The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-10-28
LEAVE IT TO THE PEOPLE.

upOl1 OuC pCOplC vi OCOI ga DuD yin
which they will be able to solve right.
ly and justly if given the opportuni.
ty to do so.
1t lies within the power of the state
democratic executive committee to de-
termine whether or not General Cor
don's successor in the senate, now that
death has removed that idol who in
the course of events would have been
his successor, shall be chosen by the
people or shall be the creature of the
political ring which at present domi-
mates in this state.
The state executive committee has
heretofore clearly and emphatically
expressed itself as fayoring the cleo
tion Of our United States senators as
nearly by popular vote as possible, and
for that reason ordered general prima-
ries, which primaries resulted in the
choice of Judge Crisp. The same COM
mittee cannot now, without being
guilty of gross inconsistency. refuse
W PoASuS q similar COURSE.
since Providence has nullifed the peo-
pies will as only recently expressed.
1t is clearly the duty Of the execu-
tive committee to immediately order
another general primary that the
people may agai2 express their choice
of a senator. and 10 refuse to do so
would give the voters Of Georgia Just
grounds for the belief that political
Influences are working to deprive
them of their rights. Indeed it would
not be unreasonable to assume that
certain poiiticians-their names are
their own ends at the expense of right
and precedent.
1t may be urged that the time is too
short for holding a primary, in view
Of the fact that the legislature which
meets today must elect a successor to
Senator Gordon. Ordinarily there
would be some reason in such argu-
ment, but the issue in this instance
whether or not the people or the poll
ticians shall choose GeQrgla's next
United States senator's too vital to
be dismissed on mere technicality.
If the state executive committee is
animated with desire to do right it
will find way to secure a fair express
sion of the people in selecting Geor-
gia's next senator.
The plan which most cOmmends it
self, and which appears to De entirely
feasible, is to provide separate ballot
boxes at the various voting places in
the coming election on November Bird,
and then and there have the democrat
ic voters of Georgia choose the next
senator, the majority vote of each
county to be considered as instructing
the county's representative in the
election of a senator. Under the fed
eral law the Georgia legislature must
choose a senator on the second Tues
day of its next session, which will bt
November 10th. This is seven day:
after the national election, thereby al
lowing ample time for the primar!
vote to be consolidated and the PEG
pies verdict duly entered up. TIL,
same or a similar plan has worked
satisfactorily in other states; indeed
the separate ballot box has beer
adopted in many states as less expen
sive and troublesome, and there seem
to be no good reason why the plal
could not be successfully adopted a
this time in Georgia. The vot
ers of each county would not fai
to express their choice of a senate
and it would be as fair for one candi
date as another. 1t would then b
for the members of the next genera
assembly to carry out the instruction
of their respective counties.
The man who does not favor such
course is not in favor of right. I'll
chances are he is aCtuated by some self
.on motive, and is, therefore, unwill
ing that the people should choose tn
next senator. The aspirant for tina
honor who is unwilling to leave his Sc
lection to the people evidently fear
their Judgment, and is, therefore, nc
the man who should represent Georgi
for the next six years in the Unite
States sens tie.
The people are watching the stat
executive committee. Somebody wi
suffar if IL rafusas to accord tho