The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-14
COUNTY WANTS TO
 ELECT OFFICERS
Montevallo Man Says Necessity for Special Action By Legislature
 Is Now Past

To the Editor of The Age-Herald: Several years ago. which seemed inn possible for the democrats to wrest con trol of the county from the populites by election, it was deemed expedient by the legislature to make the offices of county judge, clerk, solicitor and board of reve- nue appointive by the governor.
 These officers therefore have for some time been serving in that way. During the last campaign it was decided by the executive committee that the people of the county should elect their own off, cers, as in the other counties of the state and went before the people with that as a pledge and an issue. This fact was announced in the daily papers of the state and the candidates on the stump pledged themselves and the party to that course. Many populites returned to the party and the democratic ticket was elected. A short while after the election an advertisement quietly appeared in the county papers stating that a bill would be introduced providing for the extension of the terms of office of the county judge, the county solicitor and clerk until 1917. This bill, it is claimed, was prepared in counsel with the present judge, solicitor and clerk. The advertisement was un- signed, but is said will be presented to the legislature by one of our representa- clerk and law partner of the solicitor, both of whose terms of office are pro- posed to be extended.
 Opposition to the measure immediately developed. A meeting of the county ex- ecutive committee was called for last Saturday at Columbiana, in which the primary object was to adjust some differ- ences that had arisen between the chair man of the committee and the official or gan of the party. the Shelby County Sun At this meeting something over 20 out of the 5S regular members were present, On organizing some 12 or 15 citizens living near the courthouse appeared with proxies from absent members. One of the mem bers present exhibited letter from d prominent attorney in Columbiana en- closing a proxy in blank for him to sign in case he did not come. He was asked not to commit himself in any way if he did come, but come direct to certain office in Colurnbiana on his arrival. One of the prominent ''proxied' members and a leader in the meeting was an attorney for the Alabama Power company. An- other prominent "proxied" member was the present county solicitor, whose term of office is proposed to be extended.
 After the meeting was open for busi- ness, resolution was introduced stating that inasmuch as the party had gone on record favoring election of all the offl- cers of the county that the committee request our representatives to pass bill providing for 8 special election, but if not advisable. to hold a special election to allow the governor to appoint these offi- cers are heretofore on petition from the people until the regular election, and in any event to oppose the legislation in office of any man or set of men in Shelby county.
 The ''proxied" leader aided by solid vote of proxies and some others promptly tabled the resolution.
 The people of Shelby county know that in the days of reconstruction 1t may have been advisable to legislate men in office. With the negro vote eliminated as 1t Is now. and the question of who shall all the offices decided between white men and property owners. they keenly resent the idea that members of the legislature of the state at large who know little of the county affairs hall be called on to name our officials and they do not believe such stigma will be cast upon them.
 w. B. REYNOLDS.
 xontevAllo. January q, 1Sal