The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-15

ana thoroughly Democratlc way Ior tne people to name their candidates for of- flee.
 Surely, there are enough honest men in each and every election precinct fin this state to hold fair and honest pri- maryi I personally know that there are a sufficient number in at least live coun- ties in one part of the state, and be- lieve that the other sixty-one counties are as we'll off in point of honesty. Is il not high time that this wholesale foul islander upon the honesty of the entire state be stopped2
 '.I take no stock in the pueriie argu- ment of those who say that we cannot have a fair primary Is 1t not simply the Can't of the man who does not want to do the right thing in the prem ises? Will they stamp the Democratic party of Alabama with the brand of imbecility and impotency of being un- able to secure and guarantee fair pri- mary? And, that too, when 1t holds and has held for years practically all of the party power within the state in the hollow of it's hands? And when 1t has the express power and might to regu- late primary in every county in the state, and make 1t not only absolute iy fair. but to put 1t, like Caesars wife, above the suspicion even of being un- fair?
 When the executive committe can set aside primary in the Fourth Congress- ional District, and annul the work of a convention by substituting primary for 1t in the Fifth district. and can shape up even a state convention so as to defeat candidate having a ma jority of the delegates on the floor, can they now conveniently disclaim any au- thority and jurisdiction as to the entire state? When did they ever find them selves without all the authority they de- sired in order to do whatever they want ed to do? If they think a general pri- mary is wrong let them say so like men, in plain English, and brush away all fiimsy technicality and pretext Then each man may know the ntain-head and the mouth of the true and sole source of political rights and personal liberty in the state.
 Nor do I take the least stock in the argument that a general primary is im- practicable. It is no less practical than a state election. The executive commit tee has fulf and plenary power to pro- vide for and regulate the one as the legislature has to provide for and regu- late the other. While the committee can- not utilize the state penitentiary, at the same time 1t can provide a transparent ly fair and honest primary. and it can abundantly provide for the exposure of the ballot thief so that he may be drag ged up to the pillory of public opinion and outraged decency!
 "The given power to regulate neces- sarily carries with it the implied power to create and establish the thing to be regulated. The converse of this proposi- tion is, in logic and in law, and absurd ity It Is a distinction without a differ ence! The state executive committee Is admittedly vested with the power by it's creator-the mere creature of the .peo- Dle-to make rules and regulations gov erning the primaries. and acting with and through the cooperation of the county executive committees, can select and appoint enough honest men as in- spectors of elections in each precinct to hold it, and to insure an absolutely and transparently fair and-~ honest primary election in every precinct in the state If the Democratic party cannot do this, at least what excuse can it plead for con- tinuing business at the same old stand ? Noah had the wisdom to&prepare for the deluge when he saw it comingi Can not we heed and profit, by his exam pie?
 with the coming of tfie new consti- tuition, come inevitably-indeed, have already arrived-new conditions and methods practically. Else. 1t comes in vain! For what is the sole Justification of the new constitution with many who voted to ratify it? Surely, no sane man voted for it, without recognizing and realizing that 1t brought political revo- lution in it's 'wake And with the neces- sity of the old order of things went the old things--themselves 1t is devoutly to be hoped to hoped never to return again
 Some of the opponents of the primary are trying to mislead the public mind by confusing the governmental and the par ty unit of representation; but the gov ernment and any political party, are sep- arate and distinct things. The govern ment Is for each and all the people while the party is for It's members From it's very foundation, state and federal in theory, at least, the individual is the unit of government; while the man, the voter, or member, is the party unit The governmental unit of representation Is fixed and fixed on the true basis for this state In the new constitution, and until another constitutional convention shall meet and change 1t.
 The sovereign voter within the party, whoever he may be- and wherever he may reside. must necessarily and inevi- tably now be, and become, at once, fin this state the party unit. of strength and representation If the party machinery in vogue in this state cannot adapt it. self to this simple and just basis, if they really think they have not the pow- CT to do so, and at Ohce, then let them exercise the power their possession of which no man will dispute, and call a state convention to settle the question. No convention of the party in the state will have ever come together for a high CT and nobler purpose, and with greater or better excuse for converting in my humble opinion.
 Has not the time come in all It's ripe ness for democratic st ate primary, to be participated in by every white man who will vote for the nominees. and sup port the platform, if one there be2 If mot; pray when will 1t ever come7 The party could get along without a platform since, all of its platforms of late years seem to have become mere delusions. snares and baits for the gullible voters for, the candidate to get in the car on. and then pull 1t in after them as the of- ficia1 train moves off-binding on no one, and particularly so as to those who stand on them for election; but can it dp business without votes? And what better or truer test of party feaIty ex- ists than voting for the party's candY dates?
 tTn this state the people are at last happily released from the reconcentrado camps of the political manikins. The professional politicians have been doing al, the riding; but now the people feel themselves mounted for once, and sit firmly in the saddle. They will now pro- ceed to ride some themselves and let the politicians wait, or better still, rest awhile from their arduous labor. The