The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-24
CAMPAIGN COMM TENT

Sparta Ishmaelite: Candidate Estill
made a formal protest to the returns
from some twenty counties in the late
primary, setting forth the grounds of
his protest and calling on Chairman
Brown of the State Executive Commit
tee 10 order a recount in the specified
counties The demand was refused on
the alleged ground of a want of au-
throity to order such recount. Candi-
date Terrill showed great promptneSS
in putting himself in opposition to the
granting of the request. His great un-
willingness to have any recountlng
may account in large measure for the
inability of Chairman Brown TO find
any authority for granting the request
of Candidate Estill. 1t was not an un-
reasonable request, and it should have
been allowed; and as it attacked the
title of Candidate Terrill he should.
for reasons that will suggest them
selves to everybody, have been anx-
ious to have a recount of the ballots
in the disputed counties His failure
10 Dc so will put a cloud on his title,
and lessen the estimation in which
some people have held him.
The Ishmaelite hasn't any words OF
praise for the primary as ii was con-
Quoted in many places, 1t was osten-
sibly held under the registration law,
but in reality. the voting was indis-
crirninate. in that no provision was
made for purging the lists of the names
of voters not entitled to be on per
fected list by reason of non payment
of taxes or other disqualifying causes.
Further than this, money and liquor
and other discreditable influences
were brought to bear upon voters, in
some counties. 1t is pretty plain that
uerfection hasn't yet been reached in
of nj 1G
Had the registration law been hon
estly carried out and all voters been
required to meet its conditions. there
would have been some Improvement;
but even then it is evident that the
other discreditable methods which pre-
vailed would still have remained. Some
thing more than an honest carrying out
of the registration law is needed, TO
make the primary the success that il
ought to be. in meeting all the condi-
tions of an honest expression of the
popular choice of officials. The Ishmae-
lite believes that no other one thing
would contribute so much to that end
as the adoption of the Australian ball
lot law; and it calls upon the press of
the state to unite in urging upon the
Legislature it's adoption at the coming
session. 1t would seem to be possible
under such a law, reinforcing an hon
est observance Oh the registration law,
to reduce to minimum every class of
fraud and outrage in the primary. 1t
would largely eliminate the ignorant
and venal class, and would tend to-
wards the success of the best men in
all contests for nomination. Had the
late primary been held under such
law. following a full enforcement of
the registration law. there would have
been no grounds for Candidate Estilfs
protest, or for dissatisfaction mingled
with disgust for some of its outcomes.
So long as ignorance and venality pre-
vail TO the extent that they do in Geor-
cia. there can be no higher duty de-
volving on the conscientious legislator
Tim that of throwing the suggested
safeguards around the ballot boxes of
the state.