The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-15

the committee to do what was right, but
he did question its authority to change
the plan. The Committee was elected by
the people, but ratified by the Convention,
Your committee Is acting as executive
Officer and IL doing what the convention
says do, and has no power to make law
but to execute 1t, like the Governor OF a
State" he said. IF you can abolish the
precinct by such a course as this, why
cannot the influence Of a county be
abolished" tt
He argued at length as to the power Of
the committee. aqte
THE people in the country should not
be entirely annibllated, and the city give
the Offices to one or two gentlemen from
the city. The present plan has given en-
tire satisfaction" he said. and the
cIamor for change comes from some
newspapers and some candidates. not
from the people.
Can YOU point to one instance where
A state Convention has been guilty OF
fraud" he asked. He had never heard
of 1t being charged even.
Call the Convention together ana let
the people decide through their repre-
sentatives how the nominations shall be
made" he/said. why not trust the peo-
pie? Adopt the primary plan and the
precinct influence is blotted out, over
whelmed, and will have no more infiJi-
ence In making nominations He lived In
one Of tho largest precincts OF the coun-
ty. but he thought the rights OF the
people should be respected, and he was
in favor of local self government
when you have convention II rep
resents the population Of your county"
he said. The state Committee had acted
In the minority In calling primary
which was not a general primary after
all as II was restricted to those VINO
voted the Democratic ticket. Would you
confine II to the silver men or the gold
men alone? The party has been silent on
the question and you must not go wild
over the clamor of a Populist newspaper
or a Democratic newspaper tnat Awants
to overwhelm the peoplesfrom the coun-
try-thats the long and short OF IT, wnen
you get down to the bottom ofAt
,cInstice Is done in the present plan,
for the people have representation ana
vote their full power"
He did not believe the precincts OF this
county would give up their rights ana
abandon their powers and privileges
this way. He was for the old conven-
tion system that gives the people an OPP
portunIty to express their wishes.
Mr. Macdonald said "a Democratic prt-
mary carried out to the fullest extent
the wishes of the people
The gentleman said only those desiring
once were for this plan alone. He said
he had never had any. Office but a mem
her ~ the Constitutional Convention and
he was entirely disinterested and had
dlled the only office he ever expected to
All The gentlemen wanted negroes rep
resented in the party councils, and this
theory was to give them a voice to kill
Democratic votes. He had never heard or
such a proposition in Democratic
General Sanford denied that he said
this. Z.
.srhe Convention had met to eliminate
negro votes" said Hr. Macdonald, "and
vet we are met here with the proposition
that they should have voice In the
Democratic party.
not have a primary. but convention IN
order that the negro should be repre-
scented in the Democratic councils. Unde r
tbe nlan the gentleman said In effect that
| because the negroes had been voted as
Democrats they must be represented in
the councils of the party. 1t was Tor
that very reason the Constitutional Con-
,,ention had been held, and that had all
heen eliminated and there was no longer
anv use for representation or votes that
| only existed on paper
1--WE need no longer to resort to sub
terfuRe and override the vote OF Demo-
/ crat in town with the vote OF . negro IN
| the county"
He aid not believe the people Of the
| oo,,nt, desired to continue any farther a
nlan that had no shadow Of foundation in
/ Justice and equity.
Colonel Sanford frequently interrupted
the sneaker but was called to order BY
the chair. He denied making any such as
I sertlona.