The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-05-07
q Pisa f6r Rrilnariss.

To the Editor Of the tL0RfDIAN:
In view Of the tact that the county
convention will be held soon. and as 1t
will probably decide by what method we
will nominate county officers, deem it
not amiss to write short article in regard
to primaries, as it Is the only way of secur-
ing the free and full expression of public
opinion. The county democratic executive
committee feeling the importance of hold
ing primaries for the purpose of nominating
county officers, at their last meeting passed
a resolution binding each one to use their
efforts to bring about the result.
They did this, not in spirit of dictation,
but AS plea and an earnest one for better
methods Of determining the will of the peo-
ple. It has been evident that too much
trickery has been used in appointing or
selecting delegates by the system ofprecinct
meetings that have been in vague and too
fnuch iugulary practiced in the con ventior s.
1t can be seen at a glance that a few
men getting together and formulating
plan, writing out resolutions, appointing a
chairman, naming a secretary, could, when
the convention came together, by the
mere force of organization, carry whatever
object they had in view over the ideas and
votes and wishes of men, who, however
strongly they might have had their ideas
before hand, had no consultation or agree
ment as to any particular course that
ought to be adopted when the convention
met. 1t is just as easy to see that by
primary elections snap judgments, packed
conventions, pre-arranged meetings and
all their attending evils must be unknown.
There cannot be valid objection urged
against primary nominations, for if demo-
cracy means the rule OF the majority, then
primary nominations have in their very
nature all the elements of those principles in
their highest and best sense. When men
calmly and deliberately make up their
minds in the quiet of home and with the
lights fully before them as to who their
choice is and then 60 quietly to the polls
and cast their ballots for the men of their
choice, it makes the fairest, most sensible,
most honest way of reaching the sentiment
of the people. Some are trying to create
the impression that while the country is
for primaries the town is against them
and that it will run the convention. The
country delegates will constitute three
fourths Of the convention. If majority of
the people in the country are in favor of
primaries and will turn out to their precinct
meetings on May 10Th and elect delega ties
who will vote for primaries, they will be
in the majority, and will be able to make
themselves heard and felt.
The very worst thing they can do will
be to stay away from the precinct meet
ings Your absence will enable the oppo.
sition 10 have it all their own way; whereas
if you will turn out and show them that
you are on deck, you will come out on top
in nearly every precinct. Fortunately,
however, this time l do not think the
sentiment OF the town is against primaries. |
but in order that there be no chance TO
defeat the will of the people, the people |
themselves should speak.
Let every one remember the precinct |
meetings MAY 19,h), turn out, do your
duty and the majority will rule.
DCMnCp