The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-25
THEY FAVOR PRIMARY
LETTERS FROM EX-Gov. JOHNS
 TON AND GEN. HARRISON.
Removal of the Fear of Fraud, Says the Former, Will Prevent Possibility of Break in the
 Democratic Ranks.

To the Editor of The Mobile Register:
 In response to your courteous request Tor. my views as to the ldesirability Of primary for the nomination of candidates Tor offices. I beg to say:
 That a very large majority of the white men of Alabama are Democrats at heart and in principle. and if the negro IS eliminated from the electorate. and these men are contented with the action Of the party officials. there will be prac- tically no opposition at the general cleo ton to its nominees. So that the selec- ton of our officials will really be made in the primaries or nominating conven- ton, and not at the general election.
 To permit fraud or unfair advantage tc be taken in the selection of candidates and then demand an honest ballot, to elect these unfairly nominated candi. dates, fs to utterly destroy the very spirit and purpose of Republican government
 To elect honestly, a dishonestly nomi- mated candidate is to put premium or fraud.
 About three-fourths of the white men of Alabama feel that. at one time or an other, they have been defrauded of their choice of officials by nominating conven' tions. 50 that conventions are becoming a stench in the nostrils of honest men,
 Democracy means the rule of the ma 5ority, and why the people who do the electing cannot be trusted to do the nom mating. can only be comprehended by the politician.
 Do you not even now hear that there attempting to carry their own counties select their own partsans as delegates, and then trade these delegations in the State Convention to secure thear nomina- tion? The plain Anglo-Saxon Of this Is the purchase of a nomination by the sale of delegates, and neither the buyer nor the se Her nor the sold give the slightest consideration to the wishes of the peo- pie. The people are sold along with the delegates.
 A distinguished and honest and able citizen of your city, being delegate to a recent State Convention, told me that he found his vote had been traded TOT every office, and that the only time he had opportunity to express his unpur- chased Judgment was on a motion to ad- iourn.
 An honest primary, every candidate having the right to name one inspector and one clerk, and one only, Tn every precinct, would give to each candidate every vote he was entitled to. and at the same time. give to every Democrat m Alabama his equal and !ust weight in the selection of his officials. That would sat, isfy 95 per cent. of the Democrats 1T Il failed to be entirely satisfactory to the politicians.
 Any man seeking State office and opposing such method of nominatlor could have but one real oDJectioh
  indifference, or submission to some one else, but the real objection would De distrust and fear of the people ana hope that he might be able to Win pS other and less fair and honorable meth ods.
 If such a primary was held. every mar who participated would be bound II honor to accept the result and suppor the nominees, and all necessity Tor eN pense or wrong doing at the genera election would cease: for the people nav ing nominated candidates of their owI choice. could be depenoed upon lo eiee them. , |, adopted, it would at once have the eHec of removing distrust, curbing reSentmen. and restoring peace and harmony m ta' ranke of our party. Many Democrats ail, many honest men who stand outside tn' ranks of our party. Many Democrats an' that it Is the purpose of the majority U count in or count out any one tney us sire. The oposition to our organization white men, our own brethren. who fer that they had been. or would De, ue frauded Why not remove the cause ans thus prevent the possibility Of any pfeat in the ranks of Democracy!
 It is a matter of small importance wha faction wins. or what candidates succeed if they win or succeed by the choice O inc majority of the people. The majority Is entitled to rule: fo,,
 am nersuaded that an honest and tall primary would secure to our party tna harmony and tolerance and good fellow shin that can only be had amongst Ang lo-Saxons when they know they hd'' a fair chance and honest treatment.
 Let the Attest men be chosen to oihct but let the Democratic rank ana nle. an. not the machine, say who are the nttess '''' 'Ae Joseph F. Johnston.
 pirpoinSham Ala March 2, 1y02.