The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-06
Goodwyn's Statement

The statement of Tyler Goodwin is as follows:
 'I have read the opinion rendered by W. A. Gunter, Sr., in this mornings Advertiser and while, of course, his opinion may be gratifying to the gen tleman who requested it, yet it is evi- dent that in arriving at his conclusions he has overlooked several sections of the urinary. election law.
 Tn the first place the primary cleo tion law. strictly construed applies only to the nomination of candidates for public office The very first section of the law reads as follows:
 :" Section l. Be it enacted by the leg islature of Alabama, that a primary election within the meaning of this act Is an election held by the qualified vot CTS who are members of any political a candidate or candidates for public of fce
 This clearly establishes the extent to which the legislature intended the pro- visions of the law to go.
 'The only reference which it makes to party authorities is in section 31a which reads as follows:
 That there may be provided a com mittee of each party for the state and each political subdivision of the state said committees to be selected in such manner as may be provided for by the governing authority of each party
 This is the only case in which any party matters is touched upon and this. as it will be seen, clearly provides that the manner of selection is entirely with in the discretion of the party authority itself.
 Tn addition to these statements in or der that there might be no misunder- standing of the authority of the party in regard to its party matters, the two following sections were adopted by the legislature:
 Section IS. The party holding such primary election may, through it's ex- ecutiye committee or other governing authority, prescribe or fix any rules or regulations for the holding of such pri- mary election not inconsistent or In con- flict with this act
 I" Section fl The state executive com nittee shall prescribe such other addi- tional rules governing contests and other matters of party procedure as it may deem necessary not in conflict with the provisions of this act.
 Every provision of the primary law applies solely to the nomination of can didates for public office and not in any sense to the election of merely party committeeman or delegates The judge of probate of county cannot. because he may not approve of some plan adopted by the party Tor it's purely internal man agement. lawfully exercise the right to change that plan to suit his own views nor can any provision be found in the primary election law which directly or indirectly gives him the right to print any matter upon the ballot except such as may be certified to him by the sec- retary of state or the chairman of the county committee and as certified by them
  the preparation and passage of the pri- mary election law, ! want to say that it's provisions were drawn so as to apply solely to the nomination of candidates for public office and not in any way 10 interfere with, diminish or affect any political partys right to adopt it's own rules and regulations and procedure Tor the selection of it's own committeeman and delegates in it's own way and under itc oufn authority.