The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Underwood of an enthusiastic, united and absolutely loyal delegation, and l desire to say in this connection that the term of the state. committee has been fixed by properly enacted party law at four years, and no threats of any kind of a fight on the present state committee will have the effect of swerving me or any member of the committee in any degree from this pur pose.
 There are nay personal views. In my capacity as chairman of the committee l shall of course, act impartially upon all matters coming before it."
 MT. Julian says of the primary idea:
 Interview With Julian
 "It seems to me that every Alabamian will be only too glad to aid in securing the unqualified indorsement of the Hon. oscar Underwood for the nomination for President.
 more than half the counties of the state and everywhere l found the people enthusiastic in their support of MT. Underwood.
 The south has the opportunity and the man. The nomination of this emil nent statesman and loyal democrat can be secured by the southern states dele SdleS gong to the conNeHlloH WllH the determination to win. The solid south has only to stand solid for Underwood and the rest is easy. | ."The brilliant leadership of Mir Un- derwood has commanded the attention of every section of the country, and today he is looked upon as the logical candidate His statesmanship is of the highest order and no democrat has any apology to offer for the course of the ,at.nfi i.. inr Q his leadership.
 "It is apparent that the rank and file of the party desires a primary election for the selection of delegates to the na- tional convention, and any other method of selecting delegates, it seems, will be unwise. The demand for primary is as great at this time as 1t was in 1862, when the first statewide primary was ordered The people can be trusted to select a strong delegation. and I hope the execu- | tive committee will see to it and order | a primary election for delegates to the | convention, and also provide for a vote of the people for filling the vacancy on the national committee"
 Judge Screws champions the primary as follows:
 Interview With Screws
 q am heartily in favor of primary for the nomination of delegates from this state to the next national democratic | convention If the state committee should order a convention for this purpose theil | action would, in my opinion, meet witt the general disapproval of the people o | Alabama and cause bitter discord and | strife unnecessarily.
 "Alabama was one of the first state' to adopt the modern primary system
 and has received no little credit there
 for. It would be distinctly step back yard for this system to be abandoned
 and there is certainly no good reason
 for it at this time.
 "The people of Alabama have indeed 1'.'t too srlal a voice under our plai
 of government in selecting the persol
 they desire for President The state il certain to go for the democratic nomi nee, whoever he may be, and there is thu no choosing between two rival nominees It would seem unfair to me for then ',l to be deprived of the right of choosin, their own delegates. Particularly is thi } so at this time when Alabama's vote il the convention on the first ballot, an, as long as there is a chance for his nom
 ination. is certain to go to ''favorit
 som and not to one of the men wh
 are now regarded as the leading candi dates for the nomination. The plal adopted in this state four years ago O letting the neopie vote as to their di rect choice for the presidential nominee
 is an excellent one However, at thi time a direct vote as to Alabamas S choic
 for presidential nominee would be purel ) perfunctory, as all Alabamians are fo l Underwood For that reason. not onl do I favor a primary for the election
 of delegates to the national convention