The Russellville Democrat., 1884-05-22
B,ttsrs from the psspls,
primary Election vs. Nominat-
 ing Convention.
denee of the Democrat.

,;noo as "a starter on this subject. ma m now wishes to briefly notice that "X'' said on the subject in the same issue of your paper.
 The communication of "N was more wordy than my own, but what was there in it to support the claim be makes Tn favor of primary cleo lions? Simply nothing. The only sntence in it bearing semblance Of .n argument in favor of primary elections is the sentence wherein he says "a democratic community must nse that method of choice which reg ,sters the wishes of the greatest number of people of, or belonging to, tbe party." That, Mr. Editor, is all riObt; and as an advocate of the nom- mating convention plan l say tor this very reason the nominating con yontion is the better. For, at the convention every freeman stands up in the majesty of a true manhood and boldly and fearlessly declares IVA vocE in favor of the man of his choice. The humblest voter in the land has the same right as the most blatant politician, and by his own voice and presence backs up that right. The primary election dodge affords no facility for taking the true sense of the party which the nomi- hating convention does not affo: d equally as we'll or better; while it (the primary clection) does afford sleek, cunning, designing and un- scrupulous office seekers most ex cellent opportunity to slip around tic corners and ply thclr trickery, whisper their matched up lies of dc Animation against opposing candi- dates, and in hundred dlsreputa bic ways deceive the unsuspecting voter We all know how this is done, and we know that scores of voters are influenced to vote at these primary elections just the reverse of what they intended to vote.
 Again: The nominee at the prima- Y election in most cases is only q plurality fayorite at best, and where there are multiplicity Of candidates for tue same office, as is the case this year for assessor, by the way, sSery important office) It don't take much more than bakers dozen votes to foist some fellow with numerous kinship on the party as the nominee. Dissatisfaction and discord results, and an independent candidate is the legitimate fruit.
 The lmpossibility of getting judges at the primary elections who have moral courage to debar those who are not democrats from voting; or who know who should be entitled to q vote, has been fully demonstrated. And then what assurance has the voter that better effect will be given to his ballot cast at the primary election and never again seen by hlh, than will be given to it at the convention where he can go like g free man and cast his vote with his own good voiceY Mir. Editor. this cry that the voter has more privi-
 eges at the primary election than he has at the convention is gauzy de- fusion. Every democrat has the same right and the same opportuni ty to give full effect to his voice at the convention that he has at the | primary election, with this addition al satisfaction, to wit: he can see and know for himself that his vote IS counted. It takes no more of the individual voters time to turn out anaattend his primary convention,
 where everything is fair and open
 and publicly done, than it does to
 attend the polls at the primary cleo
 uon, where everything is done by
 the judges and clerks.
 There never has been and never
 Will be any other system devised so
 systematic, so thorough, SO accessa-
 pie to the people, SD open to the in
 spcctlon of all and so acceptable to
 all as the nominating convention
 plan.
 ] The office seeker who cannot face
 h' pd who has not confidence in his
 strength to be able to secure a ma
 lorlty nomination at the nominating
 convention, will, of course try to
 make the people think that the pri-
 mary election is the thing.
 \ Let me warn democrats not to be
 'eoeVed. CONVENTION.