Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-07
MRS. FELTON, DIS >UssEs
HONEST ELECTION METHODS

me country is to be congratulated that
f@eorrfa has settled the election question
. early IN the year. Now the people
can get down 10 business and let the
states business be quiet No matter II
,rou or I may not be satisfied with re-
Sults. A Is better 10 be through with the
dispute before these matters had 70 60
a The poils IN October. and II eliminated
she negro from the difficulty and short
ensd the supply Of campaign whisky very
materially.
These primary elections must be Kept
fair and results must be accurate tas 70
the. COUNT, or they viii soon get TO De
e had things as the old-time frauds and
corruption at the real elections. and
whenever there Is general complaint OF
unfafrness or bribery comes In, or de-
hatchery Of ignorant voters takes place,
q revolt win take place-and then the
deIugel
II win be a great pity II these primary
elections are not kept clean and honest.
Under our conditions IL behooves every
patriot TO stand for the right, and when
ever a fraud or unfairness is detected or
exposed make that particular place an
ohfectslessOn and nominate the next man
on the Ticket. Such plan would cure the
disease with only a few applications OF
the remedy.
II should always be a satisfaction to
defeated candidate to know he was fairly
beaten in a popular election by his oppo-
nent. but II viii never be right nor Just
20 cheat another candidate OF the votes
that were cast for him Careful and
Trustworthy men should be selected TO
hold elections Any honorable. man who
Is sworn 70 see there Is fair election
would do his country a service TO rehuke
any attempt at cheating with ballot box
under all circumstances.
When ballots are chewed up or sup
pressed such managers should be in
dicted, convicted and sent TO the rock
Pile for three months. Any Judge who
win connive to screen such villaihy ought
to be impeached and forever debarred
from holding ONCE after such a discovery
appears.
But there IS a time coming when white
primaries win be very distasteful. unless
the way Is left open for other candidates
70 enter for the races. The idea has OBJ
tanned that no struggle or contest must
take place. and the ''ins' must stay IN
and the outs must stay out. because
white supremacy Is the demand OF the
hour and the national candidates have
been running along from year 10 year,
Ike automobiles with rubber tires. noise
less and without friction. to protect white
supremacy.
No set OF men hold divine right or
pre-emption papers to either the house
AA cENaAC- Two years AEUlu now uAAAcc1
some are willing 70 come down OF their
own accord. they win be apt 70 find the
Offices still belong 10 the people.
am not afraid TO say that Hon Mr..
Fleming has as much right to a re-elec-
ton or reimbursement as any OF the other
ten. and I am well satisfied that Senator
Clay was re-nominated. but there must
Be some time and some place where new
blood can be infused and the incumbents
allowed a rest spell Especially should
there be absolutely nothing In sight to
show that they have done anything more
than draw their salaries and have a good,
fat. greasy time OF It IN Washington and
elsewhere.
There are rumbIIngs to be heard, and
one OF these days Mont Pelee will erupt
and some statesmen viii be out OF a Job.
It IS good policy not 20 ride a free horse
20 death also.
have seen sore-bacxed horses that the
rider would have no mercy on whatever.
! always feel like giving the nag a hint
% throw such riders overhead as a dernier
resort The political nag IS complaining
somewhat at present and a new saddle
sometimes helps a CALLED nag's back con-
slderably.
A white primary means a white mans
honorable contention for the nomination
OF a white mans candidate. Whenever
Il gets 70 place that a white primary
SHUTS the door on every BODY out OF ofIice
and appears 20 be a protection TO every
body on the inside. you may set Il down
In your book that white primaries, OF
promises. are made TO be broken and
they win surely burst into fragments.
IL Is a question OF honor, fair dealing
equity and Justice among equals.
For my part. speaking from a woman's
standpoint. I'd say TO the legislature OF
eorgia. make a proper and emphatic law
that viii settle this question in broad
open daylight Disfranehise the negro. Il
you intend to keep on doing Il BY white
primaries. and stand before congress and
say. Yes. we win accept a reduction II
Representatives rather than surrender
white Supremacy" II is better to bs
right than be president. II IS no time fol
subterfuges. and compromises Away,
mean conditional surrender.
Other states have done Il IN the south
The white primary means that and moth