The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-12-18
Anent the CharrmanshIp Question.

EDITOR MISUNDERSTANDING read your
criticism of the present mode of form
ing the County Democratic Executive
Committee, and your suggestions as to
more perfect and satisfactory plan of
forming the same, L offer no further
excuse for accepting your invitation to
discuss the matter, than the desire to
offer timely warning against the adop-
ton of the proposed plan.
1t Is not my desire to believe, nor
have | the slightest inclination TO inti-
mate, that there is, lurking behind the
proposed plan, a scheme by which
the people might be handicapped of
their nominating power, and their fran
chise be made subserVint to 1.-THE power
OF an organized political ring. / grant
that the proposed plan is an error OF the
HERALD judgement, and make no re-
Election on its honesty. "a Chairman
elected on the same day ticket is
nominated, will be must be-in touch
with the majority of his party, else he
could not be elected"
What the HERALD means by first pro-
posing that the present Committees, on
the % inst. order an election OF a Chair
man in the same manner and at the
same time that delegates TO the nomi-
mating convention are elected, and a
little further down the column declRr.
ing that "a Chairman elected on the
same day ticket is nominatedn &c,
would admit of an explanation that
would be quite Interesting to the Demo-
Gratis of Maury County. But, has IL not
occurred TO the HERALD that a Chair
man elected in any manner, with the
power to form his own cabinet, would
De contrary to tho spirit of Democratic
principles. 1t would be the centraliza-
ton OF democratic principles and DOW
ers into the hands Of one man.
the HERALD knows very well, IL IL
will but reflect on the matter, that IL is
a difficult matter TO got man, after his
election to an office, to carry out the
idea that he professed to represent at
the time of his aspiration to office. It
is often the case that men are elected to
political positions who, after their cleo
tion, are strictly antagonistic to the
very principles upon which they were
elected. We are often incompetent TO
Judge between sincerity and hypOcracy
~ these days Of political degeneracy.
We are often unable, when ambitious
men aspire TO Office, to judge between
men Of sincerity and patriotism, who
love the people of their country and the
principles that would inure to their
welfare, and hypocritical political
tricksters who would no sooner be in
Quoted into such an Office of power
than they would allow price TO be set
upon their heads by the most powerful
subsidy of political desecratfon that
CHANGED to be brought to bear upon
their consideration. There is said to be-
a price on the head of every man.
Whether 1T is proVerbial truth, know
not. L do know, however, that there are
some not very highly either. Besides
all this the machinery of the Democratic
party should be run on Democratic
principles. Should the Chairman be
allowed to form hls own cabinet, he
would have the power TO displace any
committeeman at any time, of course
would allow no man to remain on the
Committee who was not thoroughly in
line with every idea Of his potent mas
ter. Thus the Democratic party would
be ruled by one man and the suh-com-
mittee would have no voice in the affairs
of the party, save the voice that IL might
please their Master Chairman to place in
their mouths. Hence, should the Chair
man chance to be susceptible to the sub
sidiary Influences that would in every
case be brought to bear upon him by
the great corporations and combines of
the country, he would have the power
to committee his party to any corrupt
measure that might be dictated to him.
True Democracy is the will of the
people; and the nearer the principles OF
the party are kept to the peopie, the
purer is its spirit of Democracy. There
is no Democracy in one man power,
and this one fact is sufficient TO crush
the HERALD's proposition. The affairs
of Democracy is the business of the
people, and the poole ought TO attend to
their own business. The foundation
principleskof the Democratic party are
the only safeguard for American
liberty; take those principles from the
hands of one man, aud you will destroy
the party. No party can live when its
principles are dead.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have tried to speak
plainly and to the point. AS / said IN
the beginning, 1 grant that you are
sincere and honest in your proposition.
The wisest and best men are liable TO
err. L believe the most Democratic
plan for the Executive COMMITTEES, Is
for the Committee 10 DO elected by the
people. Let primary elections for off,
GERS Of the county DO ordered. At the
same time, order the election OF Com
mitteemen. Whom the Committee
meets to declare the primary election OF
candidates, let the newly elected Com
mittee meet, elect one OF their number
ChairInen, and take charge of the affairs
of the party. 1t is much safer and
much more Democratic 10 lot the people
vote direct for their cnoice Of candi-
dates, than to vote for delegates and let
the delegates vote for candidate. There
is no excuse for county convention.
The people can vote for their choice
candidate just as easily as they can for
delegates TO a convention. My district
wants no convention. II Is a chance for
corruption, not necessary to have.
Now, Mr.. Editor, IL am not right.
why am not? Very truly,
GEO. q. BENTON.