The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-09
sEIMIANs DISCUSS QUESTION OF
 A PRIMARY.
Some Favor the Scheme, and Others Oppose It-Y. V. c. A. Concert an Interesting Evsnt-oen.
 Johnston May Lecture.
Adyertiser Bureau.

to say in regard to the matter.
 J. R. Satterfeld. lawyer-I am in favor of State primary. [ believe the people want it and think they ought to have 1t. have seen no valid objection urged to a primary, and don't think that the ob- jection that State primary will be fraudulent is . valid one. think that State primary can be guarded just as well as a county primary. No one should be allowed to vote except persons who will be qualified to vote in the regular election, and who will pledge themselves to support the ticket nominated in the primary All who participate in the pri- mary should be white men. of course.
 A. D. Pitts. lawyer-I am opposed to a primary in the sense that 1t Is to be a vote of the white people throughout the State, without reference to political opin- ions. am in favor of a primary in every county in the State. of the Democratic voters, to ascertain the opinion of the Democrats in each county, and then to have a State Convention, giving each county its representation on a population basis. think 1t would be in bad faith to now rob the Black Belt counties of their representation. My views on this subject are based upon the primary as now held in Georgia. wherein each county Is given it's representation on a popula- ton basis. I understand that a pure prf- mary Is held in South Carolina and the results there show that we don't want it, while the results in Georgia show that we want the primary that I am in favor of.
 P. J. Loughlin. Councilman from Fifth ward-I am opposed to a. State primary. I think primaries to nominate State and county officials are all rightA State pri- mary will bar a poor man from running for office. A canvass for the Governor ship would cost a man t2o0o0 to win. If he did not put up he would probably lose out Besides, a primary would rob the Black Belt of its prestige. Dallas Coun- ty would have no more influence in State affairs than the little white county of Winston. The new State Constitution guarantees that the basis of representa- tion should not be changed I think the State Democratic Executive Committee should do nothing to hurt the influence of the Black Belt, which has. since re- construction days. been the bulwark of Democracy in Alabama.
 A. l.. Mcleod, attorney and Mayor of the city--I am for State primary by counties. I want every county to hold it's primary on the same day and instruct its delegates to the State Convention &C., cording to the vote in the primary. That is. give every man his prorata vote that he receives.
 Leon Clay. wholesale grocer and prom inent politlcian-I am opposed to a State primary. Each county ought to regulate its own affairs and decide in it's own way who shall be the State officials.
 v. B. Atkins. President of the City Council and candidate for Mayor-I am not in favor of State primary. The Constitutional Convention promised the Black Belt the same legislative represen- AA-A mary does not give us the same represen- tation that we have heretofore had in the councils of the party.
 C. W. Hooper. wholesale grocer and chairman of the Dallas Morgan Campaign think 1t bad policy to advo- cate State primary at this time. Some of the Black Belt counties are already diss satisfied, and fear if State primary Is resorted to. many counties will regis ter many voters now being held or. caus- ing thereby our last condition to be worse than it formerly was. Each county should be permitted to run its politics to suit itself, but continue the old-fashioned State Convention. and keep up harmony among Democrats.
 W. T. Atkins. President State Sunday School Association and popular drum mer: q have always been opposed to primaries. A black mouthed Republican came down hear from the North a few years ago and settled in Selma and he went into a primary and his vote killed mine. I want to see an old-fashioned Convention. Delegates should be sent up uninstructed. I am in favor of Jelks for Governor and don't believe they can beat him. The outs want to get In and they think a primary gives them a good chance to hoodwink the people,"
 John G. Norris. prominent contractor and Elk: T am against State primary. It would cut down the representation Of the blackbelt I think we have done enough for the party to allow us to have the same representation in party councils that we have heretofore had A primary would give the fellow who had been vot- Ing against the party the same influence that my vote has," I
 Louis Bamberger, business manager of The Times and ailround good fellow: q am for J. Craig Smith for State Treasurer V. B. Atkins for Mayor and D. M. Cal loway for County Superintendent of Education. them three and no more" It Is evident that Colonel Bamberger did not want to express an opinion.
 W. B. Craig. attorney: "I don't believe I will say anything. want to look into the matter further. so far as Dallas Coun- ty is concerned"
 J. w. Mabry, Judge Of City Court: I have not looked into the matter suf- hciently to express an opinion yet"
 Frank Blackwell. Sheriff: T want what Dallas wants. and am for Jelks for Gov srnor."
 Pat Norris. passenger conductor: Let's stick together like white folks, just like we have been doing all the time, l want to see United States Senators elected by the people by popular vote The man who votes against General Pettus can't i've in Dallas County"
 Win Brislin, City Sexton: T am for Dallas County and the boys"
 T. W. Barker, City Circulator of The Advertiser and ex-Tax Assessor: 1T am Tor State primary. Let the people rule.
 William Drysdale. proprietor Pettus Hotel: 1T am and always have been a Blackbelt Democrat. The new constitu- ton has been adopted and the "nigger'' eliminated and l now think 1t time for } white mans vote in North Alabama 10 count for as much as a white mans vote in the biackbelt- If the new con- stitution means that the white man is to rule, as Its advocates claim. then why not let every white man in Alabama have an equal chance to express his opinion y of the opinion that If we do not have I primary that the fight will be carried on till November and the white people 1f Alabama will be further apart than they were when the Genial Reuben split | the party. A primary will do the big party bosses in the State They will have To take back seat. while the people get l In the saddle l am for Joe Johnston for | IF iS useless after fhia fo l