The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-04
A DEMocRATIc ParNARY.

~ WouId appear a hopeless task to at- tempt to discuss public questions with a paper which charges certain things against cotemporary, but never allows It's readers to see line of that on which it comments. For instance, in its issue of the End, The Selma Times says:
 Does The Advertiser, like The Rerister endorse Chairman Grayson and his com mlttee's construction of section IS4 as embraced in their call for the primary on Aprli bth that all delinquent poll tax payers and non-registered white voters can take part in the primary? Why did The Advertiser fail to answer that oues- uon-the eist of our article on Sunday? Did 1t require time to think and consult with It's Mobile contemporary?
 The Advertiser some weeks ago ex. pressed its unqualified dissent from the action of the Madison County Committee. and for the beneht of its doubting Selma cotemporary. and any others who may be similarly minded. we copy the article in full from the issue of March 2oth.
 So far as the action of the local Democ- racy is concerned, the Party in Madison County has taken the unwise step of or dering primary election to be held on April b.. We say "urwise step," though much much, stronger language could be em- ployed without extravagance. Whether the State Committee will change, or at tempt to change, the decision of the Madison Democracy we do not know, but that decision is certainly to be regretted,
 Tne Advertiser has no desire to inter- fere with the local affairs in Madison or any other county. What men they shall select as candidates and how they shall select them are matters for them to decide but this paper has right to criticise what it considers an impolitic
 movement, and will exercise that right, | and the determination of the Madison county Democrats to hold a primary be- lore registration is completed is both impoIitic and unjust.
 The new Constitution fixes the aualifica.
 tions for voters. both in primaries and in
 the regular elections ,and if the require. menus nxed by that instrument are to be
 ignored In the primary they can with equal propriety and justice be ignored in
 November. It is not right, Democratic
 or fair for men to take active part in the selection of candidates for whom they will not be qualified to vote at the gen eral election. It would be just as fair to allow Republicans and Populists to vote
 Tn the primary election as it is to allow Democrats 10 vote who fail to qualify as electors. After the registration is fin.
 ished and it is known who are qualified voters will be the proper time to hold
 these primaries. and not a day sooner Ihen no one can take part in the selection or candidates except those who are quail. | lied to vote for them.
 Why the Democrats of Madison County
 desire a local campaign lasting about
 seven months We fail to understand. The
 election does not come off till November
 and registration does not close till Au. gust, so that if primaries are held
 throughout the State in August, there
 will be ample time for the campaign and
 no one can take part in the selection ot
 candidates except those qualified to vote
 Tor them. While, as before stated. we
 are not going to interfere with Madison County's aspirants for office, we certainly hope no other county will follow it's ex.
 ample in respect to the time of holding q primary.
 Certainly this ought to be satisfactory
 to any who are not deaf and blind, as tc
 Tho Advertisers position on this phase
 of the question.