The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-21
A crispite vail.

\ NFlHHllE Will
Yes. the democratic executive commit
tees or a few counties have called pri-
maries for June 8. without saying anything
about a senatorial primary either in June
or October but it doesn't follow that on
that account the Crispite organs have 'oc-
pitfalls have been set for the people. 1t
ought 10 be kept in mind that there is no
authority anywhere for a senatorial pri-
mary al any time. Such a primary has
not been provided for by a state conven-
ton or by the state executive committee.
In fact. as far as anybody knows. nobody
has called for primary on the senatorial
question except Mr.. Crisp and his newspa-
per organs. and there is no precedent in
this state for a senatorial primary. Why
then, should the democratic masses be told
that they must be vigilant. and to look
out for pitfalls, and that an effort is being
made 10 deprive them of a chance TO ex-
press their choice for senator at a pri-
mary Now If it were certain that the
democrats were demanding a senatorial
primary, and that an organized and persis-
tent effort was being made to defeat the
demand there might be some excuse for
this wall about pitfalls. etc. What are the
facts2 Mr.. Crisp sent a letter to the state
executive committee. requesting that body
TO have the people choose a candidate for
senator at the primary called 10 elect dele
gates to the state convention. The state
committee declined TO comply with the re-
quest. Then Mr.. Crisp. with the help of
his friends and his newspaper organs,
made a systematic effort to get county
committees TO include the senatorship
question in the June primaries. They sue
ceeded In getting some counties to do what
they desired to have DONE The governor
and the chairman of the state executive
committee saw very clearly that the
scheme in Mr.. Crisp's interest-a scheme
to have the candidate for senator chosen
before there could be any extended discus
sion of the silver question-was doing the
party harm; and they at once put them
selves on record in opposition to it, and
practically put an end to it.
Now Mr.. Crisp and his friends are telling
the public that an effort is being made
to prevent a senatorial candidate being
chosen in October. What authority is
there fer making choice at that time?
There isn't any. If Mr.. Crisp's friends
want to vote for him at that election we
don't believe anybody will try to prevent
them, but if they should, we don't see that
anybody will be bound by the result. If
all the democratic senatorial candidates
should agree that a ballot for senator
should be taken in October they might
feel bound by it, but in the absence of au-
thority for such a ballot, and of any agree
ment by candidates. we don't see what the
ballot would amount to.
In October the regular election will oc-
cur. 1t would not be quite regular to have
primary along with the regular election.
The opponents Of democracy might and
probably would, object to having a pri-
mary injected into the regular election.
From the present outlook it does seem as
if Mr. Crisp's scheme to have a ballot on
the senatorial question had about petered
out. Unless we are greatly mistaken, he
will have to win the senatorship in con-
test before the legislature If he wins it at
all. STILL we have no objection to a bal
lot for senator in October. if it can be sat-
isfactorily arranged for.