The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-02
wx ouoxr 10 HAVE A r1IIEAHY

When The Advertiser came out openly and unequivocaily in favor of Demo cratic primary. it had little thought that its position would be % liberally and generally endorsed by the State Press as has been done. Today VIC republish spe- cimen expressions from all portions of the State showtng that the newspapers not only take kindly to the proposition but that most of them give it their full est endorsement. aud regard 1t as the direct and logical method of ensuring the fairness and honesty In our elections which all good people of Alabama earn sstly desire.
 It will be something of an innovation on the political methods of the past, tt is true, but 1t is none the less defensiose for aii that. The new Constitution is In many respects an innovation. and one Of its avowed objects Is to secure and en- sure fair elections. To do this. it is right and. proper that the good work should begin at the beginning. Ab cvo usdue d mala-"from the eggs to the apples Is a good old Latin provero. and 1t sp- plies here exactly. If we are to have honesty and fairness in our general else tons. we must have honesty and fairness Tn the selection of the candidates tc oe voted for. Let us hope that we nave seen the last of conventions which. in many cases. are little better than msFts where votes and influence are bartsred and where the voice of the people is ai- most unheard. It has almost reached point where good and conscientious peo- pie will have nothing to do with beat meetings and conventions because they know that nominations will at last be made with little regard for the will of the people or the best interests of the state The idea of a general Democratic State primary is not altogether new or un- tried one. South Carolina and Mississip- pi have tried the plan with satisfactory results Arkansas has just held pri- mary for the selection of all candidates from constable up. even to expressing a choice for United States Senator. and' so far as can now be ascertained. the result ia in every way satisfactory. It is now | AIan8m&S SAo hssSsO W. ! better time or a more fitting opportunity. | The State Committee should meet at the
 proper time and arrange all the prelim- inaries. It must dx a date for a primary to be held in every county. and must formulate rules and regulations for the ro,a,nr of the primaries and for ascer- taining and declaring the result. Ana above all. this primary must be held and conducted with strict regard to the safe
 guards and limitations fixed by the new Constitution.
 The people are in deadly earnest in thi' | matter. They are sick and tired or oie methods and are determined to breaF away from them. If there are any poll | ticians who for their own selhsh purpose' propose to thwart the will and the de mands of the white Democrats of Ala bama on this subject. we warn them tha
 they are digging their own poltica graves The people are not in mood t' | be trified with. They are becoming yer! much determined to throw off the shack
 les which have bound them and to mak
 themselves heard. Ambitious politician
 
 may try to turn them, but good Demo } crats should listen to no arguments say !, those which look to fair elections In flu , ture. We give 1t as our deliberate opir ion that if, by any means. the Democrat of Alabama arc kept from exercisin
 their will in this instance, it will be
 sad day for Democracy in this State. We will have a primary. The best peo
 pie of the State favor it. and the, ran
 and file of the Democrats demand 1t.
 must be primary of the white Demo
 crats. in which every man qualified unde
 the new Constitution shall vote and n
 one else. It must be fairly conducted an
 the result must be fairly announced an
 the successful contestants must reap tn
 benefits of the vote given them. Nothin
 short of this will be satisfactory an nothing less will or should be submitte to.