The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-09
Plans for Gaining Control of
the State Executive
Committee
.FORTY-FIVE MEMBERS
ARE TO BE ELECTED
Railroad Rate Reform Advocates Are
Preparing for Thorough Campaign
Throughout States Admins
trative Machinery.

trative Machinery.
At the instance of w. D. Nesbitt chair
man of the Conner campaign committee,
a conference of the men who have worked
with Mr.. Conner along the line of railroad
rate reform, was called yesterday at the
New Florence hotel. About 100 assembled
in the ball room, and at 1880 the con-
ference was called to order
The purpose of the conference was to
so shape plans that when the delegates
supporting Mr. Conner in his position with
regard to rates go to the convention at
Montgomery tomorrow they will be able
to look out for the future and carry their
policies into effect, by gaining control of
the democratic executive committee.
Practically all the business of the meet
ing was conducted in executive session.
but 1t is said that everything in the
premises looking to control of the COM
mittee was accomplished. However, it is
said that the rights of the minority are
to be duly recognized and provided for.
as the result of a suggestion put for
ward by Mr. Nesbitt
The conference entirely concurred in
what was done at an informal meeting
of Conner men at Montgomery.
To Enlarge Committee.
1t was agreed that forty-hve members
of the state executive committee should
be elected-nine to be elected from the
state at large, and four from each con-
gressional district. Under this plan the
four members from each congressional
district are to be selected according to the
suggestion of the friends of railroad rate
reform from each district. The forty-five
members of the state executive commit
tee are to be chosen at one time by the
convention as whole, and not as hereto
fore has been the custom, by nomination
of separate congressional districts.
A Steering committee was selected
and Monday morning it will begin work
with headquarters at the Exchange hotel
In Montgomery. rames of members COM
posing this committee were not made pub
lie.
Purpose Stated.
After calling the meeting to order Mr..
Nesbitt explained his object In issuing
the call. He said in part: This confer
ence has been called for the purpose of
mapping out policies to be adopted by the
friends of railroad rate reform in Ala
bama. After the great victory of August
q some of the leading men in the move
ment for lower freight rates met to dis
cuss the situation and it was agreed that
we should elect committee friendly to
our cause AS the election has shown we
are no longer faction of the party but
a majority. with the full responsibility of
the party resting on us, and as a majority
we are entitled to the control of the state
executive committee, yet I feel that we
should give to the minority the right OF
representation"
ION yesterday there was an informal
meeting of the friends of railroad rate
reform, and we went over the list of the
delegations to the state convention. With
only five counties to be accounted for, we
find that 351 delegates were friendly to
our cause as against III who may be for
other principles
Mr.. Rhodes Remarks.
On motion of Arch Henderson of Ander-
son, Rufus N. Rhodes was elected chair
man of the conference. As Mr.. Rhodes
took the floor to make a speech of ae-
ceptanee b. b. Conner, the nominee for
governor, entered the room. Mi Conner
was received with great applause Mr..
Rhodes then proceeded with his speech.
He said in part: at appears In going
over the names Of the delegates chosen to
the state convention that we have 1858
sympathizers with the opposition having
III, and five counties yet to be heard
from. If my political experience amounts
to anything, this is not a fair chronom-
eter by which we may judge of our
power We will do well if we have 300 in
convention
The time has come I think when the
rule by which the members of the state
democratic committee are named by Con-
gressional districts should be abrogated.
The convention as a whole should select
the next executive committee and the per-
sonnet should be that of men In har-
mony with the dominant sentiment of the
takably expressed at the recent demo-
cratic primary. l. believe that none of
the opposition should be allowed to sit
on the state executive committee. In the
language of William Jennings Bryan; The
time for us has come to cease begging
and to command
AS Mr.. Conner arose in response to in
sistent calls for him, the meeting was
declared in executive session. Chairman
Rhodes at a suggestion from Mr. Nesbitt
said, Let 1T be understood that what
ever goes out of this meeting is without
our consent or approval"
1t is understood that the question of
Mr.. Comer's- successor on the railroad
commission was not brought up. Mr..
Conner began speaking at a little after
2 p m. The conference adjourned about
o'clock.
(Communicated)
Erono