The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-01
Call For Contention to Re-State Principles
 Of Denocaatic Party
Anti-Amendment Conference Makes Public Its Resou- tions Providing For Bringing Democrats Together For Declaration of Principles-Telegrams Sent
 to Members of State Committee.

Montgomery. January S1.-(SpeciaLl The state democratic executive com- mittee was called upon to order a state democratic convention for the re- statement of the tenets of the party by about 75 anti-amendists who met at the Exchange hotel. according to resolutions made public tonight by Fcrney Johnston, who announced that the resolutions were adopted at the meeting this afternoon.
 The meeting also provided that if the state committee refused to call the convention a committee named by the chairman of the meeting may take whatever measures seem nee essary to assemble the leaders of tho democratic party and to bring about the restatement of the principles of the party in the best way possible with the limited authority such commit tee may have.
 TELEGRAM TO EACH MEMBER
 Ed D. Smith, chairman of the meet ing, sent a telegram to each member of the state democratic executive com mittee, asking that he favor the call ing of state convention to restate the established principles of the party and to give the people the right to vote on the proposed federal prohibi- tion amendment.
 All effort to obtain a roster of those present at the meeting has failed. No other information othsr than the printed resolutions can be obtained.
 Every person in the conference has been warned to counsel only to him. self. Chairman Smith will appoint the committee which will arrange for the convention, being clothed with the power to name one member from each congressional district, four from the state at large and such others as he may deem necessary.
 The resolutions made public read as follows:
 Be it resolved by conference of democrats assembled for the sole pur- pose of considering and proposing meas ures to preserve the existence and in tegrity of the democratic party from snnversive action, and in order to pro- tect tie dignity and sovereignty of the state of Alabama. as follows:
 'TBe fundamental principle of the democratic party is the principle that the people of the several states have the inherent right to govern themselves according to their own free opinions and will, and that the sole object and only legitin ate end of government is to pro- tect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, and when the gov ernmcnt assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression
 This principle, asserted by the foun- ders Of the party, adhered to in its for nal declarations and reaffirmed-4by the action of the last national democratic convention which repudiated the idea of federal control of suffrage and declined to stand for the federal usurpation of the sovereign power of the states, has been suddenly imperiled by proposed amendments to the constitution of the United States.
 Advocates of these amendments as- sert that the principles of the party, in rreconcilable conflict with their de- structlve policies, are obsolete-the par tvs uniform declarations to the con traiy notwitbstanding.
 'The question is whether the democracy of Alabama desires to repudiate it's es- tablished principles or whether, if these principles are to stand persons propos- ing to participate in it's primaries and party councils shall be honorably and definitely committed to support them. RESTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
 ".As democrats of the state, who de- sire to continue their allegiance to it's established principles, we assert that the democracy of Alabama is entitled to a definite restatement of these principles to the end that tine party may not be committed to the worship of false gods.
 we, therefore. appeal to the state democratic executive committee to call forthwith a state democratic convention