The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-05
SUBCOMMITTEE EASIER METHOD, EVlVS DECLARES State Convention Is Not Necessary, Chairman
 Tells Clarkson COMMITTEE INDORSED
 UNDERWOOD CAMPAIGN Would Acti Impartially In Vote
 on March II, Leader
 # Asserts

Democratic CommitteeY xNEdgar L. Clnrkson'ss attack on E xs%4. R. E. Evins' postal ballotiD/ - mmit- tee for resolutioD% .o 4f /FF3 'sub- committee with hIA1A nan to conduct the py xSy sferentiai primary March, 4i Instant de fense of hiy iay by MT. Evins.
 MT. Cl am to Chairman Evins, pri. N / 1onday's Age-Her- aid, denouncS appointment of q subcommittee ath Senator Under woods campaign manager as its leader to conduct one of the most unique .pri- maries in the history of party politics.
 The message was followed in quick succession by protests from Arthur Fite and E. L. Burton, committeeman, as we'll as the committee of Marshall county, that the subcommittee should not act before a state convention of committeeman was held.
 Evins' Reply
 Chairman Evins' reply follows:
 Dear Mir. Clarkson: acknowledge receipt of your wire of February 3, which reached me this morning, as fol- lows:
 ".Your wire and ballot referred to received. Strongly urge that commit tee be called together to consider mat ters connected with presidential pref erential primary. We are -uninformed as to how same is to be held. What manner of paying expenses of primary has been devised? This important mat ter should not be acted upon without full and open discussion by committee in light of all developments. Am op- posed to resolution and protest mail vote being taken upon same and do not think people we represent nor com mittee will be treated fairly unless com mittee meeting called before contem- plated action is taken <,
 ''As you are aware, a quorum of the committee consists of 17 of the 50 mem bers, and any Action may be taken by ballot by mail is otaken a majority at a meeting of the committee it is legally possible for any affirmative ac- tion to be determined by the vote of q majority of a quorum. Therefore nine members. Under the rules, where Fof the entire comflnittee, yiiz., 26, is necessary to authorize any action.
 Assures Action M
 Under these circumstances, and in view of the. fact that it is unusual to have a full attendance of the commit tee at a meeting, it seems to me that the mail ballot is much better adapted to get the real sense of the committee than a meeting. Mt certainly assures the action of a majority of the com mittee as opposed to the probability of action by minority.
 "The ballot proposed seems to me to deal only with formal matters.
 .'The committee mas already called the election for March II. It must, of course, call the primary for May. It is usual and necessary to appoint subcommittee to handle the details of elections such as these.
 ''The ballot submitted calls the May primary, which must be done and pro- vides for the appointment of a com mittee to handle the details of these elections in March and May, which committee must be raised for this pur- pose.
 T have great respect for your views, but am unable to see the necessity of putting the members of the committee to the trouble and to the expense in time and money which is involved in attending a meeting, and it seems to me much better, even in formal pro- ceeding, such as is involved in this bal lot, to have it submitted where full majority of the committee will act upon it, than otherwise.
 Vice Craftsmanship
 "I note in The Age-Herald this morn- ing that you call attention to the fact that the chairman of the commit tee is acting also as, vice chairman of the Underwood campaign committee, and I think it proper in this connec- ti0h to draw attention to the fact that this committee, once at its meeting on June 16. 1923, and again at the meet ing on December IS, indorsed the can didacy of Mir. Underwood without a dissenting vote. The chairman felt that with this action on the part of the committee it was entirely within the proprieties for him to occupy the relationship mentioned to one of the candidates for the presidential nomina- tion. feel, however, that it is quite necessary for me to say to you that the chairman will deal with the utmost im- partiality in all official matters.
 "In view of the fact that your tele- gram to members of the committee is given publication, am taking the lib- erty of handing a copy of this to the press.
 ':With high personal regards, I am, yours very truly,
 f. R. B. EvINs, Chairman"