The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-11
scommunicated.)

for governor of Alabama the re-
publican ticket, was yesterday formal
ly notified of his nomination by
committee of prominent Alabama re-
publicans. Mr.. Thompson accepted the
nomination in an able speech in which
he outlined his position on the issues
before the people of the state.
The notification speech was made by
the Hon. Amos Goodhue of Gadsden
in an address which called especial
attention to the fact that the time had
now arrived in Alabama for two strong
parties
The notification took place at the
residence of Mr.. Thompson on Tenth
avenue, South Highlands. Only the
members of the notification committee
and a few close friends were pres
emit
The following were the members OF
the notification committee: Amos
Goodhue of Gadsden, Probate Judge
John S. Curtis of Winston county
Probate Judge L. S. Reynolds OF
Chiffon county, Probate Judge A. F.
Longshore of Shelby county, NAL
p D. Barker, postmaster of Mobile;
Prof. r. P Wills. superintendent of
the public schools at Brewton;
George w. Parsons of Talladega, j.
A. Grimmett. postmaster of Tuske-
gee: u G. White of Athens, Erskine
Ramsay of Birmingham, S. o. Mid
dleton of Clanton, e. A. Robinson
of Sheffield, ]. A. Nations of Cordova,
and Capt. John 7. McEniry of Besse-
mer.
Prior to the notification exercises
the state republican committee held
meeting and announced the selection
of the following campaign committee:
Frank II. Lathrop of Birmingham
chairman; T. H. Aldrich of Birming-
. ham, treasurer; DR.. J. w. Hughes OF
birmingham, chairman of the speak
ers, bureau, and N. L. Steele. secre-
| tary of the campaign committee.
Tt was announced by Chairman La
fhrop that campaign headquarters
would be opened Monday in rooms 44o
and AL >of the Brown-Marx building
| on next Monday.
Mr., Goodhuc's Speech
Mr.. Goodhue in his speech of notifi-
cation said:
Mr. Thompson-Upon this committee
has been laid the pleasant duty OF con-
viewing to you the official and formal
notification of the fact that you have
been nominated as the candidate of the
republican party of Alabama for the
office of governor of this proud common
wealth. For many years this state has
heen completely under the domination OF
single party. A nomination by this
marty to any state office has been equiv
.,ent to an election If such unlimited
,ease of mower as has been given to
The democratic party in Alabama had not
resulted in evil and corruption, 1t would
have been because those in charge of
marty affairs were endowed with super
human virtue and goodness. In the
political history of all states and ma
tions. it has been found unsafe to trust
q single party too long with the rens
| of power. From the very nature OF
things, 1t is always unfortunate when
one party for a great period of time
holds unchallenged and undisputed con-
troll of governmental affairs. The best
| government always results from the ex-
istance of two political parties contend
ing for the mastery with strong in
dependent vote holding the balance of
power. In this way both parties are
compelled to put forward their best ana
| cleanest men in order to appeal to and
secure this independent vote. In Alabama
for many years it has been believed by
a large number OF voters that the eX-
istance of two such parties would great
Nv better political conditions, but they
have been deferred from exercising their
tndependence by the fear of endangering
"white supremacy" In other words, 1t
has been popularity taught and believed
that it was necessary that all white
men should be solidfed into single
marty, regardless of whether the nominees
of that party are acceptable, or the
nractices and policies of that party in
accordance with the political views and
opinions of voters. But thinking men
have come to perceive that white .supre-
macy" is not endangered by the division
Of white men into two great political
parties, in which they may express their
true political convictions at the ballot
box When we remember that the regis
tered white voters of Alabama exceed
100000 in number whereas the registered
negro voters approximate 5000 in number,
It becomes clear and manifest that to
allow these 5000 voters to throttle the
convictions of thousands of white voters,
and compel these thousands of white
voters to silence their convictions and to
stand unwilingly together in order to
protect themselves against the domino
ton of these 5000 voters is according to
these 5000 voters far greater influence and
power than is their due. Such a fear Of
these few negro votes and their paltry
influence is surely not "white supre-
macy" Tt surely ill becomes proud and
noble white men of Alabama to suffer
themselves to be deprived of their in
Sependente by the fear that In some
mysterious way this I. 1900 votes about
evenly divided between the republican
IN and democratic parties should become a
l. dominant factor In Alabama politics.
Under the regulations OF our constitu-
ton now firmly established. "white