Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-14
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

Only, Was uISS DIOeSHOO IL SANSS W.
umns two years ago, in the hope of find
ing someplan on which those then so bit
terly opposed to conventions could CO.
operate with us against the common
enemy. 1t was adopted In some few
counties that year, with varied results
A few weeks ago, before intelligence OF
the Rutherford county movement reach
ed us, we took occasion to say that the
primary election is the most perfect
Democratic plan, as being direct I'M
itation of the ballot-box. 1t has been
developed IN Northern States as the
aqlhe of party discipline. That per-
feet organization of the Ohio Democ-
racy which held them together through
twenty years of rebuff and defeat,
often compassed by fraud, rendered
the primary election plan eminently
practicable. With anything approach
ing the same organization among the
masses here, we would be most
strenuous in urging its adoption
from Carter to Shelby. Another
important help that we lack here is the
registration system. With the full
registration lists before them, it is
comparatively easy to identify the le-
gal voters in each precinct, as well as
their political complexion from
one year to another. We
do not believe that density or
sparseness of population has anything
to do with its adoption North and its
absence here. 1t is rather due to the
fact that our neighbors appreciate the
advantages of organization and coop
Grafton for the attainment of all human
purposes, whether industrial, social, re-
ligious, or political; while the South
glories in a spirit of independence
which fosters individualism. We notice
in the Nashville Bonner of yesterday a
communication from one who seems to
dislike conventions, and suggests the
following plan:
'.The primary election is probably
open to frauds as now conducted, but
propose il is better to throw the requls'
tie safeguards around that system,
than to return to the odious and inflm-
Gus convention.
Let there be in each county Dem
ocratic or Conservative Committee,
composed Of men of high character
let them appoint the day for the prlm'
ary election sufficiently far ahead tC
give all who wish to become candidates
a chance to announce themselves
and to canvass the county; let them
appoint Democratic judges, clerks, re-
= ceivers and challengers; let there be
notebooks, and let the election returns
, be made to the county committee, by
whom the votes shall be compared and
the result announced, declaring the sue
cessful candidates the party nominees
) Bv this plan every member Of the party
can give his vote In person; every he
publican who tries to vote can be chal
ienged and Judged of by his neighbour
[ who know his politics. and the election
t | will be as fair as the regular Stat'
elections.
.'This would require the services o.
only five men in each ward or district
! | from Q A. NJ. to P. NJ. ON one day, tn
people instead of wasting a whole da.
in convention. would vote and return
to their business, and therefore tn
/ primary election would be less cum
I bersome' than the convention.
h This proposition merits considera
9 ton, as it may prove the most promis
ing plan for selecting candidates i
some counties, Davidson among then
The mode for holding the election, e1
! Guiding the enemy from a voice in tn
matter, is unexceptionable, IN theor
at least. The mode Of initiating tn
: movement is not SO clear. In an
Il given county, we have, first, to I'm
y out which the people prefer, the pr
e mary plan or the convention. a ne
e plan cannot be dictated to the Peep
It by any one; it should be self-expresset
d In the absence Of any expression {
: choice. it might be assumed that II
II convention, as the old, existent plal
&c was preferred. But a change to ne
Is plan requires explicit endorsement
II The people must first be consulted. I
II ignore their existence would be a poo
e way t. begin reform. 1t will be see
the Burners correspondent does NJ
f consider this point, but jumps in med
AZ as res, saying:
- Let there be in each county a Den
ocratic or Conservative Committe
5 composed of men of high character
= = let them appoint Democrat
L Judges, Clerks, Receivers and cha
IS lengers, etc.
E Here arises another practical que
o ton: How shall this County Comm
n tee be vested ? Their powers are e
20 tensiye and important. They appoil
., the Judges, Clerks, challengsrs, etC
- of the moot election. The capacit
70 honesty and impartiality of the
- election officers isessential. TIL,
+ must also be well acquainted with Il
personel of the party intheir district {
5. ward. This candidate and the 9th
to NAV choose to take exceptions to o.
u officer or another. One candida
ut might claim that a certain judge
ne election WAS prejudiced against hi
To Another might claim that the challe
m gers allowed numerous Republicans
IT. vote against him. Evidently tt
IN County Committee would be open TO I
'l- the same suspicious and accusations
he the old fashioned Executive Commit t
ed The charge of packing election office
o. and stufing ballot boxes, would be
IN open to malcontents as the chro1
rs charge of packed conventions. E
IN IDENTITY, this County Committee cou
~ abuse its powers if it so choose. Hen
rs. the Importance of the question: H
IN and by whom shall 1t
is -.-,-1 with these DOWcT