Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-15
HON. BUFORD M. DAVIS DISCUSSES
WHITE PRIMARIES, POPULAR VOTE

cast the county vote. The electors ballot
is not counted outside of his own county.
The nominee of the party is not the can
dldate receiving the greatest number OF
the popular vote, but the candidate secur-
ing the greatest number of county dele
gates. This sort of a primary possesses so
few of the virtues of a real primary that
many, very many of the real Democrats In
Georgia, join me in the hope that your
prophecy that such primaries are rec
ognized as permanent policy of the party
in this state" is an error. We do nope
for real primary in the near future TO
settle all party questions and select ali
party -nominees.
The objections to the present so-called
primary are so great and so numerous,
that it is difficult to segregate from the
mass the most serious. Permit me mere 10
call your attention to three that at least
deserve consideration:
1. To vote for candidates merely In order
to instruct the delegates to the convention
for whom to cast the county vote, and to
have no choice in selecting the delegate
himself is to subordinate measures to men.
The delegate is instructed upon candidates
and is left entirely untrammelled as TO
measures. The delegate may be bound TO
vote for one candidate in the convention,
and yet free to oppose in the convention
every measure for which that candidate
stood pledged. That is not only possible,
but probable under the workings OF the
system. Let me illustrate. The newspa-
pers since the last primary, have dlscoV-
cred that the gubeFnatorial candidates
stood for certain antagonistc measures.
One of the counties carried by one OF
these candidates had for the chairman OF
the executive committee a gentleman VINO
was opposed to the success of the candi-
date receiving the highest number OF
votes in that county. The chairman re-
ceived the authority from the executive
committee to appoint delegates TO the
convention. The delegates appointed by
him were during the campaign active
supporters of another candidate, and Vio-
lently opposed to the measures of the
candidate for whom they were accredited
They would no doubt have discharged
their instructions by voting for the can
didate securing the county, but they
would also have doubtlessly in the con-
vention as they did before the people
give the measures for which he stood
neither aid nor comfort.
2 Where, as in our primary, the nom1'
nee is the candidate securing a majority
of the county delegates instead OF ma
ioritv of the votes cast, it is made pos
sible for a minority candidate, the candi-
date repudiated by the majority of the
party. to become the nominee OF the par
ty; that this is not only possible, but
probabl was demonstrated in the last
election. One Of the candidates for cover
nor who received in round numbers 1O,OOl
less votes than one of his opponents, yet
secured a very much larger number OF
votes in the convention.
g. In every Democratic election the vote
Of every Democratic elector should De
counted of equal value with the vote OF
every other Democratic eleetor. When
the electors vote is effective alone IN
the county in which it is cast and not
all over the state, such equality is not
possible. On the contrary, the greatest in
equality is found under the present sys-
tenn. This is easily demonstrated by COM
pairing the votes in the recent sO-called
primary.
In the last primary Baker county polled
10 votes; she was entitled in the cOnven-
ton to two delegates. to two votes fol
governor; that is, Bakers 10 polls had
two votes for governor. or 50 electors OF
Baker county were entitled and did cast
one vote for governor.
Barlow county pOlled 3,fO9 votes, had
four delegates in the convention, or it
took est ga electors in Barlow county to
cast one vote for governor.
Catoosa pOlled 217 votes, had two dele
gates, or one vote for every lis IL cleo
tors.
Carroll polled 3,0O5 votes, had four dele
gates, or one vote for every 705 electors.
Chattahoochee poned 132 votes, had two
delegates, or one vote for. every S. cleo
tors
Cobb county polIed 2,575 votes, had four
delegates. or one vote for every GA 81