The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-05-07
Primary ElectiOns-The State
Executive Committee.


tions has been received with general
favor and endorsement in the State,
several of our exchanges have signifed
their dissent from the plan suggested by
the State Executive Committee, making
their objections mainly to the pledge
required of voters and to the number Of
aspirants likely to spring up in the con-
test. 1t may not be amiss to consider
briefly these objections, from the stand
point Of practical experience in the con-
duet of primary elections, which is
worth more than theorizing. and is GER
tainly valuable as q guide to future sue
cess.
The reason alleged in regard to the
requirement of a pledge being objection
able is that there are tried and true
Democrats who will not join political
organizations, and to prevent them vot-
ing in primary elections is to ostracise
them altogether. The advocates Of the
convention system, which is nothing
more nor less than representation OF
Democratic Clubs, forget that their
favorite mode has the same limitation.
The delegates are chosen by the mem"
bers of the organizations and they do
not represent single man outside Of the
Democratic Clubs, if the party is COM
pactly organized and observes the ordl>
nary rulrs of parties Now, II the
trusted ard honored Democrats who re-
frain from participation in the workings
of the Democratic Clabs, are willing for
the delegates chosen by those bodies to
nominate candidates for them. why are
they not willing to repose like conf
dence in the entire membership? Can
any one demonstrate their unwilliugness
by actual experience ? We think not.
Yet, it is the established history OF
nominating conventions, in mony coun-
ties of South Carolina, that these same
true and tried Democrats" are fre-
quently found to oppose the regular
nominees. because they were not con-
suited 10 regard to the selections OF can
didates. Their dissatisfaction has en-
couraged Independent candidates in
every instance.
The practical workings of tho primary
system, where proper rules and regula'
tious are made, have amply demonstrated
the fact that the men who are ordinari-
ly averse to joining political orsaniza-
tions most readily yield their prejudices
under this plan Of making nominations.
The reasons for this result are obvious.
The main objection Of these men arises
from the belief that their voice will not
be potent in the organization, aud that
shrewder. sharper men will manipulate
the nominations to suit their own pur-
poses. BY remaining outside the fold.
they are not bound to support uomina-
tions, unless the persons chosen suit
their own views, and hence they wait TO
see the result before announcing their
final conclusion. In the primary elec-
ton, the voice Of one man is as potent
as that of his neighhor. and the hum
blest can enforce his views to the same
extent as the most powerful. Another
objection of these outsiders is that they
do not believe in nominations of any
kind, and prefer the method in vogue
before the war Of regular scrub race
The primary election meets this objec-
ton fairly and squarely. In its essence
and character, it is veritab!e scrub
race. only conducted by prescribed
methods and arrangements, which are
purely voluntary in their nature.
The most satisfactory feature, how
ever, is that the men who remain out
side are Induced to join Democratic clubs
under this plan. where they will never
consent to do so in its absence. Each
candidate or aspirant for nomination is
an active. unceasing and untiring can
vasser for the Democratic clubs. striv-
ing to Get his friends in every section
of the county to unite with the organiza-
ton, and push forward his chances for
the nomination. Every reputable citi-
zen in the county with Democratic pro-
clivities will be importuncd to connect
himself with the organization, in order
that his vote may serve friend in need
and it will be passing strange that there
is not some candidate with sufficient
influence to compass the object.
OF course, the theory ofthe primary
election is that the people are competent
to select suitable and competent men
for Office. Those who deny this pro-
position and entertain the belief that
nominating conventions are better quail
fed to Judge as to fitness and capacity
must accept the logical sequence of their
position. which is that the masses ore
not entitled to suffrage. For, if they
are not competent to select mere candi-
dates for Office, especially where the
nomination is not equivalent to an cleo
ton, then they are not fit to choose the
officers themselves. Are any OF the
convention advocates ready to adopt this
platform ?
As to the second objection, in regard
to the coutless number Of aspirants. it
will melt away with surprising rapidity
when once tested. The temptation is
certainly great to multiply Office seekers.
and vet there is no suror method OF
convincing one of them as to lis correct
status among the people. Did any one
ever know a candidate for nomination
before a convention to withdraw in ad-
o E,orv man thinks he has the