The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-23
THE CLASH AMONG MECkLENBURG
DEMOCRATS.

The democratic executive committee
of Mecklenburg county ED a meeting
Saturday to give a hearing to those
opposed to the oath bound plan for
holding the primaries. AS predicted
in the Charlotte Observer, resolu-
ton enforcing this plan was not re-
scinded. To this, like all other ques-
tons. there are two sides Whether
the committee is right or the demo-
Gratis opposing its action are right-it
is very unfortunate that such a clash
should have arisen between factions of
the party in this stauneh old demo-
cratic stronghold
From the Observers account of the
meeting we gather that there is a great
deal of feeling aroused over the oues-
ton among the party men, The OBJ
server introduces its account of the
meeting in the following words:
BY a vote of IS to IL, the county
democratic executive committee decid-
ed yesterday lnat the present legallzed
primary law of Mecklenburg county
should remain unchanged The date OF
the primary Was fixed for July 5th.
LIE GOItlIIllINSC was NhAl1u ~ "a
at IL o'clock, and the announcement
that not only committeeman, but all
other democrats present, were invited
to participate IN the debate, resulted in
n discussion that lasted nearly three
hours. The best arguments for the
| measure were met by the strongest
arguments against it, and then the
committee, as had been confidently
expected, determined hat the county
| must accept the primary with no al
teration of the oathtaking feature or
any other provision. This was not
| done. however. before the opponents of
the oath provision had filed a protest
that was. unfortunately, not without
some bitterness"
Commenting editorially upon the
meeting and the action OF the com-
| mittee the same says:
1T was not 10 have been supposed
that the democratic executive commit
tee of this county would, at its meet
ing yesterday, modify the new primary
law as to the oath feature. and it did
not The feeling against this feature
of the law is very strong and wide
| spread, and it is difficult to divine why
it should De insisted upon. Democrats
of this county who went into primaries
and nominating conventions under the
old rules which obtain elsewhere in the
state and which obtained here until
asst year havH been in the habit of
abiding the result and it cannot be
| conceived why. at this late day, 1t has
become necessary to swear them. Not
many Of them have in the past taken
their chances in the primaries and
conventions AMI hen gone back on
the work if 1t happened not to suit
them. 1t is one of the first principles
OF personal integrity and political good
faith hat a man going in is bound by
the consequence. AS above said. they
have heretofore in this county felt
themselves so bound. and a very great
many OF them naturally and property
resent 1t that they are now called upon
TO KISS h Bible or hold up their
hands and swear. 1t is telling no secret
to say that many of them are not GO
ing to do II and that many who do will
do so under protest and In anger.
True, the friends Of the oath may still
be able to carry the county this wear
but its full democratic vote may al
some time be needed in a congressional