The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-07
COMMITTEE HAS NO
 APOLOGY ID MAKE Chairman Davis of Madison
 Writes Tyler Goodwyn ACTION FOR HARMONY
Davis Declares Ruling of State Com mittee Unnecessary and Unjust.
 Says County Committee Did
 What It Thought Just

As Another chapter in the fight between Tyler Goodwin, chairman of the state democratic executive committee anu the various county committees of the state in reference to the power of the state committee to olrect the latter ins the naming and grouping of dele gates to the state convention, and In the printing of ballots, was , made known today by the publication of a letter from Clarendon Davis, chairman of the Madison county democratic com mittee, to the chairman of the state committee:
 Tn his letter to MT Goodwin the chairman of the Madison county dem ocratic committee declares that the committee has no apology to make for going contrary to the dictates of the 10 the voters 5 representative men as Underwood delegates to the state con vention.
 The Davis Letter
 The following is the letter of MT Davis
 March A. 1912 Hon. Tyler Goodwin, Chairman State
 Executive Committee, Montgomery,
 Ala:
 Dear Sir-Your communication of February 26 received and duly con- sidered
 "The information you give in your let ter as to guidance of the several coun- ty committees in their indorsement of state delegates Is directly contrary to the ction already taken by the Madi- son county committee,
 You say the state or county commit tees have no right or power to name or submit any list of delegates to be voted on as a whole; yet your com mittee delegated this power to one man living in Birmingham, giving hlm the power to appoint one man in each coun- ty as presidential campaign manager, whom you delegate as having the pow CT of appointing the delegates to be voted on as a whole In the county.
 You cannot delegate your power to any one man or party of men. How absurd then to attempt to delegate the power of appoin tment to any one man or party of men, when you confess in your letter you do not have that power.
 "The ruling of your committee is un- necessary, unjust and undemocrauc, and leaves the county committees free to proceed in the interest of harmony and success to the democratic party.
 Your reference to the free and fair expression of the voters of the county in the selection of deelgates seems q mockery. How can there be a free anG fair expression of the voters of the county when the delegates have been appointed by one of your appointees be it by one man or by party of men in the larger towns who meet some night and organize an Underwood club It would be just as reasonable to give the owls, Eagles or Elks the authority to appoint them.
 Every member of the Madison county executive committee is for Underwood as long as his name Is before the con vention. Yet the interests of harmony and success of the democratic party oi Alabama are not subservient to the in terests of any one man. The delegates to the state convention have other duties to perform just as important, if no more so, than sending an Underwood delegation to Baltimore. By no means the last of these Is the nomination nl supreme court judges and a wise selec tion of proper men for this office is o vital importance to every man, woman and child in Alabama.
 Since your committee has decided the people are not competent to selec the supreme court judges by direc vote, then I agree with you that the voters should have free and fair ex precision of their choice as to who shal name the men to this important office
 Tt was with this view that the Mad ison county executive committee, com posed of 8 men, representing 23 voting precincts of the county, in the interest Of harmony recommended to the voters 10 representative men as Underwood dele gates to the state convention. Ther, could be nothing fairer or more just except to have called a mass meetins which owing to bad conditions of road and weather would not have let tn country people participate
 "The Madison county executive com mittee has no apology to make am no action to rescind. It did what i thought reasonable and just. It's actioi was for the interest and harmony of tn democratic party. Interest and harmon. at time when the light of democrac. looks the brightest.
 True Democracy
 Believe mo, Mir. Goodwin, like tha part of your letter best in which yo, offer your services in overcoming tn, difficulties that may arise. We hav' had dissension that threatened our part, organization and it is the duty of al of us to safeguard the fair and impar tial expression of our voters, that WI may present solid and harmonious or ganization in our fight for an Alabamiai for President; the wise selection of su preme court judges and the framing of { platform embodying the principles of tru democracy.
 With best wishes and personal re gards. I beg to remain. Your truly.
 "CLARENDON DAVIS. Chairman, Madison County Democratic Execu tive Committee"
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