The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-07

spectators, who had already so hamper ed the committee by their demonstrations with the obvious purpose of influencing the committee, that 1t was impossible to conduct the hearing in an orderly man. ner. It provided equal rights, represen- tations and opportunities to both sides
 Had Given Notice.
 Judge Stiles, had already given notice of his charges specifically. Colonel Hig- don had time, ten days, to investigate these charges and prepare for counter charges and proof. Judge Stiles obeyed the rules of the committee and prompt ly furnished his charges as required Col onel Higdon's attorney declined to receive them. The time prescribed by the com mittee within which to furnish charges expired. The attorneys for Judge Stiles then notified Colonel Higdon that he might have further time-ln fact, until the com mittee met the next day. But Judge Stiles has never been notified. nor has the com mittee nor the public, of single illegal vote charged by Colonel Higdon to have been received by Judge Stiles. He states in a card that he knows 140. He refuses to give the name of one. In this state of the case, Colonel Higdon published a card in The Age-Herald. arraigning the committee for partisanship, although it had not yet heard a single witness ner acted on a single charge, and in effect, declared his independent race for sheriff.
 When the committee met yesterday morning Colonel Hlgdon failed to appear. The committee sent a committee to Vlslt him, to notify him that 1t was ready to proceed and requested that he then fur nish his charges. He treated the com- mittee-your chosen representatives-and the party, with contempt. and made good the repeated threats of his friends, since the contest was filed. that he would run as an independent. He had an opportunity for a fair trial before the committee, the right of appeal from our judgment to the state committee, if he felt aggrieved by our action. He chose to repudiate and insult his party and declare war against 1t.
 Your committee then proceeded to inves- tigate the charges of fraud made by Judge Stiles, ascertain from the evidence that they were true, that he in fact re- ceived a majority of the legal votes, that he was the choice of the democracy and declared him the nominee.
 Evidence on Record.
 The evidence Is a matter of record All the charges were not investigated for the reason that to do so would unduly and unnecessarily protract the session of the committee.
 Judge Stiles is henceforth the candidate 
 ed in the primary Is morally obligated. every democrat Is morally and politically obligated to support him.
 Judge Stiles is no longer the eandi- date of his friends, but the candidate of the party. The fight is henceforth the party's fight.
 Every action of Colonel Higdon, since he was declared the nominee on the face of the returns, in the light of his present position, shows his original intention to bolt If he could not bluff. He has stood on technicalltes and technicalities alone in claiming your nomination. He dares not face the light of investigation, of truth-and has gone the way of all who use the party only as a means of personal aggarndizement Respectfully, J. B. Aird. chairman; John P. Abbott secretary; I. Asbury Brown, John Horan, W. Sam Brown, J. k. Tate, w A. Ward, w. l.. c. Vann, s. F. Cunningham, George w. Fox c. l.. Dabbs, Frank w. Smith. J. R. Wilson. w A. Mayfeld. John L. Parker, J. w. Nicholas, F. J. Ellard, H. M. By ars, John Harrington, w. c. Montgomery, J. B. Nabers, w. ]. Love, Ed A. Veitch. Pleas w. Acton. P. H. Harris, J. I. Kim mons, T. L. Smith, J. ". Altman, P. s. Milner. J. H. Snow, Gus Ellard, T. C. Mo Donald