The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-03-01
THE PRIMARY VERSUS THE
CONVENTION METHOD.

Apropos the discussion of the primary
versus the convention method Of nom1.
mating the next State ticket, there Is
one point which has net received the
attention it deserves and that is the
basis of representation provided by the
Constitution of 1893 for all nominating
conventions held in this State. Under
the Constitution, representation in al
nominating conventions must be based
upon population instead of upon part,'
strength. With such a basis of represen-
tation, it seems to us, that it is 1mpos-
sible to hold a fair nominating conven-
ton, no matter how fairly the delegates
might be chosen A convention with the
delegates chosen by a white primary
would be better than convention with
the delegates chosen by mass meeting
and appointed by parish committees
but the unjust and unfair basis of rep
resentation would still prevail; the large
negro parishes with few Democratic
voters would have larger delegations
than many of the white parishes with
several times as much strength. We do
not understand why such a provision
should have been inserted in the Con-
stitution, but as long as it is there, it
must be obeyed, and no fair nominating
convention can be held.-Guardian-
Journal. . -
The question raised by the Guardian
Journal, published in Homer, Claiborne
parish, parish where the whites are in
the majority, that the basis Of delegates
to a convention is unjust and unfair and
the large negro parishes with few Dem
ocratie voters would have larger dele
cations than many of the white par
ishes with several times as much
strength should be considered seriously
by every Democrat not allied to or con-
nected with "the machine
It may be said that the adoption of
Article 200 by the trainers of the Con-
stitution of 1858 is a political enigma
which must remain tlnso1ved. This arti-
Gle declares that in all political con-
ventions in this State the apportion-
rlent Of representation shall be on the
basis Of population. : Any man Of any
sense who will reflect a moment will
reach the conclusion that such man
date from convention in which the
Republicans were in a hopeless minority
to direct Democrats in the selection Of
their delegates to a nominating eonven-
tioil was an outrage which should have
been resented and spurned, but, unfor-
tunate1y, only few have time OF incli-
nation to peruse such matters, which is
entrusted by the people to the repre-
sentatives in whom they confde
It can not be questioned, indeed it is
self-patent fact. that under such
basis of apportionnent the convention
system is cheat and gives to the min
ority Democrats in the State the power
of control over the majority of Demo
Gratis. To be plain In the black or negro
parishes, where there are. only a few
Democrats, on the basis of population,
the delegates from the black parishes to
a Democratic nominating convention
would outnumber the delegates from the
white parishes, where the Democrats are
in the majority. As a Democrat, as an
organ which stands for the rule of intel
Hgence and white supremacy, the Cau-
casian contends that the method is I'M
Just and unfair, and that it gives indirect
recognition to the negro who when fig
t1red in the basis Of population becomes
a silent but all powerful factor ii the
control of a Democratic convention
through the intermediary of the delega-
ton so nominated. and because it is I'M
fair and unjust the Caucasian has been
and IS opposed to the convention sys-
TEN, and IS in favor of the nomination
of all State, parochia1 and local officers
by primary elections at which only
i1SiifVo1 dts, IudlIiiSQ# IL VOlSs# Call par
ticipate. We feel assured that this propo-
sition will be Gas it has beenl disre-
garded, in fact condemned, by the few
men in the State who would manipulate
conventions, but It rests with the Demo
Gratis who vote to resist or to yield to
the dictates of the few. The Caucasian
is not so much concerned as to who will
fill the various State offices as it is in
reforms which are essential to the per-
petuity Of Democratic principles, and
therefore joins the Guardian Journal,
The Felicianas and other newspapers
VITO have and are urging the people toll
action. OF course if no protest be heard,
# no objection be raised, the few in the
State would scheme and carry ont their |
program as it will be arranged and fred
off as the will Of the people. We could |
not blame these few gentlemen, adopts
IN the fine art of politics. to control as
thew NAV elect biif the Democrats ssut,t, +