The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-04-23
THE WAY OUT.
Harmony i'm the Democrat
ic Party
OVER A SENATORIAL PRIMARY,
Hon. A. 3. Clay Replies to Letter
aad Thinks October Election a
Suitable Time.

Hon. A. S. Clay, Chairman of the
State Executive Committee, in re-
ply to letter from Hon. W. G. F.
Price, of Macon, as to how to avoid
threatened discussions in the party
in regard to voting in primary for
United States Senator, gives some
wise suggestions on that matter.
He says:
In my judgment the people ought to
have right to express at the ballet box
their choice for United States Senator. /
have always believed that the people ought
to elect United States Senators by popular
vote, but the question which now submits
itself to our consideration is when and
how they can vote for United States Sena.
tor without disrupting the party. Is it
best 10 vote for the United States Senator
on the 9th of June or at the October cleo
tons? Cannot the will OF the people be
ascertained at one time as well as at
another? Cannot Democrats vote at the
October elections as veil as they can Gu
the 9Th of June and by their ballots de-
termine whom they want tor senator
Now. is it not true. in the event these dis
cussions 20 on and public opinion becomes
excited that if a primary be held ON the
9th of June that naturally the candidates
who have suffered defeat in the primary,
and their friends also, will feel chagrinned,
sore and disappointed, and will not feel
that enthusiasm in the elections in Octo-
Der that they otherwise would feel2 On
the contrary, if the primary for United
States senator be held in October, at the
same time we elect governor. state house
officers and members of the legislature,
would not the forces OF all the candidates
for United States senator be at the polls at
work for their respective candidates :?
Would not each side be enthused to es.
pouse the cause of the candidate. There
would be no friction, the election would
be over when tie people of Georgia deter
mined then and there whom they wanted
for senator. The popular will could be
expressed, and by the united efforts Of
Democrats who entertained different views
in regard to the senatorial and financial
question the Democratic vote could he
largely increased.
BY this means all soreness, disappoint-
ment and chagrin that defeated candidates
and their friends might feel on account o
the primary, would be avoided, and by this
means the Democratic party would have
the enthusiastic and earnest support of the
friends of each candidate at the October
elections, and at the same time the Dem.
ocratic voters of Georgia would have the
right and privilege of going to the polls
and showing by their ballots whom they
preferred for United States senator. In
my judgment. the Democratic party in
Georgia ct this time cannot stand strife
and contention within its own ranks; at
least it ought not to be called upon to do
30 when it can he avoided and the same
results accomplished. / not only want to
see the Democratic candidates nominated
for the respective Offices, but am anxious
at the October elections to see the party in
Georgia in such condition that we can 20
before the people End win by an over
whelming majority and put an end to the
contests that we have had for several years
in this state. II the Democratic party car
win by good majority in the coming
elections, in my opinion, tie good effect
will be seen for many years. and in all
probability we will not have serious con-
test between DEMOCRATS and Populists Tor
long while.
You ask me to suggest some way to ear
~ this out at the October elections. Now,
We have NO law providing for the people
to vote for United States senator, but as
each county executive committee convenes
resolution could be passed providing
that separate ballot box be put in each
militia district at the October elections
and that the executive committee for each
militia district in each county in the state
hold primary election for United States
senator OF the same day that we elect
governor and state house officers, and that
all Democrats who support the Democrat
ic nominees be authorized to cast their
vote for senators.