The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-03-01
OUR RALEIGH Letter.
HOW VOTES SHALL BE CIV HN
BY THE DELEGATES ~ LIZ
STATE CONVENTION.

,;s,, Won would call the attention VI
,noc, ats through your'etters to papers
The State to the plan OF organ'zatlon'
i, one of a party Of prominent De"-
..at. in a hotel lobby to me To-Day
,ooes;,on which was concurreo III ~
II those present.
..The Democrats of some cooh''e',
o,t,nned tie speaker, "seem to be iao-
mo under mlsapprehenslon with
o,ard to the manner OF casting Tue
citing strength of the several coun
-, IN ,be State, Congressional ana
,t,er conventions. Some apPe~
,ave IN idea that if one o. ~
,ates for State Off" .
arer VI 'e - CT State 4of ;rsstahce)
le'e'o .,s more strength thkh the others
mat the strongest nan shall receive
the entire vote of the county, and also
in the precinct primaries.
''This is very erroneous and dam
yerous idea In direct conflict with
the plan of organization in fact.
1--WE want a representative state
this year and Cur present
plan of crganizatich provids for 1t in
the fullest and most admirable man
ner. 1t is only through such con-
vention that the will and wishes of the
Democrats OF the entire State can be
and carried out, and all
and Engagements avoid
ed, thus insuring the hearty support
Of all voters Of the party and a certain
victory"
THE VOTE TO BE CAST ACCORDING TO
THE STRENGTH OF THE SEVERAL CAN.
DIDATES.
"The plan OF organization expressly
and explicitly states and charges that
the vote OF each precinct in the coun-
ty convention, and the vote OF each
county in the State, Congressional,
J judicial and Senatorial District con-
shall (not may" but sHALD
be cast for the candidates for the vari-
Gus Offices, (where there is more than
one candidate for any one office accord
ing TO the preferences OF the delegates
to the convention Or primary be-
with the township o. precinct
primary.
"For instance 50 Democrats attend
, primary meeting. The plan of Or
ganization says that, before delegates
to the county convention are cho ,sn,
there shall be vote taken to disclose
the preferences OF those present. Say
this Is done, and 1t is found. Fer in
stance, that 25 favor Cunningham, 25
favor AJcock, 25 favor Justice and Is
favor Davidson. Then il there has
been a full turnout at the primary the
precinct is entitled to iour votes In the
county convention ---one Tor every rs
and fraction Of I3 or more-and the
delegates must be selected equally from
the friends OF each OF the candidates,
In the county convention Cunningham
Aycock. Justice and Davidson will
each receive one vote from this pre-
cinct. Had Cunningham or Aycock
or either of the candidates mustered SO
supporters in this primary of 80 Dem.
ocrats, then he would have peen EMIT
led to one-half the precinct vote, and
one-haIf the delegates chosen selected
from his friends, the others being Sc
lected proportlonately."
NO UNIT RULE AND NO 'sINsTRUCTING.' ~
"Now, when the county convention
meets the same modus operandi must
be carried out. If the county is enti.-
led to II votes in the State convention
and it IS shown that one OF the candid
ates for governor. Cor other State effice)
has one-half OF two-thirds of the votes
of the precinct, then he will r. ceive in
the State convention IL or Is votes oil
the county In question Gas the case
may beg anu no more, unless by un'
animous vote the convention decides
to the contrary. The remaining one
half or one-thlrd Of the delegates are
fully entitled to have their represent
tation in the State convention and to
there cast their II Or s votes Gas the
case may be) for their candidate OF
candidates.
"Chairmen and party leaders are
urged to see that this plan is faithfully
carried out. 1t is the only means by
which representative State conyen-
ton can assemble, and the only way b,
which the popular will of the Dem
ocrats of the State can be carried
out.
because two-tblrds of the Democ
rats OF one county favor one man for q
State office is no reason why the entire
vote OF that county should be cast TO
him. The minority candidates il
every county are entitled to their full
share of the county's vote.
Estate officials are voted for lndivld