The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-12-17
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

| bEM OCKATIC OKGANlLAIlON'
The HERALD is in favor of the
Democratic party of Maury County
calling either convention or a pri-
mary, and nominating candidates
for county offices.
There are some people who are
not. Now, without falling out with
each other and without creating any
factions or'getting up any rows in
the Democratic camps, let's public
ly discuss this impersOnal, political
policy.
The HERALD favors the nominat-
ing system because of the remem-
brance we have of the elections be-
fore the nominating system was in
vogue. We remember how open,
notorious and shameful was til
bribery and corruption of those cleo
tions. How voters in blocks were
sold to the highest bidder. How
hired electors rode the country for
months and months. holding negro
meetings and making nights hideous
with their drunken, partisan
hurrahs. In the interest of good
order, peace and sobriety we oppose
this character of campaigning, and
for that reason we favor the nomi-
mating system.
We remember too, that the farmers
complained greatly that these pro-
fessional, paid electors interfered
very much with their labor; first, by
tempting them to these meetings at
night and there making them drunk,
uniting them for work the next
day and second, by going to them
in the fields and engaging them in
political talk. In the Interest of the
farmer, therefore, we oppose going
back to the old method of cam
paigniDg.
Then, too, we believe that in or
ganization there is strength. We
believe that the Democratic party
will be stronger in this county if the
organization is kept up; and that
the better it is kept up the stronger
it will be. We believe this is a
Democratic county; that it should
be controlled by the Democrats, and
that Democrats should fill all it's
offices. We have not had a Repub-
lican in office in this county since
the nominating system began. We
did have before. Why not let we'll
enough alone? Why throw down
the fences and invite the enemy to
share the offices with us?
These are just few of the reasons
calling for nomination. What are
the reasons against it? We ask that
lquestion and invite an answer
We have not yet heard any good
reason assigned. So far as we can
learn it seems to be play of some
of the prospective candidates and
their friends, for advantage. Not
entirely that either; for it seems tC
be play of some of the enemies OF
one of the candidates, to encom-
pass his defeat. And sometimes we
hear it said that the primaries have
become corrupt"
Great Scots Think of the cor
ruption we had before we had pri
maries. There can be no sincerity
in that objection. And as for the
personal advantages or disadvant.
ages, the HERALD has nothing tC
do; and, we humbly submit, with
personal matters the committee
should not officially have anything
to do. They are there as Democrats
to serve the party, and not to scheme
to give one member of the party an
advantage over the other; to organ
ize and build up and strengthen the
party, not to disorganize and tear il
down for the doubtful advantage il
: may be to some personal friend, oil
the disadvantage it may be to some
one else. |#.
Very much rests upon the actor
of the committee. Not for this yea
only, but for years to come. Ii W.
have no nominations this year, tina
means none for years to come. Fol-
the people will not submit to tn,
individual" policy of nominating
candidates one year, and running {
free-for-all the next. To abandon
the nominating system now, virtu
!. ally disrupts our party-so far a
y the county offices are concerned
, for years to come. 1t is too grav
e and responsible question there
+ fore to be looked at from persona
= standpoint, and we hope that eac
y committeeman will so regard it.
y A WASHINGTON special to tn
Nashville Sun raferrinU tO tb