The age-herald., 1898-01-27
STATE SENATOR
 R. M. CUNNINGHAM FaVOrS the Convention Plan Of NOminat-
 ing Candidates. "C0NTEST FOR PRINCIPLE" The Purpose Of Party Primaries Clearly
 Defined. SHOULD STAND FOR MAJORITY RULE Only Foundation For Political Organization Great Gathering of Democrats Would Do
 Much to Uniy the Party in
 Jefferson County.
SHOULD STAND FOR MAJORITY RULE

ton plan of nominating candidates for the legislature in the coming election. He was seen by an Age-Herald reporter last night and said:
 The purpose of either primary or convention would be, first, a clean dis tinct, unequivocal declaration of principles and policies-national, state and county. That is to say, declaration upon all matters properly belonging to national Jurisdiction, for example, money, tariff, etc All matters properly belonging to the state, and matters purely local; that is to say, Jefferson county interests. Second. the selection of honest, capable and proper candidates.
 'The first object can only be obtained in one of two ways; first, candidates to go before the people with a clear and distinct platform of principles and policies that the people may accept reject; second, the people to meet and adopt a platform of principles and policies and put candidates upon them who will accept the platform as their platform and pledge themselves to carry out the wishes of the people as therein explained.
 Dire Results of Primary Plan.
 'Now, this being a contest within the limits of a political organization, to-wit, the democratic party, it necessarily fol- lows that if the primary plan is adopted, a majority of the party might believe in one thing for example, the independent, un- limited free and 16 to 1 coinage of silver, but split up their votes upon dozen can- didates, for six representatives; while a majority of the party, those who believe in the gold standard, might be able to concentrate their votes upon six cand- dates, and by plurality vote-not a ma- jority-succeed in nominating them; there fore the principles and policies of a mi nority would govern, and not majority.
 .We do not have to go farther back in the political history of this county than 1896 to find demonstration of this fact. The purpose of the party organization should be to ascertain and register the will of the majority upon both platform and candidates. And of these, the first is far more important.
 Now, to attain this object which is the better, a primary or convention? The only advantage of a primary is that the individual voter can exercise his political franchise by voting directly for the man of his choice. If he is voting according to his convictions, and there is only one can didate who represents them, then his vote will be for him; if there is one, two, three, four or more who represent his convictions, then his personal preference will determine his vote. What applies to one will apply to al Those who have common opinion as to principles and policies will divide their vote from personal considerations, and the whole of them lose out. Therefore, the majority of the party would be de- feated. It would be also a plurality in- stead of a majority nomination. The great fundamental principle of democracy is majority rule. The only foundation for political organizations to stand upon Is majority rule.
 To Stand By the Results.
 Of course, if we have a primary or con yention all who participate are under hon oriatbbs obligations to stand by the result whether their principles and their candi- dates are adnpted or not or whether majority or plurality nominates. Now, 1t is perfectly clear that if the wishes of the majority have been defeated and that of a minority adopted, through the scattering of their votes or other reason, there will be more or less dissatisfaction. If pri- mary is adopted it will be impossible to send an instructed delegation to the state convention. primary has more advan- tages, but it has also many disadvantages
 Now, what is convention? It is a body of delegates. Who are the delegates? They are representatives of the people. Who are the people? In this instance men who affiliate with and belong to the democratic party, or at least such as have the pre- soribed qualifications. whatever they may be- Therefore, a convention is body Of delegates sent by the people to do the will of the penple What is the will of the people? The wi.d of the majority upon principles, policies and candidates How is this will to be ascertained? By the votes of the people recorded in mass meeting in sucb manner as, the executive committee may determine. In some cases, possibly the former would be better, in others beat primary. In all eases that plan should be adopted which will give to each quah- fled voter the right and the opportunity to cast his vote as he please. Therefore, convention consisting of delgates fairly selected by majority of the qualified vot- CTS in each precinct q mean, of course. democratic voters) is in reality conVsn- tion of the voters. These deigates may be instructed to vote for certain principles, policies and candidates; they may be in- structed to vote for certain candidates as a second, third or even fourth choice; finally, they may be instructed to vote upon any or all questions, or these may be left to the discretion and Judgment of the delegates themselves. convention, therfore constituted as above outlined has all the advantages of a primary, and many more besides.
 In Favor of a Convention.
 My own opinion is that the declaration of principles and policies is far more im- portam than the personnel of candidates. As can see no way by which this can be except by a convention, I am, therefore in favor of a convention to candidates for the legislature and