The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-11-10
LEGALIZE THE PRIMARIES

LEGALIZE THE THIMAkLkS.
Now that the election is over, peo-
pie will again be able to settle down
to their usual avocations, eased in
body and mind until the next cam
paign. After battle has been fought
it is customary for the Generals to go
over the field Of action and reviewing
the errors and blunders they have
fallen into, endeavor to throw new
safe guards around their future efforts
to prevent a repetition. 1t is now an
excellent time for the Democrats to
think over the campaign just ended,
and thoughtfully consider the stumb:
ling blocks they have encountered
and try to steer the fate of the Demo
cratic party in less dangerous chan
nels.
In the first place, one of our princi-
pal obstacles, and in fact the most
dangerous enc; has been happily re-
moved. We allude to the Convention
system of nominating candidates.
While it has worked we'll in many
places, it will not do in Hartford. The
people set the seal of condemnation
upon it in no uncertain manner last
summer and this verdict is, we hope,
final one. There is, however, another
danger which threatens us and should
have our serious consideration and
that is the method of conducting our
primaries under the era wford County
System, which was adopted as our
system of nomination, last summer as
heretofore alluded to.
The object of a primary election, is,
to enable the majority of a party to
determine which one of its party who
aspires to q nomination is the most
suitable candidate for the position.
The spirit and intent of this is that
no one shall participate in this prim-
airy who is not d member of the party
or intends to become one and that
every one after having taken part is in
honor bound TO support the nominee,
unless the person nominated be uotor-
iousiy unfit or some other excellent
reason. If this rule is adhered to
strictly, party success is always as
sured. Unhappily such is not the
case. There has been tendency for
the past few years among Il certain
element OF the Democratic party to go
to the primaries, vote and take part
in them and at the general election
throw politics to the wiuds and knife
the ticket indiscriminatell. Ii we
could attribute this motive to the
higher intention of getting the best
man in, it might not be SO serious u
matter, bu5 unfortunately it is for no
other purpose many times than 10
avenge a fancied wrong and in SO do
ing, less competent men are selected
for important places. A notable ex-
ample of this was when the historic
Legislature of 1898 got into control.
It is an open secret that more cor
rupt set of men never graced the halls
at Annapolis. How did they get
there? Not by Republican votes, be-
cause last Tuesdays result demon
strated that Maryland is a Democratic
State. 1t was done by this element of
the Democrats simply to give vent to
their feelings towards certain leaders.
They did indeed sell their birthright
for "a mess of pottage.
To rectify this error there seems to
be only one way, and that is to legal
izs the primaries. Throw around
them the same safe guards that there
is at general election. Punish per-
jury and bribery and have them con-
Quoted in q legal, just and honorable
manner. If man is not Democrat
or does not intend TO support the
Democratic, refuse his vote and let
him go where lie belongs. Our worst
enemies today are those Ofthe Cowen-
Bruce stripe, who participate in She
primaries and then use their De-
mocracy as q cloak of hyprocisy to
knife the ticket.
Ii man is not willing to say that
he will not identify himself with the
party, then he should have too much
self respect to attempt to vote in the
primaries. The voter has a perfect
right to be independent if he so wishes
but his place is not at the polls when
candidates are being selected. His
time is at the general election.
Another thing to be considered, is,
that the Democratic party is co1npos-
ed largely of regulars men who vote
the ticket regardless of personality So
far as individual taste is concerned.
1t is not fair or jast TO this great
majority to have thrust upon them,
as candidates, men who in the past,
have left the Democratic ranks
for trivial reasons and will do 80
again on the slightest pretext. There
men would never be nominated if the
primaries were conducted in a legal
manner and it is indeed hardship to
the regulars to be banked upon on
account of their regularity aud COM
PEELED to support these candidates be-
cause they are on the Democratic
ticket. AS an example of this, take
the nomination of John K Cowen by
the Democrats. Old regulars gritted
their teeth when they were placed in
the position of either voting for him
or leaving their party. They chose
the Jess evil and he was elected, but
it YVES a bitter dose and see where he
is today. Just where he belongs, in
the Republican party.
The object in bringing this matter
to the attention of our people now is
because we believe it to be an oppor-
the time. The election il over and