The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-30
REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST PRIMARY
State Committee Passes Res oIutions Indorsing Street
 And Adverse To Thomas

Vehement denunciation of W. Au- brey Thomas as a republican party boss seeking the dictatorship of the Alabama republican organization by unfair means was the big gun, which the state executive committee fired Saturday at an extenued session in the Motion hotel.
 The committee also voted down the primary plan, and called by resolu- tion, a state convention for Tuesday, May 20, 1924, in Birmingham, for the election of four delegates at large to the national convention.
 The vote came on motion of c. B. Kennamer, United States district attorney of the northern district, as substitute to ne~by Judge C. K. Lunsford of Marion county. A hot debate between Pope M. Long of Cor dova, leader of tEe Long, Aubrey Thomas wing of Alabama republi- cans, and members of the o. D. Street faction with which Kennamer is affiliated, featured the vote.
 At the same time a resolution un- qualifiedly indorsing the administra- ton of President Coolidge. was passed. The general impression was l that the state organization would align itself for the President.
 The resolution lauding the duly appointed pilots of the state republi- I can ship and branding MT. Thomas as an imposter was regarded as signal victory for the anti-reaet1on- ary forces. The resolution follows: The Resolutions.
 Resolved by the republican state executive committee of Alabama, 1 that we hereby indorse and commend the administration of our party ar fairs by Hon. O. D. Street, national committeeman, and Hon. J. M. Atkins, state chairman. We hereby pledge to them our continued support in their wise, able and honorable efforts as | our party leaders. We commend to the republicans of this state and to all in party authority everywhere these worthy representatives Of the best there Is in the republican party. We are fully aware of the many and continued efforts that have been made by W. Aubrey Thomas and | few associates of his to overthrow, hinder, delay and harrass these, our duly chosen leaders, in their efforts to serve the republicans of Alabama Mr. Thomas and associates have | shown very clearly that they do not respect the rights of Alabama repub- | licans, or the organization of our party in this state.
 | They have been and are still en- deavoring to foist on us a boss rule, in which they do not propose for the republicans of this state to have any. voice. They try to lord it over Ala bama republicans by continually rep resenting and pretending that he. Thomas, has great influence and power outside of Alabama, and that he has the power to dictate and to | i'm a mt q r Thomas makes his appeal directly to selfishness and to the republicans for revenue only.
 "On his part 1t amounts to an in- vitation to all camp followers to come join his little band and that he will | lead them all up to the pie counter. He seems to be fully aware of the | fact that he Is absolutely without influence or following among Ala bama republicans, and that he can only forward his selfish ambitions by making the republicans of this state fear him. This committee is not afraid of Nr Thomas. and he has signally failed to get acquainted with our people, or he would not believe he can scare many of them.
 This committee and the republi- cans of Alabama, have not in the re- cent past, they are not now. and they are not going to bend the knee to MT. Thomas, even though thrift in | the way of federal office holding might follow fawning. MT. Thomas evidently mistook Alabama republi- cans for set of mercenary patron age hunters. and thought that all he would have to be would be to very impressively tell us of his great in- fluence at Washington and we would all tumble into his little playhouse. He has misjudged Alabama republi- cans. We had the best and most
 representative republican organiza- tion of any of the southern states,
 before MT. Thomas came to make trouble for us. and we will continue
 to have such when he departs from us."
 A bitter denunciation of the re- gently enacted state primary law was passed in resolution by the commit tee forty of the forty-two members l of which were present.
 ] It was declared in the resolution that the policy of the republican party of the state is to follow the (COntinued on Page Two)