The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-12
Letters to The Editor
Stnte Politics.

Editor The Advertiser:
 The extraction of the ancient party platform from our campaigns Tor the uses in discussion of questions of policies and principles brought into view by the remaining party machin- cry. Since Clanton and Bragg were at the head. the Democracy of the rank and file has felt no such interest in State Committee action as now. Clan ton and Bragg were merely organ izers and firecfors of definitely ascer- tained public and party sentiments. Interest in the Committee now is stim- ulated by the fact of Committee ini- tiative In untried ventures.
 We have set up in this State with painful labor, an organic law which purports to erect over us govern our hearts set upon broader civil life, we have eXpurgated the incubus of an electorate left to us by eon- quest. Every test of legality applied ed it as consistent with "the supreme law of the land"
 Thus far advanced on the highway to reform, Alabama has attempted to pu- rify the process of elections. The State Committee has been assigned to a function in elections by our prima-
 The question of prime consideration before the Committee tomorrow is plainly and palpabIy defined as the question of right :n that body to en-
  ernment under which we live.
 The Governor of Alabama takes an oath of office prescribing his obedience to ''the supreme law of the land. the laws and constitution of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. It Is not made compulsory on him to appoint a Senator in Congress to fill vacancy. It is left at discretion to appoint. But 1t is a valuable State right to be rep resented in the Senate, adjudged to be so essential to the system that the ing the vacancy Is required to fill 1t. Of course. the right of the people to assemble and express preference for one or another citizen as senator ernor or election by the Legislature, Is in strict harmony with our system. But 1t is very different thing. and a very serious thing, when 2 feature of our State elections, to wit: the State Committee of party. comes forward with the imprimatur of law to apply the machinery of primary to control the Governor in his relations to "the supreme law of the land, the laws and constitutions of any State to the con trary notwithstanding.
 No scheme whatsoever which Vto- lates the letter or Intent of the Consti- tuition of the United states in the deS- Ignated processes for filling vaean- cy regular or accidental. In the Sen ate. is within the privileges of a State
 Every voter who may have access to a law library will find the matter decision of a court. (See Cyclopedia of Law. Vol; F. page $2S4. It E late the spirit of the Constitution in the distribution of powers and func' tions of government.
 Let us see if the Committee has moi in effect qualified every Den Democrat .n whe rIa vising outside of its rights. Ii. Rich, ard Roe gets to the polls. on. August S7th. prox. desiring to vote for John T1oe for Governor, can he cast his vote under the simple regulations 1f of f1dhG the pan candidate for Governor. has no, dTed his signature to an arbitrary Committee rule. he cannot stand as a csndidate. If the Committee has power to qualify John Doe by other than a
 legally PssGri6sssa test r6%sT 5SS9 the 6SsL co% ma
 WntSrs and the election in all parti,- ulars A,.h