The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-05-11
Democratic Family Matters

MIR. EDITOR: ! believe the object of the meet
ing of the Democracy on Saturday, May Eth, is
for the purpose of electing delegates to meet In
convention with the view of exchanging opinions
in regard to which is the best manner of present
ing candidates to the people for their suffrages-
Our present mode, the Crawford County system
has some bitter opponents, yet think II has been
equally as satisfactory as the system In operation
previous to its adoption, aud think all will con
cedc it to he in theory, at least the most equitable
plan that can he adopted, although there arc
many objections, on account of corrupt means
made use of by schcming asplrants, yet am at Il
loss to discover what plan can be adopted which
will be exempt from those objections.
Although was one of the original advocates of
the Crawford County plan, through the columns
of yorr paper, yet am perfectly willing to aban-
don IL if IL can he made to appear inferior to any
other system presented. If the old plan of elect
ing delegates is adopted land do not hear of any
otherJ IL Is liable to the same ohjectons-in fact
more. One objection to the Crawford County
plan is that ii creates undue excitement in can
wasting for votes another objection is that Re-
publicans vote ut our primaries. In regard to the
first objection we think the excitement is greater
under the convention system, for the simple rea-
son that two will make more excitement than
one We will not only have the delegates con-
tending, but also those who aspire to be favored
by them in convention.
Again, when the primaries have electe their
delegates the excitement is not over by any
(perhaps they may be,) than any delegates ever
met in convention, the trading and selling pro-
cess, Is invariably set in motion. This is not a
fancy sketch, as lhave seen Il candidate for Coun-
ty Commissioner nominated without receiving
one vote from the delegates of his district, 1t
was proceedings of that character which COM
PEELED us to abandon that plan or suffer the party
to be disrupted. Again, the objection in regard
to Republicans voting at our primaries applies
equally to the delegate system; the remedy for
which can be applied as well to one as the other.
1t is simple and effective viz, let no one vote at
our PRIMARIES unless he voted the Democratic
ticket at the previous State or county election.
What feature in the delegate system makes it
more perfect than our present one? Do the can
didates become purified by passing the ordeal of
the conventonr Perhaps so. Does it add to
their dignity by being presented second hand, and
consequently free from the communicating touch
of plebeian's direct vote?
Again. is IL not Obvious where there are num-
her of aspirants before the convention, a few of
which only can he chosen. that the defeated ones
will be more dissatisfied than they would IL de-
feated by a majority of the party
That feature of the Crawford County plan
which gives to every Democrat the right to vote
directly for the man he desres as a cane idate is
the strongest adhesive measure ever adopted by
our party. Every man considers himself MEM
Der of the nominating convention consequently
they assemble in their stl ength at the call of
primary. On the other hand, II Is well-known
that under the old system a few would assemble,
pass n few patriotic resolutions, and elect Them
selves delegates to the county convention, which
frequently nominated Objectionable candidates,
who were elected simply because of the reluct-
ance of Democrats to sunder party allegiance
Therefore 1t would be dangerous experiment to
return to that system at this juncture in our par