The Forrest City times., 1896-04-03
THE FIRST STEP.

4
suance TO the call of The Chairman.
This is the first step toward The organ
ization ct tile party in this county for
the campaign of 1896. Tie committee
has fixed date for holding township
mass meetings and Il county conyeH-
ton. for the purpose of selecting dele
gates In the state. judicial aud con
gTessionHl conventions. and for elect
Further than this the cnmmil.e
bad 10 power 10 so and they
wisely adjourned without even
a suggestion to the people as la what
they ought 10 do. They recognized the
fact that the people are sovereign in
tins matter. and should be left entirely
To their own discretion AS to what To
do. This is the good old democratic
way. AID THE TINES is pie ,sei
that the first step in the organ.
izatian Of the party has been
upon This high plane. We
sincerely hope that the entire conduct
of the party leaders VII BE rs liberal,
and as humble as this step of the com
mittee. They have demonstrated by
their acts that they have confidence in
the rank and lie of the party. aud are
willing 10 trust the d, st;ny of the party
in this county To the buys in the
trenches. That's what democracy
means-by, for and of. the people
| Tie next step To he taken by the de-
mocratic party is one of personal act
ion. Every man who has heretofore
affiliated with the Democratic party,
and all who expect to- do SO henceforth.
are called upon tn come together in
mass meetings there TO discuss the in
teres.s of the party. and determine
what policies are best To pursue. who
shall represent them on the executive
C mmitlee, and whether or not they
desire primary election for any or
all offices To he Tiled. The township
meetings are the most important To the
interests OF the rank and file of the
party. Here they have the opportun-
lty to discuss and decide upon all mat
tiers pertaining to the welfare of the
party. They must select men at these
township mass meetings 10 represent
them in a county convention, called to
adopt platform, select All executive
committee, and elect delegates To tive
state. judicial and Congressional con-
ventionS, and they have the power to
say then and there, but at no other
time, whether or not these delegates
to the state. judicial and congressional
conventions shall be then and there ill.,
structed ~ not. and il not. they may
| say how and when the delegates afore-
said shall be instructed.
IL is the deliberate opinion OF THE
TINES that the primary election plan
of selecting candidates is the only De-
mocratic method. Ii is the only plan
in which every voter may have voice
and WELD as much Influence as any
other yoter When honestly conduct
I'd. as it will be with legal restrictions
1t is the best and only way To arrive AT
the will of the majority. II tits conced-
ed To be good thing for one Cffice. it is
certainly good for all offices. and We
contend that it is wise tn employ it in
making nominations from constable To
| United States Senator.
| If TIE TINES is right in these prem
lses, then the following respecting the
third step in the organization and
progress of the party work. should re-
ceiee careful and prayerful cousdera-
zion at the hands of the bows ia the
trenches: The convention should not
| instruct for any office When the
county convention msets. ii should or
ganize, adopt platform. select dele
gates 70 the state. judicial and con-
gressional conventions, select an TX
ecutlve committee. recommend The
/ holding OF AN early primary election
and refer the delegates which il has
previ 1lisly selected. back Ia tile people
for instructions at the said primary
election. and then adjourn. leaving
the further business of the party TO the
executive committee,
Ii is important that the township
mass meetings select men to represent
them in the county convention who
are in favor Of "A PRIMARY election. and
who will carry out the instructions of
! the township meetings on this propO-