The age-herald., 1898-03-02
COY. JOHNSTON
 FOR CONVENTION Only Nay to Carry Out the Wishes
 Oi a Majority. SOME TWENTY CANDIDATES Are Out For the Legislative Offices
 Already. ROOM FOR TRADES AND COMBINES By Which Minority of One Third Could Defeat the Desire of the Other Two Thirds. The Committee Should Re-
 scird Its Act
ROOM FOR TRADES AND COMBINES

The movement to reverse the action of the democratic executive committee and have convention to select members of the legislature from Jefferson county is being vigorously pushed.
 The executive committee meets Saturday to consider the matter. Among many other democrats Gov. Johnston, through his friends, is advocating the convention form of selecting the democratic candi- dates. There is, however, some opposition to it, but it may be settled amicably before Saturday.
 One of the governors friends in discuss ing the matter expressed his views in this wise:
 ''The action of the county executive committee in ordering these nominations 10 be made by primary was sore dsappoint- ment to democrats who had no axes to grind and desired only the good of the party and the state
 Twenty Candidates Out
 ..Every intelligent man knows that with some twenty candidates in the field for the legislature, and quite as many for other offices. all sorts of trades and combines would be entered into and the chances are that the delegation would not represent the political views of the vast majority of the democrats of this county.
 .sEyery one knows that with fifteen men running on one side and six on the other that minority of one-third by compact vote could defeat the wishes of two-thirds of the democrats. The men who were most against convention were generally the men who led the fight against the Chicago platform two years ago.
 Gov. Johnston has expressed strongly his opposition. to the plan adopted, ana It IS understood that his friends will, at the next meeting of the committed, move 10 change the method and nominate py coh- vention," he continued
 ''If the democrats in the Varlous pre- cincts cannot be trusted to select dele gates who will represent their wishes Tn the county convention then the old demo- cratic doctrine of the majority rule IS fraud. In this county. at this tune, a convention is the only plan that Will surely enable democrats who stand by the Chicago platform to send men to the house who will represent their views
 '.Some silver democrats have advocated a primary and in many instances IL mas been found that they had some friend run ming for some other office, to save or Serve..
 Consideration For All
 'In a primary every candidate might be elected from one portion of the county, or from one class. In convention just con- sideration can be given to all sections and interests. Some candidates are now pos ing as original silver men who were Tn opposition two years ago. Nh one desires in a primary to unmask these men, but the light of a convention would disclose their records.
 ''The question of better schools and bet ter roads is involved the question of sending men who will be in accord with our state administration in it's efforts to save the peoples money and punish ras- calls is involved.
 ''The convention can instruct its nomi- nees but primary marks therN and turns them loose The committee should promptly reconsider their action, and di- rect the nomination of candidates for the legislature to be made by convention.
 ''It is not hard to understand where the opposition comes from but predict that the committee will be almost unanimous next Saturday, since the wishes of the democrats are known"