Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-24

The Chicago Eagle understands that
at the next meeting of the County
Democracy the first trumpet call oi
that organization to the voters of the
party will be sounded.
A committee has for some time had In
hand the work of preparing this ad'
dress to the Democratic voters of COOK
County. and we have reason to believe
that 1t has been prepared along such
broad and ample lines as to appeal dt-
rectly to the people. This Is rs II
should he.
The time is now ripe for the County
Democracy to come out In bold ana un'
eQuivocal language. declaring just
where and for what IT stands In the
impending campaign.
The committee having the work of
preparing the address In hand Is an cN-
ccllent one. fully capable of dealing
with the situation and placing the big
organization squarely before the public
in the premises.
OF course the main feature will con.
sist of impressing upon the public-the
thousands upon thousands Of Demo
cratic voters who are not otfice-holders
or professional politicians-how they.
the plain people. can have voice In the
selection of their party candidates for
the high offices which are to be filled
by next NOvember's election.
There Is no doubt that In the history
Of politics In this city, there never has
been such full and fair opportunity
for the common people to have voice
and take hand In the selection Of can.
didates for office as the County DemOc.
racy affords this time to the Demo-
cratic voters OF Chicago and Cook
County. Ninety per cent of the voters
never know how their delegate tickets
reach their hands on primary day. II
II a matter Of complete mystitcation to
them as to how these delegate tickets
are made up. who framed them, who
named the delegates, who printed 1.-THE
ticket" or anything else about 1t. All
that the great mass OF the voters who
attend the primaries know Is that they
are handed the Jimmie" this ticket,
or the billie" that ticket to vote They
don't recognize the names which ap-
pear on the tickets as candidates to
he delegates at the convention, and Ii
Is case Of six of one ana half dozen
of the other" as to which ticket they
vote. They have no opportunity what.
ever of even suggesting the name Of
some respectable man whom they know
and who would in their judgment make
a good delegate.
This Is all due to the secrecy and dis.
patch with which the Office Holders
Union. the Payroll Brigade, and the
professional politicians who constitute
rhe machine, otherwise known as the
In the Central Committee the prOfes-
slonal politicians who constitute nine
tcnths OF the membership, practically
decide who the delegates to the conven-
ton shall be.
This l. done through the selection of
the judges and clerks of election. and
the work of each central committees
man who selects and names the dele
gates, has the tickets printed and in
structs the election official that "this
ticket goes"
II Is little wonder, therefore, that the
people grow dlsgustcd ana lose all in.
terest In the primaries,
This, however, can now be complete
ly changed If the people really desire u
change and make mp their minds that
they want 10 take hand In the work
Of the primaries. BY attiliating with
the County Democracy all the voters Of
this particular party faith will have the
chance they seek. This body j. perfect.
~ organized now, not only centrally,
but throughout the various districts
and localities. II is guided ana directed
by men who are expert In the handling
of political campaigns, and there vii!
he no opportunity for the people 10 lose
I'm contest thus waged with the pay
roll and the job holders as the opposing
force, tn" voters VIII have an oppor.
1uniT for naming the delegates 10 the
convention, and thus. for the first Tim"
in history, the entire Democratic party
viii name absolutely It's own ticket Of
candidates for office