The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-30

committee of the Jeffersonian Democracy
submitted proposition to the executive
committee of the regular Democracy that
a primary election should be held in every
county Of the State of Alabama on a speci-
fled day in April. 1894. and that the Jeffer-
sonian and the so-called organized should
each have the selection and appointment Of
half the managers and half the clerks at
every polling place in the State. 1t was
further provided in the said proposition that
every white man in Alabama who would
agree to support the nominees be invited to
participate in the primaries. This proposition
was considered by the executive committee
of the so-called organized Democracy and
promptly declined on the ground that the
provision every white man" would allow
white Republicans to participate in such
primaries. The Kolb committee then
amended their proposition to read
instead of every white man." every
Democrat prior to the August election in
1892 should be eligible to vote in the pri-
maries. The proposition thus amended was
again refused. This refusal Of the organ
lied" Democracy to abide by the result OF
a primary election gave a new impulse to
the reform movement, the result being that
the State convention of the Jeffersonian
Democracy. held in Birmingham last
month. was one Of the most enthusiastic
political conventions ever held in Alabama.
The convention represented every element
of opposition to the Democratic machine
and was outspoken in its demand for honest
elections and redemption from ring rule.
The fact that the first plank in the plat
form demanded a free ballot and fair
grown personal and local aspects and has
come to represent an important principle.
The convention nominated Kolb for Gov
ernor again on platform that virtually
ton and favored protection for home in
dustries AS to the extent of the feeling
of hostility to the Cleveland administration,
Mr.. Skaggs says:
The resolutions adopted at the Birming-
nam convention indicate intensity of
feeling in opposition to the present national
administration which can hardly be APP
touch with the 'I people of that Section. Not
a single pledge of the national Democratic
party has been redeemed. Every act of
Mr.. Cleveland has not only been opposed
TO the ancient and modern Democratic doc
trines. but an insult to the American peo-
pie The prominence given to British views
on every economic question Is offensive In
The dictatorial policy of Mr.. Cleveland,
coupled with the unprecedented influence of
the executive over the legislative depart
ment OF our government, has aroused a
feeling of Indignation in Alabama that will
respond TO any extent OF energy required
to redeem us from Clevelandism. =.
Under these circumstances the managers
of the Kolb campaign have appealed to the
friends of honest elections and of protec-
ton to American industries in the North
for pecuniary aid, and are likely to get it.
The fight they are making against the reg
ular Democracy entities them 20 Repub-
iican sympathy. 1t Is primarily a fight
for honest elections, for a free vote and
fair count. These are fundamental Re-
publican principles, and any movement that
promises to secure them in the South is
entitled to Republican sympathy.