Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-05-08
ORGANIZING FOB CONGRESSMAN.
The Higginsville Post, a republican

newspaper, asks:-
"Why didn't the democratic county
committee arrange for an expression
of opinion about whom the party wants
for congressman this year? The county
is far more concerned in the member of
the house than it can possibly be in the
senator. Wasn't the primary method
adopted IN this matter four years
agoP"
The feigned concern of our friend
the enemy may as well be used as a
text as not.
The democratic county committee
did not arrange for an expression
of opinion about whom the party wants
for congressman this year, because its
authority only extends to matters with
in the county, and there being no can
didates in the county there was no de-
sire or necessity to submit the ques-
ton.
There may candidates in the county,
and still it will be wiser not to mix up
the congressional with the county cam
paign. Whenever that IS done it is
inevitable that there will be more or less
dickerlng and trading and confusion.
1t was out of mixing the congressional
with the county convention in Jackson
county that all the difficulties arose in
the last canvass; and we are very
strongly of the opinion that the congress
sional committee should organize the
party for the congressional nomination
in the entire district, and not by coun-
ties; and that the meetings or primary
elections, whichever may be determin-
ed upon. be kept separate from all 9th
ers. We appreciate the general reluct-
ance to multiply meetings; we person.
ally share in the feeling; but the har-
mony and stability of the party are at
stake in a vital and important matter,
and every democrat will, when such is
the case, be willing to make a trlfling
sacrifice of time.
The democracy has a majority in the
congressional district. With careful
organization, a harmonious and fair
nomination, and q good candidate, it
can elect the next congressman, and
there is no reason why it should not be
done.
In its column of, "What the Post
wants" it says:-"To know if it is
really true that Senator Cockrell had
anything to do with fixing the primary
election early in June, on the same
day with the Saline county primary,
thus getting a favorable verdict from
two leading counties of tie State early
in the campaign, which would aid him
elsewhere. And if this isn't the rea-
son why our friend at Odessa so sud-
denly 'let up on his outspoken oppo-
sition TO an early primary" We are
glad to be able to answer this inquiry.
Senator Cockrell had as much to do
with the matter in this county as had
the man in the MOON. The date was
moved by Mr.. Plattenburg, an anti
Cockrell man, and was voted by the
members of the committee solely from
their conviction of what was best for
the party in this county. The men,
bers anne to the meeting with their
minds made up as to the date to be fix.
ed. The senatorial matter was brought
up afterward. Is it not u rather small
kind of politics to be attribut1ng all
kinds of imaginary motives to people.
1t is a good deal like the talk at Mrs.
Quilp's tea party. We suppose Sena.
tor Cockrell has sense enough to at
tend to his own business, and to let
county politics alone, and that he had
as much to do with the Saline primary
as he had with that of LAFAYETTE.