The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-09
LETTERS TO EDITOR
More About Primary Expenses

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 A few days ago I made an inquiry
 through the columns of The Age-Herald
 as to why the state executive committee had made the usual assessments against Candidates for state offices when the primary election law enacted at the
 last session of the legislature provided
 that the expenses of any such election
 should be paid by the respective coun- ties in which held. My reason for ask | ing this question was because it was | a matter of common understanding, and of some scandal among the people that, prior to the enactment of this law, only a rich man could run for office in Alabama, and it was the understanding | that this provision of the primary elec-
 tion law was for the express purpose
 of abolishing the heavy assessments
 usually levied by committees against
 candidates, and for the purpose of per hitting man of small means to be- come a candidate for office.
 In this mornings issue of The Age Herald I note that the Hon. Tyler Good wyn, chairman of the state committee, answers my query, and says among other things.
 MT. Williams, who, I am sure, is sin cere in the view he takes, assumes that the counties pay all the expenses of the primary This, however, is by no | means the case. The counties pay mere- | ly for the printing of the ballots, etc, and managers of election, who have | heretofore generally been provided not by the state committee, but at the ex- pense of the county committee. In aA fA fhn lar ,F
 other necessary printing and notices of election In each county and the other innumerable expenses attendant upon the holding of a general primary cleo tion, the committee in presidential years
 makes an appropriation for the use of the national committee, and should also provide a reasonable fund to aid the party candidates in doubtful coun-
 ties In the following November elec- tion."
 Notwithstanding MT. Goodwyns ex- planation, who, l am sure is sincere in
 the view he takes, ] am yet unable to
 understand why these assessments
 should be made. The section of the act regarding payment of expenses by the
 committee reads in part as follows: "The expense of such primary shall be paid out of the county treasury of the several counties in which such gen. eral primary election is held, in the same manner and to the same extent
 as may be provided by law for the pay
 ment of the expenses of general cleo tion held under the laws of Alabama |" Does not this law cover "the large
 amount of other necessary printing and
 notices of election in each county and other innumerable expenses attendant upon the holding of a general primary election" referred to by MT. Goodwin? :?
 It seems to me that it is broad enough
 to do so.
 am Al years old, have been a dem ocrat all my life, and have always been
 under the impression that an executive committeeman held an honorary posi- ton for which he received no remuner- ation, whether he be a national com mitteeman or otherwise. Neither have I l ever heard of a fund being raised or expended by an executive committee to | aid candidates in doubtful counties. | These must De new rules formulated by
 the present state committee.
 l do not for one moment question | the integrity of purpose of the state | committee. yet it must be little hard
 on some of the candidates who contrib ute their money to cover expenses of
 the primary election to discover that | the committee in presidential wears
 makes an appropriation for the use of
 the national committee and should also | provide a reasonable fund to aid the
 party candidates (probably his oppo-
 nents in the primary) in doubtful coun-
 ties in the following November elec- | tion."
 It may be that no candidate for a
 state office would object to an assess
 ment against him, whether rightfully
 or wrongfully, if it would aid in the
 election of Oscar w. Underwood to the
 presidency of the United States. But.
 this begs the question, and l am still of the opinion that these assessments; are irregular and prevent a man of
 small means from running for office in
 Alabama, thereby defeating the purpose
 of the primary election law.
 | Very truly.
 k. L. WILLIAMS. Birmingham, January s, 1912 lGIANTS TO PRACTTCE