The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-11
GIVE OPINIONS
ON PRIMARY PLAN
Age-HeraId Asks Committeeman
to Express Themselves
HON. BIB GRAVES FOR IT
Two Members From North Alabama,
w. T. Sanders and T. M. Jones,
Believe Convention Is the
Best Method.
HON. BIB GRAVES FOR II

In view of the general interest exhibited
throughout the state in the matter of Sc
lecting candidates by primary or state
convention, the Age-Herald has asked
each member Of the State Democratic
Executive Committee to express his views
on the subject.
Out of three replies received yesterday
one was for the primary and two
against The replies follow
Montgomery, April 10.
To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
Replying to your inquiry Of this date
will say that I heartily favor state pri-
mary. BIBB GRAVES.
Decatur. April 8.
To the Editor of the Age-Herald
In compliance of your request or April
wish to say that believe 1t Will sub
serve the interest of the party better to
have a state convention than primary.
Not wishing to go into details as to my
reason for thinking further than to say
that a convention stirs up less strife than
a primary.
Ny idea is to have all the counties, as
heretofore, select their delegates on same
day, also selecting their representatives
to the Legislature then, leaving IT discre-
tionary with the counties as to whether
they will select them in convention,
primary or mass meeting.
T. NJ. JONES.
Athens, April 10, 1902
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
I have your favor of the Sth inst, ask
ing for an expression from me in refer
ence to State and county prim aries.
have been following with considerable
interest the discussion Of this question.
and am constrained to say that l am UNI
able to conclude that State primary is
best for the State, or the party.
1 think the primary system admira-
bly, adapted to county affairs, and per-
sonally very much favor that method
of making nominations for all county
offices. 1 doubt though the wisdom OF
the State committee even prescribing that
a primary shall be held in the several
counties. There are always local condi-
lions to be met. which the local authori-
ties can best deal with and l think that
the principal Of local self government de-
m ands that each county shall determine
for itself what method shall be adopted
for the selection Of its nominees. heart
lily favor a uniform date for action on the
part of the several counties In the state,
but think that the State committee should
go no turner IMAM TO pTeSCr1De d uullOrm
date for action by each county.
am opposed altogether, however, to a
State primary for the nomination of can
didates for State offices do not believe
that 1t will accomplish the good results
which it's advocates claim. On the other
hand I believe that the plan quite as cas-
lily admits of rings, combines and states,
as the convention system. Nor can I see
that election frauds will thereby be elm
mated or even lessened
Not the least objectional feature Of the
state primary Is the great expense that
would be entailed upon all candidates
for State offices. Each candidate would
have to prosecute an active campaign
in each county of the State, announce in
every newspaper his candidacy. or be sure
of the opposition of those papers In which
he did not announce and we would soon
be brought to the pass Of none applying
for office except those possessing long
purse strings. If the plan should be ex-
tended to all State offices, we should wit
ness the spectacle of candidates for the
Supreme Court bench engaging in active
political campaigns In all of the counties
of the State. What is there about the
primary system which would prevent
counties disposed to make fraudulent re-
turns from doing so. when the political
fortunes of some candidate for a State
office, who was dominant In that county,
were at stake? Would there not be an
added inducement for fraudulent returns
in such case from such a county?
Under state primary plan there would
be such a multiplicity Of candidates be-
fore the people as not to permit of care
full consideration and inquiry, such as you
contemplate, by the whole body of the
people in to the merits Of each case. The
ilra1ty he thok f.,41
would center upon one office, and the
rest would be determined according to
local rings, states and combines, and |
cannot see that the result would be bet
ter than that obtained through a state
convention. Indeed l believe a body of
men selected by the people for the pur-
pose of making selections of candidates
for state officers would accomplish more
results.
I heartily share with you the desire for
a better order Of things politically in Ala
bama, and believe that every citizen
should set himself resolutely towards fair
elections. With purged electorate there
is no longer any excuse for manipulated
ballot and henceforth the ballot-box stuff
fer should be placed beyond the pale of
respect or federation. / do not believe.
however that this much desired order of
things will be brought about or even pro-
NOTED under the state primary system
Instead of allaying dissention and I'M
rest, I am clearly convinced that state
primary would excite ana stimulate bick-
erings and strife; and 1t is manifest to
me that one element at least in the state
Is advocating 1t for his purpose. and the
further purpose Of endeavoring to put the
early administration of the new constitu-
ton in the hands of its enemies, with a
view to reopening the political strife
which attended the formation and adop-
ton of this instrument, in order that GER
tain political fortunes now at low ebb
may possibly be revived. l believe that
this shall become more and more appar-