Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-04
NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOB
OFFICE.

The fair, Just and honorable nomina-
ton of candidates for Office by political
/ parties is a matter OF the greatest 'tnpor-
lance. The same purify should prevail
in these selections, which is desirable at
the polls. 1t is not a subjsct,o be discussed
with passion. Dol one in which bigoted
assertion will pass current, with intelil-
gent people, either for profound knowl-
edge or prs.emIuent good intention. II
is unnecessary to discuss here The causes
which have created political parties. or
the history OF their past internal orsani-
cation. We know that parties exist.
The loudest "non.psrtisan" is generally.
if the scruf.skin 10 scratched of. found
to be the most hide-bound Of all parti-
sans. We believe that political parties
are necessary to the purity of public al
fairs. We know. at any rate. that they
exist In all representative governments.
To carry out the principles and views
advocated BY the several parties, 1t be-
comes necessary, therefore. that there
shall be organization. When this Or
ganizatlon Is run sttsr the manner II .
close corporation. like that OF Conkling
aud Tamm.ny in New York and Cam
r in Pennsylvania. it - called bos-
sism, or machine politics. and the mass
of the voters of tho party having little
to do with. naturally become Disguised
with it. When everything 10 fair u
sbove.board; when there are no efforts
:, stife the voice OF the voters OF ths
party. then party organisation is saluta'
~ and safe. We mostssarnsstly desire
that tho latter condition of affairs shall
prevail In this county. and will always
be found laborlng to that end, no only
tor eur own but for the opposition party.
There are several plans for nomina-
ton known to students of public affairs,
all possessing good and bad features,
none of them perfect, probably. but
some of them very much more 80 than
others. We shall. IS briefly as possible.
allude to and comment upon them.
The mass-mseting at thecounty seat.
Of members Of the party from all over
the county was once. in the days OF
sparse population. quite popular. 1t
| will not answer to all now, because OF
Its un%wisldinesst and bscauss Of the fact
that the more populous nsighborhood OF
the county-seat will have an undue In
husnce in it.
Next may be mentioned the delegate
convention. delegates being previously
chosen In the townships, their numbers
being regulated by the number Of votes
cast by the party in the various town.
ships. This mode was for q long time
in vogue in this county. but It was new
or popular, as the people repeatedly
complailed that their wishes were not
carried out. and defeated candidates.
whether Justly or ~unjustly, too frequent
ly ielt wronged and ag%grieved by the
action of the delegates; and because the
excitment, and pulling and hauling OF
delegates, which seemed ~inseparable
from the system where there were excl
ted contests for places were not condu-
Give to the good Of the party. Before
the canvass Of 1873. this question was
thoroughly discussed throughout the
county, and when the executive com
mitteemen we're elected they were al
most unanimously instructed 10 the
township meetings to adopt the primary
election System, which We will next
discuss.
The primary election is simply
aud purely . polling Of tho entire party
In the county ~ to its choice Tor county
officers, giving each voter q fair and
free chance to express his will n to ev.
cry position to be filed. We are 10 Ia
vor OF the re adoption Of this mode OF
nominating county officers In tho ap.
preaching campaign, and will here state
our Isasons for being 20. By this
means, a. conducted in this county, the
irst step IN the organization 10 the cleo
ton OF an executive committee Of ons
member from each township. chosen by
such township at q meeting early In the
spring. before the campaign begins. in
order that It may serve for two years, land
be chosen as much IS possible without
bias Of candidates, or during the excite
ment of the canvass. This 10 much bet
ter than tho old plan of selecting com
mitseenen BY = county convention. con
tro!led BY candidates, In the midlt OF tn,
CANVASS, coming new to their work, and
sometimes for personal ends. Thi'
committee after its election meets. ap'
points the time for the election. adopts
salutary, rules fer its governments and
requires certain pledges from the candi'
dates If it 10 thought proper. Each 70
ting precinct in the county has four o
the most reputable citizens and best
democrats, appointed by the committee
ss judges. who appoint = similar mum
U0E VI Ci0thS, III VI "aO" s0IN0 WltuOu'
pay, except. probably, the mssssngs,
who conveys the vote TO the committee
which feots up aud Announces the re
suit. and Is empowered to try all cen
tests, and settle all disputes. To indi
cate the character oil mon who are select
cd a. such judges We will here inser
the M OF gentlemen appointed il
tho last canvass =
Lexington township-Csurthouse-
John Afford. James Peak, Charles All
stadt snd James Lillis.
Clay nship-Wel linEton-Gsorge
w. Terrell, Josiah Mann, Walter Dale
Thomas w. Ridlrgs. Napoleon-k. A.
Hudnall. F. L. Fishback, John Renick
. Geo. Grub. Bates City-Aaron &
! Campbell. NJ. w Flournoy. R. billing
ham, Judson G. Armstrong. Greentor
John Gibson, Joseph r. Files, c. Y
Ford, B. J. Roberts.
Washington township-Wheatley'
, school house-E. NJ. Harrelson, A w
Douthltt, H. G. Ewing, VIM. Cunning
ham. Wolisnbarger's schoolhouss-
Alexander Patterson, ]. j. Browning
. ADAM Wolienbarger. Robert Matthews
q MAYHEM -Hezskiah Waterhcuse
Arthur Brown, John P. Herr, R.uLer
Pucket.
Middleton township W
liam A. Rcdd. John J. Hall, B G. Boo
ton. A. L. Hawkins. Alma-rhos
> Lake. J. Polk Corder, o. H. P. Cstron
Charles Lewis.
49, "