The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-31
Forum, Of The People
Condemns Theory Of Dual Party Allegiance

Condemns Theory Of Dual Party Allegiance To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 In recent weeks there have appeared ill your Forum of the People" column several articles denouncing the state Democratic exc cutive committee in adopting rule to the effect that no person who votes against the Democrtic ticket in the coming general cleo tion would be eligible to participate in the next Democratic primary.
 | In my humble opinion this is one of the few right things that the present committee has done. It matters not what I or any other individual may think of the personnel of this committee. 1t is the duly chosen board of directors of the Democratic party in Alabama, elected by a majority vote of Demo- crats-and those who claim to be Democrats.
 Its action in adopting that rule complained of was quite legal and regular and entirely within its legitimate and authorized power. have always regarded this rule as in effect at least a part of party law, implied or ex- pressed.
 Please, what objection could any honest Democrat have to this rule anyway? If a man be Democrat and possesses intellectual honesty as constituent element of his make up, he will not object to a rule requiring him to support his party nominees, particularly if he participates in the election in which such nominees are chosen. If there be any others now objecting to such rule as party law they are completely out of order and it's none of their business. It is high time too that the Democratic party in Alabama was purg- ing its rolls of that sort of gentry who sit in its councils, seek and enjoy its favors and then stab it in the back when we come to face the enemy. They should be tagged for what they are and forced to stand out in the open, ., If they want to get out in front, face us and fight us in an open, honorable way, well and good. But every time one of them is caught sneaking around behind the lines and shooting us in the back his political throat ought to be cut and his head hoisted on a pole that all may see the just end and wages of political treachery. Strong and drasticpr means? Yes.,i Such men are as "a cancer eating at the vitals' of the Democratic party. An operation in major surgery is necessary if the patient is to survive and re- gain its vigor. The Democratic party is the greatest political organization on earth. It represents the best effort and political force in America or anywhere elSe today for clean, honest, efficient government and a square deal to all men. It has for a hundred years when ever commissioned with governing pow CT and responsibility given American eff cient honest and honorable government. No American has ever had cause to hang his head before the world when the Democratic party was in power. Just now we have as a national leager a man who stands head and shoulders above anything in the political field Seldom indeed has his equal in abil- lity and intellectual integrity come upon the political stage of America Capable, courage ous, honest and magnificent fighter. It is indeed an honor to belong to the Democratic party; and honor and inspiration to follow the leadership of John w. Davis.
 Yet, as inconceivables as it may seem, we are told that there are men here in Alabama who have sat in our party councils, partici- pated in our recent primaries, some even now holding public office as Democrats, who are now giving aid and comfort to the enemy i; some preparing to vote for q little bullet headed Republican who charges ex-soldiers $250 to make a memorial speech to them and then reads them q reproving lecture no pat riotism some others preparing to vote for a chronic demagogue from Wisconsin who only few years ago was pretty generally sus- pected of potential if not actual treason to his country in time of war.
 The Democratic party still has a great mission and service to continue to the Amerl- can people and the rest of the world. Scarce ly in our national history has 1t been so badly needed at the seat of government as now when government reeks of corruption, squirms in silence and wallows in impotency and stum- bles on mediocrity. If the Democratic party is to perform its mission; continue its serv- ice to mankind, 1t must cast out this dis tructive force, this poison as of worms "boring from within"
 Barred? Yet, And "dont mean may be" either. Barred? The affirmative has it world without end. If Jefferson and Jackson and Cleveland and Wilson could look down from the portals of heaven and see some of the representatives they have on this earth, surely the angels would gather OF the plains of paradise and weep with them in their mis- fortune and sorrow. Barred? Yes. Cast darkness to wander in disgrace the rest of their natural lives, branded with the mark of Cain," should be the verdict of an insulted Democracy.
 Birmingham, October 2S, 1924.