The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-06
NEWS OF CENTRAL CITY
POLITICAL GOSSIP IN DALLAS Y METROPOLIS.
None of the Democrats Desires a Primary With the Bars Down. Bremen Hold an Election.
 Other Events.
Advertiser Bureau,

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, May B. |l Dallas County is generally one of the political storm centers of Alabama and sets the pace for the rest of the State Now. however. politics is very quiet. both county and state. The question of whether con, ention or a primary Is the best for the party has heen very quietly discussed, without any undue excitement, and opinion Is divided on the question. St
 far as tho entire county is concerned. A
 large majority of the leading democrats | in the city are vigorously opposed to a
 primary. A few leading democrats In the
 city like Col. J. R. Satterfie1d. think that
 a primary is the best thing for the party,
 since the new constitution has been adopt
 ed. There is a good sprinkling of demo-
 crats in the county beats who are out
 spoken for a primary, and think that the
 best thing to preserve harmony In the
 ranks of the party Is to have a democrat
 ic primary. ss
 Your correspondent knows of no demo.
 crats in Dallas who are in favor of a white primary. irrespective of the pre-
 vious political afiiliation of those who are
 to participate. The Democracy of Dallas
 County Is too loyal to the party to be
 willing to throw down the bars and let
 Republicans and Populists (simply be- cause their skin Is white) come in and help nominate officials of Alabama and
 select the mef. who are to write the plat
 form of the party. To a man. almost. they contend that 1t would be lowering of the standard of the party and severe blow to party discipline to allow a man who has been recently converted to De- mocracy to. walk up to the ballot box on primary election day and have his bal lot wield as much influence as the old time Democrats who have borne the bur den and heat of the battle The old fash toned Democrats of Dallas feel that these new converts to the Democratic faith should go to'the polls at one general cleo ton, at least. and vote the ticket that they profess to believe in before they arc
 admitted into full fellowship.
 These veteran Democrats contend that
 1t Is necessary to have party discipline
 If all are admitted into the primary, it
 Is no use to hold one, and party organiza-
 ton and discipline might as we'll be abol-
 ished and a general scramble for the
 places to be filled be entered into at the
 general election. with each man running
 for office to write his own platform Of
 course, the Democracy of the black belt.
 woud be glad to see every white man in Alabama become a Democrat but from past experience they do not believe in the promises of all those who want a primary
 that they have been genuinely converted.
 They want to see their faith tested by
 works before they are taken into the fold. The plan, however, of primary in each
 county to test the strength of the rcspec- tive candidates for the different offices be- fore the people and then let the dele gates to the State Convention give each candidate his pro rata strength. would
 not be so very objectionable to the people. If the Democratic Executive Committee sho''id decide on this plan, 1t has been | suggested by some that it be stipulated | that candidates for State offices have
 their names put on the ballots without be- ing assessed by the Democratic Execu-
 tive Committees of the different counties.
 as that would bar many poor matf from running for office, for a great many men who are fully capable of filling an office could not afford to put up the $I0 ior,&20 In, each county in order to get his name | on the ticket. This idea of a Democratic primary in each county to test the voice of the people as to who they want 10 fill the offices and then allow each man his pro rata strength when the delegates
 go up to Montgomery is copied after the Georgia plan and it is said to work most satisfactorily there. A compromise of this sort would be perfectly acceptable to all. but straight primary. with the bars down. would be very dlstasteful to the Democracy of this section!
 As to local politics. there Is some talk about asking tlfc candidates for the legis- l iature to define their positions as to l whether they are in favor of extending the terms of the tax assessor and collec- tor so as to make them expire at the same time that the new constitution says l that sheriffs shall go out of office. This Is likely to become an issue in the election of the next legislature throughout the State. It is known here that several candidates and proposed candidates for the legislature in Dallas are in favor of extending the terms of Tax Assessor Lumpkin and Tax Collector Morrison. Of course the friends of those men will insist upon the candidates for the legislature coming out and saying that they are In favor of allowing those two mems terms to expire at the same time that the term of the sheriff expires. On the other hand the men who expect to be candidates for these offices will support the candidates for the Senate and House who will pledge themselves to vote against such an ex- tension. It is going to be a hot tomale" in local politics from present indications,
 but matters have not yet taken such definite shape as to make prediction sto which side will win. The race for the Senate has settled down between the old war horse of Burnsville. John F. Burns, and that bril- liant young lawyer and orator. W. B.
 Craig Your correspondent does not
 know how these men stand on the ex-
 tension of the two offices above named.
 It is possible that both of them will be
 on the same side of the question. and
 if that be d fact. then the contest be-
 tween theni will be waged on the plat
 form of which. one can better represent
 Dallas in the Senate, and which is the
 most popular with the Democratic voters.
 Mir. Craig has youth. activity aggressive
 ness, buoyancy, oratorical ability and a
 large family connection on his side to
 back him in the fight. A great many of
 the young Democracy of the city will be
 found following the flag of w. B. Craig to victory or defeat.
 On the other hand John F. Burns. has age and legislative experience on his side to commend him to the suffrage of the people. The old Confederate veterans of Dallas all feel kindly interest in him on account of his war record. He is also an active member of the Dragoons. an organization that has q powerful political influence in this county. His son. John Morgan Burns. is a brilliant orator and is very popular with the young men and he will be q powerful factor in dividing the Vounp DcmocrarV and throwing his |