The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-14
A PROTEST FROM WAYNE.
A Charge That POpuIists Ran the
Primary in That County.


Primary in That County.
To the Democrats of Wayne County
BY the action of a few members of the
Democratic Executive Committee. who
assembled at the court house In Jesup
the 10th day of April last, the Demo-
cratic party was betrayed into the
hands of the Populists. 1t was under
stood by all the Democrats that the
primary to be held on the 5th of June
was to be a Democratic primary. when
in fact it was not a Democratic pri-
mary, and in view of all the facts 1t
cannot be so construed but a more
reasonable construction is Judging
from all the oircumstances) that 1t
was a deliberately laid plan to deliver
the Democratic candidates in the hands
of their political enemies, as the reso-
luton adopted by that committee will
show
Here is the resolution:
The following report was submitted
by the special committee of three and
was unanimously adopted: MIR. Chair
man, your committee appointed to con-
slider all resolutions referred to, beg
leave to submit the following report:
At meeting of the Democratic Exec
utive Committee of Wayne County held
at the court house in Jesup on the 18th
day of April, 1902 the following reso-
lutions were adopted: First, That
the county primary election be held
on the 5th day of June next, at
which time all qualified white voters
shall be given an opportunity to cast
their votes for their choice of the
candidates for county Offices" You
will notice by that resolution that
committee turned in over 400 Populist
voters, as shown by the return of the
general October election held in 1900,
without any retrictions whatever, pro-
vided they were registered, nearly all
of which Populists were anxious to
wreak their vengeance on me for
the bold stand l had taken against
their party from the time it was first
introduced into our country. That the
Populists we'll knew of this scheme Is
shown by the fact that they were well
organized, and turned out in full force
at every precinct in the county, not
even trying to disguise their politics,
and yet, by that resolution.
the Democrats were powerless to even
challenge their vote. l for one had SO
much confidence in our chairman and
each member of the committee that l
did not even suspect but what 1t was
to be Democratic primary, and to be
conducted strictly on Democratic prin-
ciples, and did not learn of their
scheme until it was too late to avoid
it's evil consequences.
The chairman of this Democratic
Executive Committee appointed Mr.. T.
A. Floyd. one of the staunchest Popu-
lists in the county, and an avowed en-
envy to the Democratic party. to super
intend the primary in Jesup, with au-
thority to select his other two assist
ants. l have not yet been able to as
certain how many more Populists
superintendent the primary at other
precincts.
Now, 1 ask the Democrats
of Wayne county If this pri-
mary ought not to be declared
null and void so far as the county off,
GERS are concerned, for the rea sons above
sta ted.
Now. what shall be done to get our
party out of this deplorabl dilemma
and place it back in its original solid
condition? l realize that it will take
the best heads to solve this question.
and it is to be hoped that such will go
to work at once and make suggestions
as to the proper course to pursue.
In conclusion I want to say TO my
friends and all who came back to the
Democratic party two years ago, or at
any other time, that this article is not
intended to refer to them as Populists
but as Democrats for whom l entertain
the most kindly feeling and most earn
estly wish that all would give up their
populism and come back and join us
in trying to work for the best interest
of our country and its people.
E. Harper.
Gardi, Ga, June 10.