The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-20
PRIMARIES THE RULE.
THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE so DECIDES.

The Details of the System Whether
By Wards or Militia Districts and
to What Elections to Be Applied to
TO Be Settled Leter-The Views OF
the Clubs on the Primary System.
They All Want Primaries.
Primary elections will be the rule in
Chatham county hereafter. At a meeting Of
the democratic executive committee OF the
county last night it was decided to hold the
election for delegates to the democratic
state convention at Atlanta to elect del
gates to the national convention, by a
primary. The details have not yet been
decided UPON.
The committee met in the city court room
at the court house. Notwithstanding
the lengthy notice given Of the meeting
there were less than nalf the members Of
the committee present Several representa-
tives of the various clubs were present to
express the views of the organizations they
represented on The manner OF electing dele
gates.
The meeting was called to order by the
chairman, Hon. Walter q. Charlton. In
the absence OF the secretary. Capt. J. F..
Brooks, Mr.. /. a. Solomoas was made sec
rotary pro tenn.
EXPRESSIONS OF THE CLUBS
The chairman explained the object Of the
meeting and requested expressions of opiu-
ion from the representatives present from
the various organizations.
3. b. Adams, ESQ.,, representing the DEM
ocratic Campaign Club, stated the
views Of that organization. Mr..
Adams said the time had come
when it is necessary TO take the most
careful measure to preserve the interests OF
the party. 1t has been obvious, he said,
for some years that mass meeting does
not answer the needs Of the party.
1t may have done SO in former years, but
now 1t is merely a question which crowd
gets there first and uses its lung power
most effectively. He had been told, he
said. that body of fifty men and boys who
would plant themselves together in front of
the house and exercise their lungs with good
effect would be able to carry Uiud
Toce vote in favor Of any motion
they desired. Under such conditions he
seid primary was preferable, and further
more, il seemed to be generally favored by
all parties. 1t offers the opportunity of
getting an expression of the will Of the
people, which the mass meetings now do
not do.
REGULATED BY LAW.
Mr.. Adams called attention to the fact
that there is now an act Of the legislature
regulating party primaries, enabling them
to guard against fraud and Intimidation,
and provides that they shall be held accord
ing 10 the rules laid down by the party
holding the primary.
Mr.. Adams said the effect of primaries In
Chatham county would be TO practically
rlace the entire control Of elections in the
hands Of the white voters, as the result OF
the primaries, If sustained by the party,
would be the result at the polls.
At these primaries only democrats can
vote, and If it were so determined only
registered voters may vote. AS they would
be under the control of the executive COM
mittee lists of the democratic voters Of the
county could be obtained aud fraud pre-
vented,
There was some discussion by Mr.. Adams
and the members Of the committee as TO
whether the vote of the colored man claim
ing TO be democrat could be refused. There
seemed to be some doubt on this point, and
the conclusion was that the vote Of colored
man could be refused il the committee so
decided. The committee will pass upon this
point later.
WHEN TO BE USED.
Alderman Bailey, representing the Hill
CIuo, wanted to know II the primary sYs-
TEN was intended to apply to all elections.
MIR. Adams said bis idea was that the
primaries should apply TO all elections for
delegates or nominations for Office ordered
by the party.
W. M. Gibbons, member of the COM
mHtee from the First district, said it was
his understanding that primaries should be
heldln each district TO elect representatives
upon the democratic executive committee
who should meet and elect president and
other officers, and take action for the good
OF the party. Then when the voters of a
district became dissatisfied with their repre-
sentatives, they could call upon them to re-
sign, and choose others in their places
y. ). Sullivan, member from the Fourth
district. moved that the democratic execu-
tive committee abolish the mass meeting
system and adopt the primary system by
wards for municipal elections and for
county, state and national elections by
militia districts.
Merritt W Dixon, also from the Fourth,
favored Mr.. Sulivan's resolution, Let
each ward, he said, elect Its delegates who
Will meet and place a mayor, or senator or
member of the legislature in nomination.
Alderman Cam wanted to know how the
county was to be divided.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
Alderman Bailey said the organization
which he represented, the Hill Club, was in
favor of primaries, but personally he was
not in favor of them Tor municipal cleo
tions.
Justice Frank McDermott, who repre-.
sented the First District Club, said he was
III FAVOR OF primaries In all elections, state.
county and municipal. and wanted those
elections held by districts
MIR. Dixon said he was not a member of
any club, but he thought it time for all the
democrats Of Chatham county to come to-
Rether. He moved that the chairman desig-
hate committee to arrange plan for pri-
mary elections for all city and county cleo.
tions. Mr.. Dixon said be was tired of the
system OF vote-purchasing and theater mass
meetings there a small amount of money
and a sufficient amount of whisky could
purchase enough votes to control a bowling
mob that could name a lot of perfect nom
entities to represent the city's business in
terestS.
L. c. Downs Of the First district was
afraid the holding Of primaries in the dis
tricts would lead to the establishments of
precincts there also, a thing known to be
very undesirable.
j. j. Sullivan moved that IL the execu-
tive committee had the power it do awav
with mass meetings and substitute primaries
by wards.
THE COMMITTEES AUTHORITY.
Mr.. Charlton said the chair was not adj
vised as to the authority of the executive
committee to change the system of nominal
tions without the consent of the party, and
he could only mako suggestion, which
was that mass meeting be called to pass
upon the question and decide for or against
&ka 1kn lie H. l.