1930: Birmingham cancels meeting of Democratic legislative leaders before party conference

Rep. Birmingham decided to cancel a meeting of Democratic members of the legislature scheduled to be held July 28, 1930, before the conference called by the Democratic State Committee to consider the party’s ticket for the next election.

In a statement explaining the cancellation, Birmingham said that he was concerned the purpose of the meeting might be misunderstood, the Boston Globe reported on July 26, 1930, p. 2.

Below is Birmingham’s statement:

“After further consideration I deem it advisable to cancel the tentative plan made for a gathering of the Democratic members of the Legislature before the meeting called by the Democratic State committee for Monday, July 28, in Worcester. I do this because it seems to me, after contemplation of the matter, that best service can be rendered by having the members of the Democratic party present their individual opinions at this meeting in Worcester.

“To avoid the appearance of any element of contention or compulsion on the part of the Democrats which might arise in the general minds by such a prior gathering of the representatives of their ranks, I think it wiser to abolish the plan which was, in fact, only partly formulated. Otherwise the very aim which we desire to accomplish might, by misunderstanding of our sincere motive, be brought to defeat.

“By a cancellation of this separate meeting before the coming together of all eligible members it will be apparent that the ideas of members expressed are not imposed upon them but simply disclosed frankly. Their unbiased opinions of the policies which they believe will be for the best interest of the Democratic party [sic].”