The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-22
THE pRIMARY ELECTION TO-DAY

,cur pRIMaRY ELECTION TO-DAY
The Democrats OF Ohio county are
TO vote to-day for the election OF dele
gates TO County Convention TO be held
next Monday. When assembled, the
Convention will, in accordance with the
call of the Executive Committee, have
authority to nominate four candidates
10 represent this county in the House
of Delegates; to appoint delegates to
the Senatorial, Judicial and Congress
sional Conventions; and to determine
whether the nominations for county
offices shall be made this year by the
popular vote system, or whether new
Convention shall be called for that
purpose. In the event OF the former
plan being favored by majority OF the
delegates chosen to day, the Convention
next Monday will select an Executive
Committee to serve during the ensuing
year.
It will be seen from the above state.
ment of duties that the work which the
Convention TO be held next Monday
will be called upon to do. is of much
political importance, and that there is.
therefore, necessity for the exercise OF
much care in the selection of delegates
to-day. In order to afford to every
Democrat in the county an opportunity
OF participating in the choice OF dele-
gates, and thereby doing what he can
10 nave the Convention decide in ac-
cordance with bis wish, polls are to be
opened at two o'clock this afternoon, at
tbevarious voting places and will be kept
open until nine o'clock, in the city, and
until seven o'clock in the country, for
the purpose of receiving the ballots of
the Democratic voters.
We desire to urge upon all Demo-
cratic citizens the importance of attend.
ing the election and securing the choice
ofsuitable delegates. This is particularly
desirable in view of the fact that the
Convention on Monday is to nominate
candidates for the House of Delegates.
The next session OF the Legislature will
probably be one OF much more than
usual importance Should the new
Constitution be adopted land there can
be no reasonable doubt that it will) the
Legislature will have 10 reform almoat
the entire code OF laws in order to make
it harmonic with the Constitution. 1t
ill have to provide all the details Of
that plan OF State government of which
the Constitution lie but au outline. Ohio
county, az the most wealthy and pop
ulous one in the State. cannot afford
to be represented in that Legis-
lature By men Of inferior ability and e1'
peTience. Other counties are putting
forward their best men for sea,a ~ the
legislative body and if OHIO county de-
eires to exert that influence to which
she is entitled and which her intereste de.
z2aud, q similar care mus; be exercised
here. And, looking st the question
from party standpoint, the Democratic
Psrty cannot afford to putups legislative
ticket composed Of corrupt. weak, or in
Competent men. The interests at stake
are too great, the work Of the Legisls-
lure too important to be committed to
incompetent hands. The people OF the
county look to the Democratic Conven'
ton to give them ticket composed of
tit and able men, and they will be
grievously disappointed if there is any
failure in this respect.
AS regards the system of making
nominations by popular vote, our own
opinion is that it is decidedly better in
almost every respect than by Conven-
ton, 1t prevents the Importance of
one Office from overshadowing another !;
avoids the necessity of candidates com.
bining together before nomination
permits each man in the party to ex-
press his preference for each office A;
avoids the charges Of packing" and
corruption" that are frequently urged
against Conventions; affords less ex,
cuse for boilers" and requires every
candidate for every office to 60 before the
party on his own popularity. We believe
that nominations made in that way will
generally be supported by the party
with more unanimity aud with better
satisfaction than when they are chosen
in the mode which has been heretofore
practiced in this county. At all events,
the system has worked we'll elsewhere
and we know Of no instance OF its hay
ing been abandoned after fair trial OF
its merits had been had. 1t is in the
hands Of the Democratic voters of the
county to-day to say whether it shall be
tried in the selection of candidates for
county offices this fall.
The Marshall county Democratic
Convention is to be held at Moundsville
on next Saturday, June 90. In addi-