The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-19
CONFIRMATION

learn how their representatives in Con- gress met the vital issues affecting Alabama during the present session of the national Congress is voiced by Chairman Evins of the State Demo- cratic executive committee, who is quoted on Tuesday as saying that "it is safe to assume that every person considering entering the congressional races already has his mind made up."
 If any confirmation was needed of the reactionary attitude of Chairman Evins, his disregard of the people themselves and his temperamental in. capacity to lead a Democratic coni- mittee, his statement is complete con- firmation. When designating the ac- tion of the state committee in closing the doors two weeks from this date for entries in congressional nomina- ton as "steam-roller" methods, The Age-Herald expressed no concern for the man seeking the office, but did say that, if any member at present rep resenting Alabama in Congress failed to represent and serve the public in- terest on momentous issues vitally af- fecting Alabama during the present term of Congress, the state Demo- cratic committee under the leadership of Chairman Evins has no right to say 'that the people shall be prevented from calling into a congressional con- test some man they regard as one jealous to serve them" Chairman Evins shows concern for the, office seeker but ignores the peoples side, position just contrary to the posi- tion of The Age-Herald.
 It is very evident that the pres ent session of Congress will be mo- mentous and particularly is Alabama concerned, for the question of Muscle Shoals; the revision of the Esch-Cum- mins railroad law so that the unjust burden that law imposes upon every merchant and every farmer in Ala bama coRd be remedied; the War rior liver waterway; the investiga- ton of the sales of the Gorgas plant to the Alabama Power company, are but a few of the issues coming be- fore the national Congress vitally eff fecting Alabama. The Age-Herald said: "If the men presently in Con- gress should show by their vote they stood for the public interest there could be no doubt but the people themselves would receive sincere sat isfaction in returning them" But the reply of Chairman Evins completely ignores the public interests and indi- cates only the concern for the office seeker, for he says: "It is safe to as- sume that every person considering entering the congressional race al- ready has his mind made up." Who placed MT. Evins in fiduciar'y position to be watchful of the peoples rights7 The office-holders or the people them selves?
 The fact inescapably remains: Un- der Chairman Evins' leadership those present at the meeting of the state Democratic executive committee; al
 though recognizing the right of
 longer time for closing primary en- tries in state offices, put "stop- watch" on congressional entries two weeks from now, although the primary election is not until next May, nearly six months away, and is held on the same day as for state offices. That this is violative of those principles making for Democratic party and an action out of harmony with Demo- cratic methods in self-evident. That it will serve to weaken the confidence of the people in the Democratic party to guard their interest in unacceptable. It was an action more in tune with the practices employed by the Republican party machine. And the unhappy as- pect of it all is that the action re-
 suited, and the defense of such action comes, from the very one com
 missioned by the people to guard
 Democracy from such practices.
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