Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-24
Primary Election system.

MIR. EDIToR.--Some one through the
columns of The american a few weeks
since advocated the plan now in use among
the so called Democratic party, IN select
ing the candidates of the party by the
system called primary election of canb
dates to be nominated aud voted for at our
general elections, and inasmuch as you
invited discussion of this plan. | take
the liberty as an old friend of the Ameri
can and life long dissenter to the usages
of the Copperhead party, to pen few
lines which | hope will convey my ideas
on the subject.
My first objection TO this plan is, that
it has been used by denagogues TO deceive
the people and make them believe that the
majority were ruling, when in fact but a
small handful of adroit wire pullers man
aged 10 stife ihe voice OF the majority
aud the selection Of candidates was left TO
u few inscriptions politicians. Now
object 10 any system that takes from the
masses of the people the right to rule and
govern themselves.
in our form Ct government We are wont
to imagine that men elected 10 Office by
the majority became the servants, not the
masters Of the people. At the primary
elections SO called, any aud every species
of chicancry aud deception are used by
candidates and their friends to prevent
fair expression Of the popular voice, aud
the rules and usages of the Cops are SO
tyranucal that good men are found to
support candidates who are known to be
entirely unfit for the positions to which
they aspire. How often il becomes the
duty of Democrat under the rules Of the
party, TO support drunken vagabond,
without any qualification for Office, aud
this merely because the few who take part
in those selections issue the decree THAT
every nemecrst,in nzi vote tho unseralched
ticket" aud ''yOte early and often to carry
il through AT all lfazards" Ii the country
goes to the d. |, tie usages Of the party
must be ehforccdhl =
| object to this way Of selecting candi.
dates, for the further reason that IL creates
ieuds and contentious among those who
would otherwise be friends. Let any one
look at the old Burnt District aud remem
Der the war to the knife" between Julian
and Meredith. involving, as il did, bad
state of feeling among friends.
| have said that this system stiles the
will Of the majority. Let us look for a
moment at the new Fourth District. |
will suppose, fer the sake Of illustration,
that Farquhar gets about one half of the
votes of his Republican friends-say 1000
votes in Franklin County. Bennett gets
900 in Fayette. Sexton pets the votes Of
his friends in Rush-soy $50. In Shelby /
some one gets 500. and some one in Han
cock 450. Uuion gives her vote to her J
favorite--say 800. Now here is an aggre. ,
gate vote Of 900. | will suppose Mr..
Julian carries Wayne, and say his vote is
| 100. According to the system Of pri-
mary voting, Mr. Julian must DO the can
iidate Of tho party, because he carries
more votes than any other candidate, and
yet in the District there is popular ma.
GRITTY Of 1910 against him.
think there is no farer way than for
be Mass Conventions in each County TO
appoint good, bouest, Republican dele
,siss ts attend a District Convention j.