The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-29
EARLY COUNTY CONVENTIONS.

A number OF the newspapers OF
Missouri which have criticised the
action of the democratic state central
committee In fixing the date OF the
state convention at June IL, do not
apparently understand that the COM
mittee had little or no discretion in the
matter. The principal cause OF the
early date In the new election law for
cities of i've thousand Inhabitants or
over, commonly known as the Aus
tralian system. The people are en-
tirely unfamiliar with the details Of
this enactment, not that the details are
either cumbersome, mysterious or man
fold, or require unusual study TO be
learned; on the contrary, they are
plain, few and simple, but the duties OF
state and county officers Hereunder,
for months preceding the election, are
Of such q character az will render
necessary a much longer period OF
time between conventions and cleo
tons.
In the first place, all ballots cast In
elections for public officers In cities
where the Australian system prevails.
must be printed and distributed a.
public expense, together nth the cards
Of instruction for the several electors
Before the ballots can be printed aud
distributed, every nominating conven-
ton must have been held and every
ticket completed by the ding In the
Office Of the secretary Of state and Of
The several county clerks the certificates
OF nomination provided for by law &.
These certificates must be executed b,
the presiding officers Vt conventions
with the tormsiities inscribed for tue
execution of an instrument affecting
real estate, and be flied no more than
sixty nor less than twenty days pre-
| cedinR an election. II Is desired, Ia
| view of the new features OF the law
that the ding shall begin as nesrly as
possible within the maximum limit, In
order that there may pc ample time for
the printing and distributing of ballots
and cards OF instruction, and the ad-
vertising Of the tickets. Al least three
months were deemed necessary in
order to properly inaugnrate the Aus
tralian system. This put the month OF
| August out of the question as a time
for holding the state convention, and
the month of July was set aside for the
holding OF subordinate conventions.
The question Of early conventions,
therefore, has been precipitated upon
the people by due conrse Of law, and
nothing remains but an enthusiastic
compliance with the statutory and
attendant requirements. County con-
yentions should be called and held al
the earliest practicable time alter
the state convention, AID the same
primaries or conventions held for The
purpose OF selecting delegates to the
convention OF 81. Joseph should also
select delegates to tbs congressional
judicial, senatorial and county conveny
tions. the dates which may as well be
designated In the frat call for primarits
or for conventions 10 pane delegates
The democratic state central commit
tee has announced the policy Of the
party In favor of early conventions and
every county committee should take
| co~gnizance OF It, 10 the eud that the
party may step iuIl psnoplied into the
deld, from supreme Judge 10 constable
without increasing In the slightest tn,
number OF conventions held. Ther,
| should be an Immediate recognition o
| tue fact that the democracy Of MjssouI,
has determined to force the fighting
that It proposes to open and close ,h'
| Dire; and that its ranks must dress NJ
aud nov forward with energy an
enthusiasm.
There Ia work ahead for The dem
ocratic comfy committees, and th
earlier they set about it, the o sue
cessiul and praiasworthy will be thei
results.