The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-20
Another Meeting Will Prob
ably Be Held Next Monday
to Consider Primary
FILLING VACANCIES
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Resolution for Primary Was Intro
duced, But After Considerable
Discussion Was Withdrawn.
Petition for Next Meeting

After stormy session in which con-
siderable "spice' was injected the city
democratic executive committee at its
meeting last night did practically moth
ing.
The committee met in the circuit court
room at the courthouse, which was
crowded with committeeman, prospective
committeeman and interested spectators.
During the brief session charges We're
made that a slate had been formed
and that the gag rule" was being in
volIed. Only one resolution relating to
the proposed primary was introduced,
which was to the effect that "the city
democratic executive committee call
primary for the purpose of selecting
democratic candidate for the position of
city commissioner, but after some dis
cussion the resolution was withdrawn.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman o. S. Finch, with Dupont
Thompson as temporary secretary On
calling the roll it was found that % of
were present. The chairman ruled that
proceeded. Henry j. Martin made mo.
ton that a committee of three be ap-
pointed to pass proxies and declare
vacancies. The chair appointed Henry
j. Martin Phil Armstrong and j. l..
Drennen as the committee.
Committee Report Starts Trouble
The report of the committee precipi-
tn fo1 ba ,t,1i, in, tie
port it recommended names to fill the
vacancies declared. Lee Cowart made
objections to the committee suggesting
names and moved that that part of the
committee report declaring vacancies be
accepted, but not 10 accept the recon-
mendation to fill the vacant places. This
brought about heated discussion, in
which the decision of the chair was over
ruled in one instance and motion to
adjourn was voted down. The motion
made by Mr.. Cowart was carried by a
vote of 13 to 9. Mr.. Cowart followed this
with motion to postpone the filing
of any and all vacancies until the next
meeting of the committee, which was
carried by the same vote.
The question of the two. new wards of
the city, those of East Lake and Wylam
came up, and it was decided to defer
the election of new committeeman for
those two wards until the next meeting
of the committee.
Bethea Offers Resolution
John b. Bethea offered a resolution to
call a democratic primary to select a
candidate for city commissioner. which
brought about a heated discussion be-
tween the chairman and Mr.. Bethea, in
bat lata
had been formed, but after some dis
cussion the resolution was withdrawn
At this point ]. l.. Drennen raised the
point that as two new wards had been
added to the city and that there were
at least 10 vacancies on the committee
1t would be unfair to adopt any plan of
action until the vacancies had been filled
and the committeeman elected from the
two wards. He moved to defer further
action in the matter until this was done
which was carried by an almost unani-
nous vote A motion was made to ad-
journ at this point and a motion to fix
the date of the next meeting failed to
reach the ear of the chairman and the
meeting was declared adjourned.
Petition for Next Meeting
After the meeting several members of
the committee decided to request the
chairman to call a meeting for next
tion was drafted:
ITO the Honorable O. S. Finch, Chair
man of the City Democratic Lxecu-
tive Committee.
We, the undersigned members of the
city democratic committee, respectfully
request your honor TO call a meeting
of the city democratic executive COM
mittee for Monday, May IS, at o'clock,
to transact such business as shall be
brought before the committee.
Roger Snyder. Lee Cowart, John B.
Bethea, C. d. Comstock. G.. w. Brown,
r. B. Watts, w. J. Rande.
This petition will be presented to
Chairman Finch this morning and the
committee will probably meet at the
above date.
Those Present
On the roll being called, of the original
committee the following members an
swered present: John Douglas, First
ward; Ben Leader and Abe Rich, Second
ward John Bethea. Third ward o. S
Finch, r. b. Watts. Fourth ward; H. b.
Abernathy, Fifth ward; John b. Rosen-
stihl, DR.. w. G. Shropshire, Sixth ward:
w. H. Tomppert, w. T. McAllister, Sew
enth ward; ]. l.. Drennen. Eighth ward;
Henry Martin, S. G. Frey, Tenth ward;
w. p. Armstrong W. j. Randle Elev-
enth ward; r. Dupont Thompson,
Twelfth ward; DR.. NJ. E. Moreland. Thir
teenth ward; c. ID. Comstock, DIR. George
w. Brown, Fourteenth ward; Lee Cow
art, Roger Snyder Fifteenth ward; C.
G. Burke. J. e. Nolan, Sixteenth ward.
Absentees: Mike Sullivan. First ward
VIII Johnson, Eighth ward: John p Alb
bott. Baxter Rittenbury, Ninth ward; S.
Z. Jones. Twelfth ward; E A. Brown.
Several members of the committee had
moved out of the wards to which they
were elected and the places were de-
clared vacant. j. r. Freeman was rec
osnized as proxy for John Antwine,
Third ward.
In the report of the committee the
following gentlemen We're suggested to
fill the vacancies: Jack Grecner, First
ward; Nose Leviwitz. $. 3. Sterne, Sec
ond ward Fred Weathers, Fourth ward;
c. NJ. Burkhalter, Jere Jerralie, Fifth
ward; d. G. Ewing. Eighth ward; ]. H.
Mooney, Ben Leader, Ninth ward.
The committee however, deferred any
election at the meeting last night and
the matter will go over to the next
meeting. The subcommittee in making
its report stated that it was under the
impression that the committee was TO
nominate candidates to fill the vacancies
subject to the action of tie committee
as a whole. 1t is understood that some
of the gentlemen are acceptable to the