized as the patronage referees of the
President in Alabama for several years.
Originally there were three referees. for
mer Congressman w. F. AIdrich being
the third, but Col. Aldrich dropped out q
year two ago.
In the fall of 1902 when the republican
state convention met here after the adon
ton of the new constitution of Ala barna
eliminating the ignorant negro vote the
negro who could not vote was also ex-
Guided from participation In republican
councils. William Vaughan we'll known
Birmingham lawyer was at that time
republican state chairman. This action
appears to have angered President Roose-
welt, who proceeded at once to ignore the
republican organization in this state Re-
fore that time the republican state chair
man had been the practical distributor
or federal patronage, but after the lilly
whites, as they were called. came to as
eendancY the PRESIDENT created a board
of referees composed of Thompson Scott
and Aldrfch, who advised him on all Ala
bama appointments.
AS republican state chairman. internal
revenue collector and head of the patron
age referee board in Alabama Thompson
has been envied by other republicans
who looked upon him the mouthpfece
and personal representative of the Presi-
dent in this state. For a long time the
word of the referees was practically law
when 1t came to appointments. Finally
however, the President began to ignore
their recommendations. This was done
in the case of Judge Thomas r. Roulhae
democrat. who was appointed district ~
torney for the northern district of Ala
bama. More recently the referees were
turned down when young Mr.. Parsons
was appointed district attorney for -fha
middle district of Alabama over their pro-
test. Still later when Mr.. Judkins was
made marshal of the middle district. the
referees got the hot end Of it, Finally
during the past week. J. P. Dimfnick was
nanaed by the President for postmaster
al Montgomery over the man recommend
ed by the referees, and soon afterward
came the statement from Chairman
Thompson himself that he would step
down and out as the head of the republi-
can party In this state and would not
seek reappointment as internal revenue
collector, having determined to devote all
his time TO his private interests, which
are quite large.
1t is alleged by some that the admins
sration has gone back on Thomson and
ing his political office and his federal Of
nee at the same time. Davidson a lily
white" leader, will be candidate for
state chairman. and his friends believe
ha flv - nezst