The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-02
THE SENATORIAL PRIMARY.


rnittee of the Democratic party is to
be called together for the purpose Of
formulating plans For the holding a
primary on the first Tuesday in next
November for the selection of a United
States Senator by the Democratic vo-
ters of the State
I presume that the chairman and the
committee are acting on the assumption
that, that which purported to be the
later part of the Democratic platform
of the last State Convention, as report
ed by the committee on resolutions, was
ratified and adopted by the convention
and thereby became binding on the State
Executive Committee.
Well, / for one, most earnestly pro-
test against such course by the commit
tee. as the provisions for the primaries,
as reported by the committee on reso-
lutions, was never passed by the con-,
vention and in fact was defeated by the
opponents Of the measure in the conven-
ton.
1 will give the facts, as I remember
them, and l think that any fair minded
man will say that the party ought not
to be bound by any such action of the
convention.
The platform was not considered by
the convention till the very last thing
before adjourning, which was about s
o'clock the next morning after the con-
vention was called together and there
were very few delegates in the hall when
the matter came UP, but it was perfectly
evident that there was an organized
effort on the part Of some present to
have the resolutions in reference to the
primaries passed whether there was any
quorum present or not. The platform,
as reported by the committee, was ia
ken up by the convention and considered
by sections and when the question of
primaries was reached the convention
got into a rather heated discussion over
it, and a division was called for on the
first paragraph in reference to prima-
ries, when the Hon Thomas Skinner pro-
ceeded to have the county, which he
represented as delegate, recorded
against it and Other counties from his
district where the delegates were not
in the hall but who had authorized him
to cast their votes in their absence,
when he was ruled out of order by the
chairman holding that the vote of any
county could not be cast unless a duly
qualified delegate was present in the
hall and cast the vote.
Then the opponents of the primaries
made the point of no quorum, there not
being q majority of the counties of the
State represented in the hall, when Judge
Connor, who was in the chair, by a
clever application of "Reed Rules" re-
fused to allow the point to be made.
Then some one suggested that a roll
Of the counties be called and each cOun-
ty that was opposed to primaries be
allowed to file a protest against them.
During the call of the counties for that
purpose the convention got into utter
confusion over the matter, in the midst
Of which some one moved that the con-
vention adjourn, which motion was car
ried and the call of the counties was
never completed and the whole matter
was left unsettled.
1t is my understanding of parliament
airy law that when a measure is being
passed by sections that it must be pass
ed on as a whole after the body has
completed the consideration of the meas
ure. by sections. That was not done in
this case neither was the section which
directed the State Committee to make
provisions to hold a primary On the
first Tuesday in November ever adopted
by the convention as a separate section.
So it seems to me that it is the duty
of the State Committee, under the cir
cumstances, to refuse to hold any pri-
mary election on the first Tuesday in
November on the question as to
which Democrat shall represent us as
United States Senator.
1t is a matter of very small impor-
lance with me as to which Democrat
shall be Senator, but it is of great in
terest to me as a Democrat, and it may
be of great interest to the people of
these United States as to whether the
Sth and the 9th Congressional districts
shall be lined up in the Democratic col
umn on next November or not
Every one who Is acquainted with the
situation in these two districts knows
that 1t is going to take a close hard
fight for the Democrats to carry either
one Of them, as Adams got a majority
of the votes in each one of the districts
in his race for Governor in the last cleo
| ton, but the Democrats with a good
| fight can carry both districts.
But what chance would we have to
| carry either one of them, if the Demo-
| Gratis are to go to the polls to fight
| each other as to who will be Senator
| and allow the Republicans to take adj
| vantage of our divisions and dissentions
| and vote all Of the floating vote and make
| all kinds of political trades and pulls
| that the situation would oHer them?
| 1t does seem to me that if there ever
was a time in which every Democrat
| should put behind him his personal in
| terest for that of the principles upon
which the party is founded, that now is
| time.
And I. for one, and l believe that !
| speak the sentiments of nine-tenths Of
| the Democrats of the Ninth COMPRESSION
| Ell district when l say that | would not
vote fer any man in a primary election
who would SO far forget the interest OF
the party as to press his personal claims
| for the United States Senate, no mat
| ter what his claims might be, and there
by cause the defeat of the Hon. w. T.
| Crawford in this district.
The Democrats of the Ninth Congress
| sional district most vigorously protest
| against having a primary election in No
vember with the national election.
w. w. ZACHARY.
Marshall n c., August so.