The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-20
TIE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES,

through. That is democratic. The
COLUMBIAN is also in favor of a free
ballot, fair count, and an honest
return. That also is democratic.
Upon the purity Of elections is based
American freedom.
That there was corruption at the
late Democratic primary election in q
number of districts, is a self-evident
fact. The committee on credentials,
appointed by the convention, threw
out the entire vote of two districts
because of irregularities, " and refused
admission to the convention to the
delegates from those districts. What
were those irregularities ?" Why
did not the committee report all the
facts in the case to the convention,
instead of making general report
recommending that the two districts
be thrown out2 Was it because the
facts were such that if made public
some one might be prostrated? We
do not know, and are asking only for
information
In another district the committee
recounted the vote and found that the
recount divided the delegates between
two certain candidates, instead Of
giving them both to one.
In few other districts there are
| allegations of irregularities, but these
are said to have been discovered since
the convention, and no action of any
kind has been taken on them.
There is nothing in any of these
matters, as far as ascertained, that
would change the result of the nomi-
nations. Nor is there any evidence
whatever to connect any of the candi-
dates with any of these irregularities,
and what was done was either through
mistake, or was done by over-zealous
friends of certain candidates.
| As these irregularities are about
evenly divided, no one candidate
receiving the benefit of them all, there
is no excuse to be found in them
either for bolt, o. for an independent
candidacy for any office. The party
must not be disrupted in this presi
dental year by any such a movement
| AT the same time, these matter:
cannot be passed silently by, for the
reason that if nothing is said this year
there will be a repetition of the same
thing next year, with little more
boldness, and so on, year after year
as it has been growing, until false
returns and political corruption shall
come to be looked upon as huge
L. joke, rather than as a most dangerous
crime that strikes at the foundation
of American institutions.
| 1t is more for the purpose of pro
/. viding for the future than of critlcisins
the past that this discussion is now
entered upon. Can the Democratic
party afford to permit these things tc
continue without taking some steps to
Iprevent them?
| The first thing needed is a revision
of the rules, and the adoption of 6
System of nomination that does moi
lrequlre an expert mathematician anc
political scientist to figure out results
{ We called attention last week to the
chaotic state in which the rules are al
present 1t is said that resolution
for the appointment of committee
on revision was ready to be presented
to the convention last week, but this
and all other resolutions were lost
| sight of in the excitement that pre-
vailed over the nominations for county
offices. This matter ought not to be
longer delayed, and it would be proper
for the county committee to appoint
a committee to revise the rules and
have a report ready to present to the
next convention, as otherwise it will
be two years before anything can be
done.
The second thing needed is the
organization of a committee composed
OF member or members from each
township, who shall make it their duty
to see that there is free vote, fair
count, and true return, and to give
notice beforehand that all violations of
the law relating TO the primary cleo
tlons will be punished to the fullest
| extent.
The purity of the ballot is a prin-
ciple for which Democracy has always
fought. Let the Democracy of Col
umbia county see to it that this prin-
ciple is no longer violated, and this
can be accomplished by the punish
ment of all offenders, let the lightning
strike where it may.
ihilitiac of Innrn l;rr,,