Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-18
JUDGE -FLYNT AGAIN
PROTESTS ACTION
Of SUBCOMM|T
Chairman Declares Commit
tee Has No Further Right
Than to Declare Result of
Preferential Primary

The Democratic state executive
committee, by an overwhelming viva
voes vote, ratified the action Of its
subcommittee on rules, taken last
week In Atlanta, in declaring A.
Mitchell Palmer the winner Of the
Georgia presidential primary and de-
claring him entitled to name the del
egates to the Democratic national
convention to be held in San Fran
cisco June 25.
The issue as to whether the Geor-
dia delegation to the national Demo
cratic convention at San Francisco
shall be declared by the subcommlt-
tee of the state Democratic executive
committee to have been won by At
torney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
was precipitated at the outset of the
special meeting of the full commit
tee held Monday noon at the KIM
ball House.
The committee was called upon by
five members of the subcommittee
and by the supporters of Mr.. Pal
mer to ratify the action Of the sub
committee on May II. At that time
the subcommittee declared by reso-
luton that Mr.. Palmer had. in the
primary of April goth, won a plural
ity of the county unit vote ana was
therefore entitled to the Georgia
delegation at the national Demo-
cratic convention.
The ratification of this resolution
was demanded by Judge w. W.
Stark, of Jackson county, after the
report of the subcommittee had been
read by Secretary Hiram L. Gard
ner, of Eatonton.
Major C. E. McGregor. of Warren
county, at this point insisted that
the report of the subcommittee was
addressed to the convention to be
held May IS, and not to the state
Democratic executive committee. He
declared that the report should be
acted upon by the convention COM
posed of representatives fresh from
the people of Georgia.
Flynt Explains
This is an issue which involves
Georgia." declared Major McGregor,
land by no stretch of the magma
ton can this committee assume au-
thority to pass upon the subcommit-
tees report
Judge James J. Flynt, of Griffin,
chairman of the state committee, at
this point took occasion to explain
his position, which was in agreement
with that of Major McGregor. Judge
Flynt on May II refused to sign the
resolution declaring Mr.. Palmer en-
titled to the Georgia delegation, and
declined to certify the result of the
primary to the state convention on
the ground that 1t exceeded the au-
thority of the state committee.
81 will uphold and support every
rule laid down by this committee
for the conduct of the presidential
primary on April 90" declared Judge
Flynt, "but I will not go one damn
step further! We have no authority
further than to declare the number
of county unit votes received by each
candidate and to say which candidate
received a plurality. We are abso.
lutely unauthorized to darw any fur.
Their conclusion as to the result OF
the primary"
Major McGregor Replies
Fermor Barrett, of Stephens coun-
ty, introduced a substitute for the
whole, ratifying in different Ian
guage the action Of the subcommit.
tee.
Judge Stark accepted the substi
tute, and declared with considerable
vehemence that it was time for the
state executive committee to show
it's backbone by upholding the rule:
after the candidates had made thu
race under them without protest
This declaration was received will
applause.
Stark, says:
why this anxiety to ratify the &C
ton of the subcommittee? Why thi
unwillingness to submit this ques
ton to the convention? Why thl
attempt to usurp your authority? l
you persist, 1 warn you to prepar
for war. L warn you to conside
well the result of the presidential
election in November before you tax
this action" e..
E.. J. Giles. of Toombs county
speaking in support Of the Barrett
substitute, said he was not at tn
meeting of the state committee whe
the subcommittee was appointed, blu
he was here now to uphold thei
hands, and he was not going to b
SWayed from his decision by tn
threats of any man. He said Majo
McGregor's speech was tantamoun
to saying that unless the state com
Inittee acted in accordance with tn
pleasure of Mr.. Watson, then Nj
Watson and his supporters woul
bolt the Democratic nomination an
vote the Republican ticket in the Re
publican election. His remarks ais
were greeted with applause.
Judge F1ynt Speaks
At this point Chairman James
Flynt relinquished the gavel to tn
vice chairman, N. F. Culpepper, c
Meriwether county, and delivered
few remarks in support of his pos
ton.
He said he had always voted
straight Democratic ticket since con
ing of age; that he would rather Sc
the Democratic party in the ascer
dancy than to hold any public office
that he was not a candidate for Den
ocratic national committeeman {
any other office; but he warned til
committee that when they rattle
the action of the subcommittee the
would be sowing a wind from while
the Democratic party in Georgi
would reap the whirlwind in the Il
ture. He declared it was not niece: