Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-01-27
Nominating Conventions

| Editor Sentinel. The editorial paragraph
| in the SENTINEL of last week, referring to
the feeble agitation for change in our pri
mary election system scarcely does justice,
think, to the subject. / have not special IA
cilities for guaging the course of public
opinion, but have very frequently heard the
system discussed during the past two years.
and cannot now recall a single instance when
| it was spoken Of with anything approach
| ing full approval. 1t was considered better
than the old system, and any suggestion TO
change it was met with the question What
can we substitute in its place that will not
be worsep But every one seemed dssatis-
fled with it because of its manifest tendency
to destroy our harmony and unity as a party
Fully imbued with this belief, and deeply
mortified at our partial defeat at the last
| election, published letter in the AdU0cGte,
stating fully the principal objections to the
| system; and also, as it is not worth while to
propose to destroy thing until you have
something to take its place, took it upon
myself to suggest new method. This pro-
posed system retained the primary election
by ballot with the difference that the votes
were not to be cast directly for the candi.
dates, but for delegates TO county conven-
ton, which should make the nominations
and be the official organization, council aud
mouthpiece of the voters in the various dis
tricts. This change would it seems to me,
retain all that is advantageous In our pres
ent system and at the same time rid il of its
most Objectionable feature-the rivalry and
ill-feeing engendered both in candidates and
their supporters by long and hot popular
canvass before the primaries.
| have no desire TO occupy your space by
reiterating arguments get forth elsewhere
! N nd which ha taI
TO all careful observers of political contests.
Permit me, however to call attention to this
fact. No aspirant for nomination can be so
popular as to have no enemies within the
party, and the more popular he is the more
bitter and prejudlced these enemies are like
ly to become. They are exasperated by his
success at the primaries and take their re-
venge in November; perhaps they persuade
themselves, or are persuaded by the oppo-
site party, that it is better for the party TO be
defeated than for him to be elected. do
not soc how any man can hope TO be strong
enough to escape defeat under these oircum-
stances whenever his party ceases to have an
overwhelming majority. In fact his very
strength is the source of his defeat, while q
weaker and less-known, and therefore less
disliked, candidate receives full party vote
A primary election intensides and multplies
We must recosniya ,ho fac, ma, l., ,,,,
con,,ouni,v os ;n n,ar,' Ill. ., ID; 'n.N
indenendent u" elenon, THU Sia'', , 'noln Is an
MANI roasnns ' %an oinco ,ha S e,eiiient, loI
with tho nor,y aao o S1v , ,no VA. Io-oPelaleu
own 5 liz ny, ~, U"n oo,,c'e W our
lion baonaJ hu tho vari, aus anu s'',lca
zach ~ ILL., NY n.y. s sho rai,ouS nao.,ons upon
We must adopt a policy of harmony and
Cancellation, and confess do not see how
,;n9s rou o ~ LII ~'ao9' tesu,af epAvenc
thn a;c,;,, oiain aeu tiiu auIus.nent Vi
,in,S TSa S,n " ,h nv wa anu sec
~ Nv 10y NO., ~ .le o.u nominating
.on,,.s;, "as .,N,s .aey were nos truly
80, - ous W.T. pausou ~ 'ho ~
arodo ~ poo, nai ,nls a,cuny can ne
Tro,a nv y, choosing ,,e ue,esa.es ny oalot
cnn we tU~u o eov,I Id Ian, lsprysen.atye
not onl, shan nv dasn,,e Jy s,a' cHuln