The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-01-10
COUNTY POLITICS.

In January. 1898 the Msury County
|, Democratic Executive Committee met
in the court house in Columbia and by
vote of "a to s. passed the following
resolution:
D Whereas, There has been a stronS
D sentiment among Democrts in this
county against a primary election to
nominate candidates for county offices
and
Whereas. That sentiment is stronger
today than ever before. many Demo-
Gratis claiming that county offices are
non political, and that any man has an
eqnal right to offer for Office before the
people: therefore, be it
Resolved, That in view of the wide
spread dissatisfaction in the ranks of the
party. it is the sense Of this committee
that no primary election or convention
to name candidates for county Offices
be held this year. -
The Herald did not think that was a
wise thing to say at the time; but we
think it more unwise thing to at
tempt to unsay it now. The people
cannot reasonably be expected to follow
the leadership of any party that blows
hot and cold upon so important ques-
ton as this. If the county Offices were
not political four years ago, and two
years ago, they are not political now.
II every man had an equal right to
offer before the people then. every man
has an equal right to do so now. The
widespread dissatisfaction in the ranks
of the party then against nominating
candidates for the county offices, has
not narrowed any since.
And yet we are tolo that the COM
mittee will declare in favor of pri
mary next Monday.
1t does seem to us to be very inop-
perfume time to create any further
strife in the party in this county. 1t
has already been made the playthlng of
Office seekers SO often, its interest ig
nored, it's name hawked about until the /
old time safe Democratic majority has
been dlssipated and reduced to doubt
full nothing.
Why further hazard the interest of !
the party by forcing upon the people a
nominating primary they are not ex-
pecting, and compelling the successful
candidates to make two races instead
of one2 For just as certain as the com
mittee calls q primary. just that GER
tain will full and strong independent
ticket be in the field before the nomi-
nations can be made; and while DEM
ocrats are fighting each other in the
primaries, Independents will be making
themselves solid among that wide
spread" class who are opposed to the
system. With the result
that large proportion of the regular
will not participate in the
and the nominees will have
quite az hard and quite as doubtful a
fight for the offices as they had for
the nominations.
In our judgment it is most haz-
zardous thing to do in the face OF the
declaration four years ago, and with
the precedent of two years ago against
it, and in the face of the further and Q
most important fact that the rank and t
lie of the party is neither wanting,
nor expecting it.
Abstractly speaking, the Herald is
n favor of party organization, and {
,arty nominations. But in politics as o
n other things, 'discretion is some L
lines the better part of valor. - And Il
IL politics more than in other things, ;
diplomacy is very necessary study.
If this change of party policy was A
by the committee, notice 81
hould have been served upon the PEG CT
lie several months since, and the policy Il
nd expediency of the change discussed sc
nd the wishes of the people consid- tt
red and not only considered, but Il
beyed. 1t should have been discussed ca
arlier for another reason. Candidates d
)r these offices have been in the field pC
sveral months. Their cards have been OF
a the papers. Not single one of
lem has announced subject to the will vi
any political party, primary or con- bI
ention. They have solicited votes as tn
indidates at the August election; and "a
undreds of as good Democrats as there or
re in Maury county have promised w
lem their votes at the August election til
hese men do not want to be asked pa
violate their personal pledges. They mi
ade them in good faith and want ST.
red een them. The custom of the CIR
arty these last four years has been to W;
axe no nominations; the last declara- w
On of the party was that these were its
offices they had no notice
avnaofot;o,, 20 aoy oo,, ton p1a rod