The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-28
HOWE SUGGESTS
COMMITTEE MEET
EARLY |NOCTOBER
Session of Congressional
Body Important Because
of Underwood's Attitude
HOWE PROBABLY
NEXT CHAIRMAN
Nothing Will Be Done Until Mr..
Underwood Comes to Birmingham
and Expresses Intention Re-
garding Senatorship

Henry r. Howe. secretary of the Ninth
district congressional committee on his
return yesterday morning from Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland, stated that in
all probability there would occur meet
ing of the committee early in October,
but not prior to the coming of Oscar w.
Underwood to Alabama.
1nasmuch as one or more candidates
for Congress from the Ninth district are
already in the race for the honor of sue
ceeding Mr.. Underwood, the statement of
Mr.. Howe, who on account of the re-
cent resignation of e. X. Campbell, as
ed chairman of the committee. is doubly
interesting
For the last 10 years, Mr.. Underwood
has attended the meeting of the commit
tee, and Mr. Howe holds that it will be
only fitting for him to attend the next
meeting, irrespective of whether or not
he will longer personally be concerned
with the action of the committee.
First Important Meeting
: In view of the fact that Mr.. Under
wood has not formally announced his
candidacy, and will not do SO prior to
his return to Alabama. Mr.. Howe hasa
concluded that it would be unwse for the
committee to convene and proceed in the
dark, as 1t were. For that reason, among
others, postponement to an October date
was decided upon
Heretofore with Underwood candidate
without opposition, the meetings of the
committee have been perfunctory, and the
members, as a rule, have been represent
ed by proxy. The October meeting, how
ever. will be of great Importance. In
the first place. it will be necessary to
elect chairman to succeed Judge Camp
bell, whose resignation was presented
some weeks ago. 1t is taken for granted
that Mr.. Howe will be chosen without
opposition He has for Is years been a
member of the committee, and for the
greater part of that time, mas been its
secretary.
There will then follow discussion rela-
tive to which of two plans, the majority
or plurality shall prevail.
List of Candidates
1t is taken for granted that If jefferson
county presents many candidates, an el-
fort will be made to order the majority
plan of election 1t is probable that there
Will be little opposition to this plan, I'M
less the candidates, themselves. should
protest on account of the additional ex-
pense TO which this plan will subject
them. On the other hand. the candidates
cannot openly or formally protest it is
pointed out, against a plan which guran-
tees that the successful man VIII be sup
ported by'a majority vote of the people.
Many men have been mentioned for
the honor of succeeding to the Under
wood berth. Nathan l.. Miller and r. II.
Huey are openly in the field, though
neither has formally announced. Jere
c. King, W. M. Drennen, John B. Reid,
DIR. Russell NJ Cunningham, Borden Burr,
all of Jefferson. and J. F. Thompson of
Bibb. have been mentioned A man not
mentioned in the list will formally an
nounce his candidacy at a later date.
Personnel of Committee
Secretary Howe is one of the few warm
personal and political friends of Mr.. I'm
derwood who believes that the party
leader makes mistake to surrender his
present position to become a candidate
for the Senate. He states that he is not
as positive as others that Mr.. Underwood
VIII run. The personnel of the commit
4ee of the district follows:
= Jefferson-Henry r. Howe and Ira
Standefur.
Blount--W. +. Harrell and d. r. Black
wood.
Bibb--J T. Ellison and J. A. Wood .
Perry--H. C. Howe and G.. Burke john
ston.
At the October meeting, Mr.. Howe an
ticipates a full attendance of the men,
bers of the committee. For there prom
ises to be important business for trans
action.