The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-07
Question Not Embarrassing

question NOt EmDarraSS1ng
 The question, however. will not an- noy the democrats so much as it will the republicans, for a considerable pro portion of the membership of the com mittee is favorable to the proposition, and it is doubtful if any of the com mitteemen will openly oppose the prin- ciple. Inasmuch as about one third of the states have no primary laws what ever, it is impracticable, if not impos- sible. for the committee to direct abso- lutely that all delegates must be chosen by the primary plan and be instructed in the same manner. It is predicted, however, that the democrats will meet the situation by declaring for the prin- ciple and directing that 1t be followed wherever it may be done properly in the discretion of the various state com mittees. Such plan will allow those states where primary laws prevail to have their delegates elected by that method and instructed, if the people desire to do so, while in those other states where there are no primary laws the old convention method will have to prevail. 1t is not expected that there will be any serious controversy over the matter as there was with the republicans.
 There are at least two interesting con tests coming before the committee for settlement, one from Pennsylvania and the other from Tennessee. At the Den yer convention a resolution was adopted which provides that wherever vacancy occurs in the membership of the national committee of the state wherein the va cancy exists. Prior to that time the national committee filled it's own vacan- cies.
 At the Denver convention, acting ir accordance with the wishes of Colonel Bryan, who was to be the nominee, q certain number of delegates from Phila- delphia were thrown out, and thereby Colonel James M. Guffey of Plttsburg the national committeeman for Pennsyl- vania and the recognized leader of the state, lost control of the state delegation and was busted from the committee. Col onel Guffey had at one time been one of Bryan's warmest friends, but they differ ed and it was at Bryan's behest that he lost his place on the national commit tee and James M. Kerr was selected in his stead.
 Pennsylvania Muddle
 A few months after the election Kerr died, whereupon the Pennsylvania state committee, which Guffey continued to control, exercised the right given it under the new party procedure and again se- lected Guffey as national committeeman The Pittsburg politician, however, had scarcely got his old seat warm again before there came another rupture in the. Pennsylvania state democracy due to Colonel Guffeys insistence in nominating State Senator Webster Grim for governor In 1910, at time when the rank and file thought that another should have been chosen. ~rhey charged up the defeat of the party at the one time in generation when it had a chance to win, to Guffey There was reorganization of the state con1niitte and by q majority of one, Cuff fey was again busted and Representative A, Mitchell Palmer was chosen In his stead Both will appear before the na- tional committee here and ask to be seat ed. and the committee must decide be- tween them. Both claim the seat hy right of regularity
 The Tennessee case is between Col. R