The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-13


elections which have been held IN TINS
territory. Repeating is donewith i'm
punity and it gives to that very ele'
ment which is devoid Of honor the
most power. as the other element does
not adopt their methods to counteract
|it.
Now. I do not claim that the con
vention system is all perfection but
simply urge it to be the most salts
factory method when applied to pres
ent conditions. ! know there is fraud,
wrangling and bitter feeling as a nat
ural consequence of the same. But
when we consider that we only criti
cize the convention because we have
mad experience with it, know it's fail
ings and are looking for a political
balm ais applied to territorial affairs.
I surmise. by contrast tina. had we
ncen experiencing primaries during an
identical period. we would have feel
ing of absolute disgust at their very
mention where we now only have cha
grin as to the effect OF our conventions.
To analyze. a convention starts
with a party caucus, in the ward OF
township as the case may be, after
notice and. only those who ordinarily
take an interest in politics participate,
and few who are known Democrats
are selected to a county convention,
from which are selected by a majority
the delegates to Che territorial con
veation and they almost invariably
because Of their wisdom and adherence
to the party. Sharp practice is posi-
Bile. and fraud is sometimes exercised
lin the caucus; but in the end the coun
ty convention and the terra orial con
vention alike are composed of Demo
crats and they do about the best they
can under the conditions that confront
them. Contrast this with the oppor
tunities of fraud under the primary
where the good natured and well
meaning CD Republican or what not
kindly assists us to choose our nomi-
nee aud has as great a voice in his
selection as the best Democrat in the
territory His vote, if he limits him
self to one, vagabond or ex convict
though he may be, counts just the
same as yours or mine who have ,he
Interests of the party at heart and who
may have personal ambitions depend
ant upon its upbuilding.
The court of final resort in the one
instance is to the convention. a body
of men who in the main have the best
interests of the party at heart, and
who were chosen by gradual steps for
that identical purpose; with a primary
il would be to the committee, a body
fewer in numbers whose province is
to elect rather than choose nominee.
Now, friend Jones, do not impugn
your motives but believe that you sin
cerely had in mind the best interests
of the party. in making the suggestion
you have. | have the Highest regard
for your wisdom in party affairs and
there are number Of those who are
prominently mentioned for the con
gressional nomination who would do
Ii less credit and honor than yourself
but I must question your judgment in
this respect,
There is another reason why
,hink primary out of the question.
one which has been more fully dis
cussed in the press and in addition
to those suggested above, l. e.. a poor
man would be barred ont as ne could
not defray his portion Of the enormous
legitimate expense incident thereto
and there is no method of raising it
except by assessment upon the candi-
dates and under the present condi
tions the man who spent the most
money would secure the nomination
before the primary whether 1t vas
conducted fairly or otherwise
Asking pardon for being verbose
which was prompted by desire TO be
fully understood l venture the asser
tion that it would be the heighth Of
folly to abandon an unsatisfactory sys-
TEN for one clearly and uncontrovert
ably worse under the conditions which
confront us, and express the hope.
that you and other Democrats may
come 20 see the matter in similar
light and drop the agitation, and pro
ceed to nominate a clean, strong.
Simon pure Democrat who will lead
us TO a glorious and deserving victory
in November.
beg to remain, for the best inter
ests of Democracy,
Very truly yours.