The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-04
.H|GDON FRIENDS
 PASS RESOLUTIONS
Ask Executive Committee to
 Confirm Nomination
BIG MASS MEETING HELD
Several Speeches Are Made Strongly FaVoring the Nomination of Colo nel Higdon-Glve Torch
 light Parade.

It is estimated that from 1900 to 20O0 people assembled at Capitol park last night and engaged in rally in the in- terest of Col E. L. Higdon, democratic nominee for sheriff of Jefferson county.
 A number of enthusiastic speeches were made favoring the nomination of Colonel Higdon and calling upon the executive committee was called upon to sustain the nomination of Higdon.
 The following resolution was adopted; The Resolution. Whereas E. L. Higdon, on the 17th day of September, 1906 in a democratic pri- mary, received a majority of democratic votes in Jefferson county while running as a democratic candidate for the nomi- nation to the office of sheriff of said county; and, whereas, on the 18th day of September, 1906, the county democratic executive committee of said county de- clared that the said Higdon had received a majority of said democratic votes, and declared him to be the regular nominee of the democratic party for said office of sheriff, and
 Whereas, Judge J. P. Stiles, who was the only other candidate for said office of sheriff in said democratic primary, Is now eontesting, before the democratic county ' the right of the said Higdon to the nomi nation which has been given him by the democratic voters of Jefferson county;
 Be 1t resolved by this mass meeting of democratic voters, That in the interests of peace and harmony in the democratic party of Jefferson county, and for the good of the entire community, we most respectfully submit to the democratic ex- eeutive committee of Jefferson county, be- fore whom this contest is pending, that it refuse to entertain said contest, and that they dismiss the same, for the following reasons, to-wit:
 l. Because 1t is an established custom and precedent in the democratic party that it's executive committees will not go behind the election returns, as was shown in the contest of Clanton Miller vs. Hen ry R. Gray and in the recent contest of C. P. Beddow vs. N. L. Miller.
 9 Because the primary election law under which said primary election was held on the 17th of September, 19O6 is so utterly inadequate and deficient that fair and impartial trial of contest ed election cannot be had, in that said primary election law provides no method by which the county democratic. executive committee can issue any legal process or compel the attendance of any witnesses, and in that said law makes no provision by which said committee can administer
 
 witness to answer any questions he may not wish to answer; and in that, no pro- 1 vision Is made by law to punish any wit ness for false swearing
 3. Because said contest should have 1 been filed before the probate judge of Jefferson county-the only officer under 1 the law who Is authorized to issue pro- cess, compel, the attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt any witness who may refuse to answer questions.
 4 Because no security for costs, as required by law, was given by the said Stiles at the time of the filing of this said contest, and as the expense of the contest would amount to hundreds of dollars. there would be no way to col feet the costs, the so-called security which was given not being payable to any one, and 1t being collectlble by any one, nor approved by any one.
 5. Be 1t further resolved, that in tthe 1 sense of this mass meeting that the legis- l lature, at it's next session, should be re- 1 quested to enact primary law that will remedy the defects herein above pointed out and that will contain provisions se- curing full fair and just trial between contestants and contestees.
 Committee Appointed.
 The following committee was appoint ed to present the resolution to the execu- tive committee at the meeting today: A. o. Lare chairman; J. H. Miller G. R. Horsh, Won l.. Thompson, A. Leo Ober- dorfer Frank S White
 After the meeting a torch light pro l cession in which hundreds joined moved down Twentieth stree4 fed by 0 brass band.
 The meeting was presided over by A. l o. Lare. Fred NJ Jackson introduced the following speakers: P. G. Bowman, Sterling A. Wood Mayor J. J. Sullivan | of Bessemer, Hugh McGeever and J. E. | B. Jackson.