The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-31
GENERAL SHAKE UP
IN THE SEVENTH
Burnett Name Will Not Go
On the Ticket
COMPLICATES
Gardner Greene Thinks Developments
May Cause Especially Serious
situation to Arise in ST.
Clair County

On account of the refusal of State
Chairman w. ID. Nesbitt to place the
name of Congressman John L. Burnett on
the regular ticket the democratic stu
alton in the Seventh district is in a gen
eral turmoil, and further development of
an interesting nature are expected be-
fore the incident closes.
The Seventh district is the closest in
the state, and the republicans, by fusion
with the populists and independents IA
several counties, are preparing to present
a solid front in the coming election. Sew
eral counties are trembling with the fear
that republican officials will be elected,
and warm fight is expected in the dis
trict between M. w. Howard and Mr..
Burnett for congressional honors in NO
vember.
| For this reason the county and district
democratic committees in the district let
down the bars to the republicans in the
primary of May In the hope of tying
up a good majority of the voters to the
support of the nominees. This, they
claimed, was absolutely necessary for the
safety of the party and its candidates.
This was contrary to the action of the
state committee, which laid down the
following qualifications
THAT all white voters who are qualified
electors under the law of the state, and
who are democrats, shall have the right
to vote in such primary election; pro-
vided. however, that no person who OPP
ho
party in the last state and congressional
elections or voted against any of them,
shall have the right to vote in said pri-
mary" '.And, further, that each and
every person voting in such primary,
shall by the act of so voting and par
ticipating therein, stand as pledged, and
in honor bound, to support all the NOM
inees of such primary in the election and
of the offices for which such nominees
are nominated therein
Return Burnett's Entrace Fee
Chairman Nesbitt warned them that
their action was in violation of the code,
and yesterday, after conference with ..
r. Hood chairman of the Seventh dis
trct committee, Mr. Nesbitt returned the
$500 entrance fee of Mr.. Burnett. He an
nounced that he would not print the
name on the official ballot, unless the
district committee revises its qualifica-
ton rules to conform with those of the
state committee. He suggested, how
ever. that the committee could have
the name of Mr. Burnett printed on the
county tickets, but that If Mr.. Burnett
insisted, he would call the committee to-
gether to hear his side of the argument.
Mr.. Hood returned to his home last
night to confer with the congressional
committee and to make the most salts
factory arrangements.
Gardner Greene, who came up from
Pell City last night, after the news
of the state chairman's action had
reache ed his home, states that the ac-
ton was received with general aston
ishment in st. Clair and he feared the
safety of the democratic nominees had
been threatened.
Leon McCord, who also lives in the
Seventh district, said last night: "Ev
cry good democrat in the Seventh dis
trict realized the Importance of letting
down the bars. Now this move of Mr..
Nesbitt's simply means that Mr.. Bur-
nett's vote will be cut very low IN
the primary, which is exactly what
they tried to avoid. 1 am working for
the interest of the state and | think
grave error has been made. Instead
of Strengthening our party ranks in
the close district we are weakening
lit by such trifling."
Gardner Greene Discusses Matter
The counties in the district are Gull
man, Franklin, Marshall DeKalb, Cher
okee, Etowah and st. Clair. In st.
Clair the republican populist- independ-
ent fusion has called mass meetings
in every precinct and Gardner Greene
of Pell City reports that the democrats
will have to make strenuous fight
to win against tn en- Mr.. Greene states
that the recent appointment of b. f.
Hammonds to the superintendency of
education in st. Clair is another un-
fortunate development He said last
night:
in the appointment of B. f. Ham
monds as Superintendent of educa ton
in st. Clair county, superintendent
Gunnells seems to have taken matters
in his own hand without regard to
the welfare and success of the party.
Mr.. Funderburg was Endorsed for
the place by the chairman, secretary
and majority of the members of tn
executive committee, all the democratic
officials with the exception of one, most
of~he business and professional men in
the city, together with great many
teach erS
HE is qualified in every respect to
fill the office and was recommended
to Gunnells not only as a competent
man, but also as man who was one
of the staunch democratic supporters
in the close political affairs Of the
county.
Il have no doubt in the world but
that we will feel the effect, of this
arbitrary appointing power In the No
vember election. Since the republicans.
populists and independents have al
ready begun organizing, this appoint
ment has left a great many strong
democrats in sore frame of mind and
have already heard some of our DEM
ocratic supporters. who feel that they
have been misused, say that they would
enter the fusion mass meetings.
II recognize Mr.. Hammonds as a
competent man, but one who has sell
dom helped in the councils of the
party
Mr.. Greene stated that the political
situation in the Seventh Is considerably
shaken up