Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-07-24
As to the Primary.

say against the primary as an ABSTRACT
proposition. No one will question the
principle upon which it is
founded if he has a drop OF Democratic
blood in his veins. All will admit
that Democratic nominations should
be made directly by the voice Of the
whole party, where it is possible to do
SO. The objection that arises to the
primary is one that goes to the
methods of conducting it, rather than
to the soundness OF the principles
underlying it.
The question to be solved by the ad-
vocates Of the primary is how shall a
primary election be conducted so that
any member of the party, no matter
how poor in the goods of this world,
can become a candidate for the en-
dorsement of his party. There is no
doubt that large assessments prevent
many worthy Democrats from seeking
office at the hands of their party.
Many consider it impractical to so
conduct a primary that any man may
be a candidate at small expense.
There is one simple way out of the
dificulty-let it be understood that no
Judge or clerk will receive a single
cent in payment for his work at a
primary. Let his work be performed
the same as at a convention. Every
good Democrat when called upon
should, il he has the interests Of his
party at heart, be willing to give one
day to it.. A mar is not much OF 9
Democrat who is not willing to devote
one day in the year to its welfare.
This is the way primaries are on
Quoted in some counties OF this State,
and the rule should be made universal.
1t will knock out the individual who
expects to make a dollar and a half on
the day of the primary. 1t will not
prove satisfactory to the class Of men
who look upon a political party as a
political asset, but it will result in
placing a better and a more unselfish
class of men in charge of our party
machinery. When men are willing to
make sacrifices for a party its chances
to succeed are improved. Candidates
should only be assessed for the actual
cost of their tickets. Five hundred
dollars should be demanded of no man
as a condition precedent to permitting
his party friends to vote for him.
There must be a way found for the
party as a whole to bear its own bur-
dens.
The convention system is cheaper to
the candidate, because the great rail-
road companies assume the burden of
transporting delegates to and from
conventions, but they, in so doing, are
not giving something for nothing. In
| consideration for these 40 called
courtesies they expect their agents to
have a large influence in naming can
didates and framing platforms. Let it
be once understood that free transport
tation to delegates bears nc fruit in
the convention, and the pass system
comes to an end without the aid oil
agitation or legislation. The Demo.
cratic party cannot fight trusts and
corporations in its platforms and then
conduct its campaigns on money fur.
nished by the trust. This is too much
in the nature of a sham battle. When
the corporations of this country com.
prehend that the Democratic party
has earnestly set about depriving them
OF their unfair advantages and cur
failing their power, there will be nc
more passes furnished to genuine
Democrats, and there will be no more
corporation money furnished to Demo
cratic campaign funds. The delegate
or official who rides on a pass will be
an object OF. suspicion and will not be
trusted, as he ought not to be now.