The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-14
BARKER RCOMESFOR REPUBLICAN FIGHT
 14s}' Issues Address to Republi- cans of Alabama HE RECIPES HISTORY Gives Reasons for Refusal to Divide the State and Attacks Thomp-
 son for Repudiating the
 Party Platform


 Mobile, July 13.-CSpecial. )--Post- master P. B. Barker, republican na- tional committeeman from Alabama, left tonight for Birmingham to attend the meeting of the republican state executive committee, which will be called to order Saturday, when it is expected that the long standing differ ences between he and J. o. Thompson, relative to the disposition of federal patronage in the state, will be finally settled.
 Previous to his departure MT. Bar ker issued the following, address to the republicans of the state:
 "To the Republicans of NabamaTT made public announdement ih the press over a year ago that I favored the re- nomination of President Taft. If MT. J. O. Thompson ever made any public announcement in favor of President Tafts renomnation if has been within the last month.
 Recently differences arose between Mir Thompson and myself and breach resulted These differences were not of my making and the breach was brought about and insisted upon by Mir. Thompson. The President having recently Mad brought to his attention the disagreement between MT. Thomp- son and myself, requested our presence In Washington for a conference~to see if he could not reconcile our differ ences. At this conference MT. Thomp- son proposed that the state be divided either by county or districts and that he be given charge of one-half of the state and I the other half. This, of course, I could not consent to. ~
 First because being a firm believer in local self government believed the republicans of Alabama should set tie their own affairs. without annoy ing the President.
 Second, because at a conference of Alabama republicans recently held at Birmingham, which was attended by a large number of republicans from all over the state and especially from those . districts in which a majority of the i republican voters reside, the President was, unanimously indorsed for renom- ination
 q was indorsed for reelection as na- tional committeeman and candidate for tstate chairman was selected in the person of that stanch. eloquent, pop ular young republican, Pope M Long of the Sixth dstrict--a district where there is a live, militant republican party which. at the last election, elected q republican state judge and repub- lican member of the legislature, when the state republican ticket headed by MT. J. O. Thompson. who repudiated our party's platform, received the smallest republican vote in the history 5 of the party, - ! "Third: beaause ,ps dividing sthe state the President ~gwould only widen the breach and would be furnishing arms and ammunition to two camps to fight each other which would in all probab bility result ina some malcontented element seiz- ing theeadvantage, and by attacking both factiess, weakened by internecine strife, sec re a delegation hostile to President Tafe. My representatives proposed to the President that the whole matter he left to the rpublicans of the state to settle, either at meeting of the state executive committee; or al regular state convention.
 "The President is himself in favor of local self-government, therefore our proposition met with his approval, and it was so decided The issue is squarey drawn. It was not of my seeking but since 1t has come my friends cannot shlr1 from the contest or evade the issue. Those who are my friends should sup port MT. Long for state chairman No friend of mine should support MT. Thomp- son, because by supporting both Mir. Thompson and myself he would benefit MT. Thompson to my great detriment.
 q believe that by the election of MT. Long state chairman the party will secure as its leader a sincere man, a staunch republican and a loyal friend, and I urge all who desire our party's welfare and want to build, up strong, aggressive CO., hesive party, with a sincere, fearless, capable leader. to vote and work for MT. Longs success and the continued suc- cess of the republican party now so ably represented by the present national ad- ministration. Faithfully yours,
 "P. D. BARKER.
 'Mobile, July 13 1911."