The Russellville Democrat., 1890-04-17
THE JUDICIAL PRIMARY.

deciding to depart from the usual method of nominating judicial can dIdates-the convention plan, and substituting Tn lien thereof the pri- mary system, has seriously disturbed the equaDimity of our esteemed CO., temporary of the Morrilton Pilot and the Atkins Mail, as will be seen by reference to hls comments published further along lu this article. We are inclined to the opinion that our brother has entirely misunderstood not only the scope and power of the committee, but the Intent and pur. pose of the change proposed. That the committee had as much author ity to call primary election as It had to provide for convention, we presume no one will seriously deny, and, that the committee acted other than for the best interests of the party,n one acquainted with the gen. tlemeI composing the committee will for one moment believe. As we un. derstand the matter the committee in making the change was actuated solely by a desire to promote har- mony in the district and avoid a repetition of the deadlock and ex- citing scenes incident to the last convention held in the district, and not simply to arbitrarily change the ''time- honored democratic usage" in respect to making these nominations. Their intentions were certainly laud- able and commend themselves to thinking men everywhere.
 The suggestion of our cotempora- " to the counties to ignore the action of the committee and fall back on the old plan is certainly undemocrat- ic and in bad taste, calculated to produce discord and trouble.
 In order that our readers might the more readily understand the manner in which the committees action has been received, we close this article with the comments of the district press, and in addition, append below the replies of four of the candidates sent in response to a circular letter written by the editor of the DEMOCRAT to each of the SIX candidates effected by the action of the committee, asking their yiews on three points as follows;
 1st. Do you consider the com. mittee transcended it's authority in changing the mode of nominating judicial officers?
 2d. Is the primary plan the bet. ter way of making these nomina- tions?
 3d. Are you satisfied with the committees action?
 These replies are interesting and serviceable in showing that there is not as wide spread dissatisfaction with the committees work as Bro. Leigh's article would seem to imply.
 The first communication is
 JUDGE cRAvENs' RESPONSE.
 RUssELLvILLE, Apr1l l5. Editor DEMOCRAT:
 Your letter of l4th received. In response, I will first say that In my judgment, beggars should not be permitted to dictate the manner Of the presentation of their gifts, where fore candidates ought to accept any method adopted by their party, free front corruption and fraud, for con ferring nominations, without com plaint.
 The action of the committee, from l the view l take of 1t, does not abso lutely change the mode of nominat- ing judicial officers, but merely re. quests or recommends such change. | It's resolution, fairly interpreted, re- quests the executive committees in the several counties to hold primary elections, make returns, etc, and recommends to the Judicial conven- ton, when assembled, to cast up the vote from all the counties, and to declare the persons receiving the highest number of votes, the nomi- nees Of the party. The purpose Of the committee is not as clearly set forth as it might have been, conced Ing such to have been it's purpose, yet setting out with request to the central committees Of the several counties to hold primary elections, all that follows can only be regarded as recommendation to the judicial convention, of a method for declar- ing the nominees, in the event pri- mary elections shall be held. It will be observed that nominating con yention is provided for, and the time and place of It's meeting fixed. The Judicial Committee in recommend ing that nominations be made in the manner suggested, doubtless had ln view harmony In the party and the success of it's ticket, and if such be the case, cannot be said to have transcended it's authority.
 As to whether the plan recon '