Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-07-31
Our Democratic Primaries.

Mr.. Edlt0r The importance oil the sub
ject at this time must be my apology for
asking you TO publish the following re-
marks on our Primary Elections.
On Tuesday, April 18th, 1877, the repre-
sentatives of the Democratic conservative
voters of Montgomery county, duly dele
gated, met at Rockville in county conven-
ton called for the express purpose, and
agreed upon and adopted new plan for
conducting our primary meetings and call
ing conventions. This plan proved 50 hedgy
and intricate that but one election was held
under it. To very great majority of our
Democratic voters some of its provisions
seemed unjust; as under its rules candi
date might have majority of all the pr-
mary votes in the county and still not be
the nominee. This actually happened with
one of our candidates. The consequence
was that another convention had TO be called
and some other plan had TO be provided.
Early in 1879 another county convention,
chosen for the purpose, met at Rockville,
and after due dcliberation agreed upon and
adopted another plan more in accordance
with reason and justice, and generally ac-
ceptable to the Democratic voters OF the
county.
The first Primary Election under the
rules of this plan was held August I'd, 1879,
but the result was not satisfactory to the en-
tire Democratic party in the county, and in
deed what plan could be formed that would
leave no faultfindersp
Every Democratic Primary Election in
the county since that date has been held
under the rules of this plan, and with great
er and continually increasing dissatisfaction;
so much so that the vote at our primaries
has fallen off 10 about six hundred votes
less in the entire county than the whole
Democratic vote at our general elections in
the entire county; or, in other words, about
six hundred of our Democratic voters do
not attend our Primary Elections. There
must be some real or imaginary cause for
this. Let us consider the matter seriously,
for the subject deserves earnest and serious
consideration.
The old primary meeting plan, for the
voters 10 each election district, in primary
meeting assembled, to choose retiring com
naittee of five persons TO select each five del
egates, making twenty-five in each district,
10 meet in county convention on u certain
specified day, TO make nominations and get
up. the ticket for the election, was very un-
satisfactory TO the people and voters gener
ally, and TO those who would not attend the
primaries Unsatisfactory in particular, be-
cause, not being present, they could have no
part In choosing delegates.
On account OF this dissatisfaction at the
choice Of nominees by the conventions thus
authorized II was thought that II would be
better TO let every legal Democratic voter in
the county have direct vote for the candi
date Of his choice. Therefore, TO unite the
party by letting every legal Democratic voter
have equal part in making the nominees,
and remove every cause OF complaint, the
present plan for our primaries was adopted
and approved by a majority of the Demo
cratic voters of the county
But the practical results Of this plan have
been fully as unsatisfactory as were those of
the old primary committee plan, and be.
lieve have caused more division. | am sat
isfled that this dissatisfaction arises from
the want of sufficient and proper knowl-
edge Of the rules and requirements of the
plan, and not from any defect or injustice Of
the plan itself Although was not a men,
Der Of the convention that adopted this plan
heartily approved it, because under its
rules every legal Democratic voter in Mont
gomery county can have voice in saying,
and an equal right and power in determin-
ing, who shall be the nomineesDf the party.
Now what could be more justP All that
is required Of each voter is TO come and cast
his vote freely and without hindrance for the
man Of his choice. But notwithstanding this
truly Democratic privilege and right, nbout
six hundred Of our Democratic voters ignore
this right and never vote at our primaries
And whyp Simply because they have never
been properly Informed what our rules for
the primaries require. There can be no other
cause They imagine our primary rules to
be one thing while in truth those rules are
quite another.
was thoughtful enough 10 lay by copy
when they were first published. | read aud
study them over about once year, aud the
oftener read them the better like them.
II Is astonishing how few of our citizens
know the rules and requirements of our pri-
maries. frequently ask Democratic voters,
men OF intelligence, have you copy of our
primary rulesp Generally the reply is,
have not. Have you ever read themY l
have not, comes again for answer. Well
then, what do you know about them? Only
what Others have told me, is again the reply.
If then l ask, well how do you like them as
you have heard them from othersp The an
swer generally comes, do not like them at
all. Again ask, why do you not like them
Then comes this astonishing answer; prin-
cipally do not like them because every one
who votes at the primaries is pledged 10 vote
the ticket entire at the general election, and
! am not willing 10 pledge away my liberty
OF voting or not, and for whom | please, and
for this reason l stay away from the prima-
ries, so as TO be free To vote as please at the
general election.
Now rs no such rule, pledge or require
ment Is contained in the rules for our pri.
maree, and no judge OF our Primary Elec-
tons has, nor ever had, any right TO 20 be.
yond the rules. ! consider that all such
voters have been mislnformed and are dis.
pleased at thing that does not exist, and
would attend and vote at the primaries II
they were only correctly and properly in
formed. And for this reason they need 10
see and read an official copy of the primary
rules.
OF my own certain knowledge know that
but few even OF our regular primary voters
have copies of the rules OF our primaries;
and as a general and correct knowledge OF
them will do more to bring out our voters
10 the primaries than any amount of cleo