The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-02
EXECUTIVE CoMMITrEE.
Primary Elections ordered July 9
To Nominate County officers.


John f. Flint, chairman of the Demo
cratic Executive committee of Mo-
Lehman county, that body met this
morning at the city hall.
The committee was called to order
by the chairman and requested 10
take seats on the platform.
Mr.. T. j. Primm, member OF the COM
mittee from the Bosqueville precinct,
for the reason that he is a candidate
for office, resigned from the committee
which was accepted and the vacancy
at once filled by Mr.. +. d. Martin.
The resignation of Mr.. w, ii,
Grain Of McGregor, was accepted and
Mr. w. C. O'Bryan upon motion
elected TO fill his place.
Moved that w. p. Linthicum be
elected secretary of the meeting. Car
ried.
Chairman Flint upon request
stated concisely the object of
the call to be the determi'
nation of the question: whether
the Democratic party should have
primaries or a convention, there being
some good Democrats who favor free
for all race.
Mr.. O'Bryan acknowledged the
fraudulent methods resorted to in
primary elections. The question of
primary elections and conventions has
been discussed 10 McLennan county
for the past fifteen years and the peo-
pie each time think they will not
adopt this plan again, but find it is
the only way that the will of the peo-
pie can be expressed, and hoped the
motion would prevail.
Z. 2. Martin spoke strongly in
favor of the motion. Conventions
never give satisfactorily them the
voice Of the people is overridden. We
can have fair primary election by
legislation. While it may be an
evil, of the two evils l will choose the
least
Mr. L. P. Field, of Bruceville, OPP
posed primaries, and said it was
fraught with fraud, and if that course
vas adopted his people would not vote,
Moved by Mr. w. G. O'Bryau that
the executive committee order a
primary election for the purpose of
nominating county officers.
Mr. Harrison Allen spoke in favor
Of an honest vote and fair count, aud
if it can be shown that this can be
accomplished through a primary
election he was in favor of it, other
wise not, and therefore will oppose it.
Mr.. NJ. R. Carroll stated that if the
city of Waco would go into legislation
to throw the proper restrictions around
the ballot and keep out fraud his peo-
pie were in favor of primary election,
Mr.. James A. Harrison was sum.
moned home by a telegraph message
and excused himself with regrets that
he could not remain longer with the
committee, but desired his vote re-
corded in favor of the motion before
the house.
Pending discussion on Mr.
OBrysu's motion the meeting ad-
journed till l:3O.
The committee re-convened at 2:1O
o'clock.
The O'Brien motion in favor OF pri-
mary elections was, after more dis
cussion both pro and con, put and
carried by vote of -
Mr.. +. ID. Martin requested that the
mover of the motion before the COM
mittee withdraw the same to give an
opportunity to come to an understand
ing about the manner as to throwing
restraints around the ballot at the
primary elections to keep down fraud,
which was done.
The matter of registration within
the city limits of Waco was suggested
and discussed. None of the mem-
bers were opposed to registration,
provided 1t was made general and
take in the whole country.
Mr.. James A. Harrison wanted no
such restrictions to apply to Waco
alone and considered it an unwar-
ranted aspersion against the city.
Others wanted to know who would
pay the expense of registration.
Mr.. Harrison Allison moved that
restrictions be thrown around the
primary elections acceptable to the
committee, if such elections be de-
cided upon by the committee. Lost
by vote of four to three.
Upon motion of Mr.. James A. Har-
rison primary elections were ordered
the tickets to contain the names OF
| of fn md a fut ~ oil -,