The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-09-14
THE POPULAR PRIMARY

From the Opelika Industrial News: The
Age-Herald appears hopeful on the sub
ject of an honest primary election law.
We trust the Age-Herald will not be dis
appointed.
From the Centreville Press: Great re-
sponsibilty and true patriotism devolves
upon the people of Alabama at the next
state primary-that of selecting faithful,
competent, honest men to fill the various
offices.
From the Marion County News: Above
all things else the people want a good
primary law, and if the Legislature fails
to supply the demand we will be over
crowded with retired politicians after
next election.
From the New Decatur Advertiser: If
the Alabama legislature adjourns with
out passing a hide bound, bullet proof,
copper bottomed primary election law, 1t
will fail to meet the wants of the people,
and will leave a reputation behind it that
will damage it through all succeeding
generations.
From the Talladega News Reporter:
The constitution provides for primary
elections. 1t is now up to the legislature
to frame law meeting it's provisions so
as to insure honest elections The people
want no law keeping the word of
a..
hope" They want valid law for pri-
mary elections which will at once COM
mand the respect and confidence of the
public.
From the Eufaula Times The doing
away with conventions and holding pri-
maries in the state is being discussed
considerably by the state press As far
as the Times knows, the better plan, is
that of the primary, and, therefore, be-
lieves in it. We notice also, that the
legislature is asked to pass a law pro-
viding for honest primaries In years
gone by the election by the old plan was
good enough. but now the greed of office
has become so great that conscience"
has little to do with voting.
From the Ashland Standard: The legis-
lature is at work on a primary election
law that will insure absolute fairness
and guarantee satisfaction to the people
of the state. The old time conventions
have passed away and the primaries have
come to stay. The primary is the only
method that puts every voter upon terms
Y m hp Dipa
of their candidates, and the means of
putting the people rather than the poll
ticians in control of the political affairs
of the country. Let the legislature give
us law that will secure to every quail
fed voter the utmost freedom to cast
one vote and the absolute assurance Of
having that ballot counted as cast.
From the Huntsville Mercury: The
Mercury believes that an earnest effort
is being made now at Montgomery by
well known political element in this state
to prevent the legislature from enacting
a primary law. 1t Is a notorious fact
that the people are weary of the shut
fling and seheming practices of the con-
vention 1t would be unfortunate indeed,
Tor our legislature, AFTER the people had
been induced to believe that the adop-
ton of the new constitution meant a fair
primary and election law to disappoint
them along that line. The election bill
passed by the legislature will of course
by closely criticised and examined after
1t leaves the hands of our Lawmakers.
1t ought to be. No subterfuge can pass
with the people. No plaintive cry for the
sanctity of a secret ballot will mislead
or deceive any one. The people have be-
come adopts on this line, and they are in
earnest about having a law that means
without pills or furbelows. an honest
election. We therefore say In no spirit
of dictaticn that 1t Is the duty of the
legislature to give the people a fair and
honest primary and election law A law
that will provide against every proba-
BILE means or opportunity for the COM
mission of fraud at either the primary
or legal election. This we believe the
legislature will do.