The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-07
JONES' SUGGESTION
PROYOKES DISCUSSION
Party Leaders Express for
and Against the Sug
geStiOn

PRIMARY foodd
The letter issued by County At
torney Edgar Jones. recently, advo-
eating the primary election system
for the nomination Of candidates on
the Democratic ticket, from delegate
to constable, has aroused more politi.
can interest within the party than
any suggestion within recent years.
Prominent Democrats have ken
occasion TO express themselves o.. the
subject, showing great diversity Of
opinion. Members Of the territorial
committee have also expressed their
views 70 Zones and bsief extracts
from their etters read as follows
Colonel w p Francis Of Roger
Mills, says
Il approve Of your letter i'm regard
to the holding Of the primaries in all
the counties 10 nominate candidates
from the highest TO lowest office in the
territory"
Eyes / as a member OF the terri
torial coanmdttee win surely coma
mand the primary system, and do all
can to cause the others to fall in
line and have a good old Democratic
primary election to nominate our
candidate to congress and all other
territorial and county officers"
Il think this will do more to bring
us victory than any other plan, for
the primary is popular with the com
mon people"
Hon. W. P Hickok Democratic
committeeman Of Dewey county,
says:
Our defeats are due TO failure to
harmonize and vote those who were
not Republicans"
Il believe that Oklahoma is now
more strongly Democratic than it was
in 1900, but 7 do not believe that we
can elect the delegate next fall
/ Coarring statehood without Populist
help"
The thing most necessary is to ar
range some plan 70 secure the vote
of and Gas far as possible) unite the
anti-RepubIican forces Of the terri
tory
II think the signs Of the times
point to Democratic success all
round in this territory this year,
with judicious management on our
part, as a party"
"As 10 your suggestion in regard
to nominating at primary elections
/ believe the system preferable, when
it can be used properly. But fear
the change you suggest would be too
radical at this tune"
The system would be all right in
county nominations. but in this new
country tho rank and file could not
exercise intelligently the right Of
suffrage in nominating candidates for
the legislature or congress"
Fred Tracy. twice elected register
Of deeds Of Beaver. says:
u have for years favored primary
ELECTIONS for ali candidates, and have
urged such elections for county
tickets here for several elections"
Il have seen weak candidates Sc
( cure a nomination in our delegate
conventions who we're simply a bur
den for the balance Of the ticket 10
carry through. Primary elections not
only secures stronger ticket, but
lsecur candidates who are strongest
among the voters Of his party, upon
whom he must depend for his cleo
ton"
"I would casi nv vote in the terri
torial committee % appoint a com
Imittee 10 devise the ways and means
by which such an election could be
held, Il It is possible TO do So"
Geo. II Cole Of Washita county
says:
'wll say that the ple.l Of selectine
Ia delegate at primaries would be i'm
practicable. Personally, I am in "a
vor OF convention"
Henry T Miller. the Cleveland
committeeman. says;
1T Is true we have lost four oui