The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-16
J. B. Bethea Named Chair man and Thomas E. Huey
 Secretary Yesterday
ACTION WILL NOT
 HOLD, SAYS ABBOTT
Returns From Recent Primary Can yassed and New Members Pro- ceed at Once to ReOrganize
 the Committee

Ocratic executive cOnlUittee, Wio, dccota- ing to custom. would have held office un- til the new committee was called formally together for purposes of organization, were 'railroadeds out of their jobs yes terdav afternoon by members of the new 1y elected committee.
 C. c Nesmith and John P. Abbott.
 chairman and secretary, respectively, of the old committee, received the pressure of the 'steam roller while John B. Rethea and Thomas k. Huey were elect ed to take their places.
 The point involved is neat one MT. Abbott former secretary, declared yes tcrday that the action of the new mem bers a minority of the new committee, was without precedent and would not hold He contended, also that the newly elected officers would not be recognized by the state democratic executive com mittee Those on the other side how ever. are evidently satisfied with the result of their coup. It is generally thought true that the plan, which was put through without a pebble, was con- ceiyed by John W. Altman. It is to Alt man to whom Abbott, in a formal card, reIerS with DltlHB SdiSdSIi. New Members Take Charge The committee was called for the pur- pose of canvassing the vote of the pri- mary election May II. The vote was can vassed. The subcommittee which had
 charge of the election, made it's financial report and the report Was accepted. Chair man Nesmith then declared the meeting adjourned. Stating that he wished it understood that he would have nothing further to do with the action of the com Inittee and that nothing was before the committee, he left the hall. Members of the new committee retained their seats. The meeting was then called to order by DuPont Thompson. MT. Altman was
 elected temporary chairman. The election of permanent officers was entered into and Mr. Bethea and MT. Huey, as stated
 above, were successful.
 While the membership of the new com mittee present comprised only minority, 1t is reported that about 50 of the mem- bers were pledged to follow the action of their leaders in the prepared coup. A resolution was introduced and passed providing that never in the future shall a chairman and a secretary be chosen other than from the membership of the committee.
 MT Abbott former secretary. issued the | following:
 ADDOtt expresses OplnlOn
 ''The action of certain members of the democratic executive committee today stands without precedent in the history of our party The rule applicable to 1 such cases is that the chairman of the | committee may instruct the secretary, upon the petition of 15 members in writ | ing. to call a meeting of the entire com
 mittee, stating the purpose of the call. | This was not done in this instance 4r< .~r bers, representing the 52 precincts of the county. I do not hesitate to say that the action taken today by small number of ! the committee will meet with the disap- proval of the state democratic executive | committed. It is without precedent in
 the history of the democratic party of the state and is what in my judgment, would be deemed the steam roller process, pro-
 mulgated to satisfy tine whims of cer- l tain dissatisfied and defeated politicians, ] and that when the reguiar meeting of the
 county committee Is called the action of
 the r members of total of 72 will be
 repudiated.
 | "I am authorized to state for Judge | Nesmith, and can say for myself that
 neither of us are candidates for re-elec- 1 ton, but we are interested heart and i soul in the executive committee and the
 welfare of the democracy of Jefferson 1 county We feel that good democrats of this county will not stand for the Tam
 many Hall tactics promulgated by the gentleman who was recently removed
 from the office of register in chancery for
 reasons which are best known to the peo- pie of this county.
 | JOHN P. ABBOTT" | The following is the result of the official l canvass by the committee of the vote cast | in the primary last Monday: For governor: Conner, 51O0; Henderson, s47s.
 For attorney general: Martin, s523 Rid dle, 39S9.
 For commissioner of agriculture: Per-
 sons, S1O6; Wade, 4946.
 The subcommittee which had charge of the election made its financial report. It was shown that as assessments from
 candidate $4S75 had been collected. Ex-
 penses of the campaign, as shown by vouchers. amounted to $l5SS. S1. It was shown that the sum of $100 had been set aside for the use of the secretary in | meeting incidental expenses of the com
 mttee during the life of the committee. A balance of $794 was reported. | The remainder of the sum collected was reported to the candidates. l C. c. Nesmth was former chairman of | the committee and John P. Abbott was | secretary. Dr. J. E. Seay was chairman | of the subcommittee in charge of the
 election.