The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-01-21
A COMMITTEEMAN
Tells How the Primary" Plan
Was Worked.
He Says the Committee Was Worked In
the Interest of individuals, and
Not the Party.

all anxious TO rush into print, but
since the last meeting of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee of this
county, and in view of the COM
ments and criticisms that have been
made, | want to make few state
ments.
1 see am put on record as voting
for the resolution passed at that
meeting. The fact is, was not
present at the meeting, but suppose
some kind friend voted for ME.
However, l am not making any
special kick about the way my vote
was cast. was Indifferent as to
how it should be cast, o. whether or
not it was cast at all.
That there is widespread dis
satisfaction among the Demo-
Gratis of this county, is evident to
anybody who will look and listen.
The editor of the HERALD seems to
ignore this fact, and yet he knows
it is fact. But there is cause for
this widespread dissatisfaction, :"
and it is about this cause that l
want to write.
Before the primary system was
established it was free-for- all
fight at the general election. Oc-
casionally Republican would slip
in, and there was always scramble
for the colored vote. At first this
vote was carried with whiskey and
great hurrah, but later on it had
to be bought. Good citizens gem
orally and Democrats in particular,
disapproved of that practice, and the
primary system was established so
as to be certain to shut out all Re-
publicans and to be independent of
the negro vote.
At first the nomination by the
Democratic party meant an cleo
ton; but professional election
workers soon commenced to bid for
the white vote ard it was found
that lots of them were for sale, and
a great wraDgle at the primary was
the consequence.
The latter class of citizens again
became dissatisfied and demanded
, that something should be done.
They said they would quit the pri-
mary if something was not done.
They looked to the Executive Com
mittee to regulate and control these
matters. Accordingly two years
ago a special meeting of the COM
mittee was called to do something
to stop this traffic in votes. But
it happened that some Of the can
didates had money to spend and
were not willing to risk their
chances on their personal following.
They wanted the advantage their
money would bring, so they went to
work on the committee. Got a few
influential members on their side
and lot Of others followed, so by
the time of the meeting, the COM
mittee was packed" in such way
, that no reform measure could be
passed.
When this news went out to the
people they began to realize that
the committee was controlled by
{ a ring. That it was being made a
tool of by scheming candidates and
their friends.
Primary elections then fell into
disrepute. The nominees at the
following general election had a
close call.
Now two years have rolled by,
: dnu OACCOtOno oil q Oh d6dil, anu LilO
: candidates are scheming again.
They reason that If fight is made
in the primary, 1t must also be made
in the general election. That is ex-
4 pensive. So the committee is
''packed" again, aud mo primary
is the consequence.
Some say the laws are strict now
and that no money can be used in
the general election; then some OF
the candidates know that they, and
especially some of their friends,
: have strong pull on the colored
: vote, and thus they have this ad-
vantage. So the scheme is still
working
The fact is this committee is not
in the true sense-a Democratic
s committee. For no man is a true
( Democrat and loves the principles
t of his party as he should, who will
use his official position on the COM
mittee to advance the interests of
any particular candidate at the
sacrifice of party organization. Let
the committee, therefore, be re-
organized, and let men be put on
who will work from principle and
n not through policy. Let the people
: see that equal rights are guaranteed
to everybody, then Democrats will
: flock together and stand shoulder
4 to shoulder against their ancient