The St. Mary banner., 1903-09-05
THE DAWN OF REAL DEr1OCRACY

nE ia WIN VI KEAL DIi iO~NASh
The action of the Democratic
State Central Committee in
unanimously sanctioning a gen.
eral primary for the selection OF
the State candidates of the party
reflects not only credit upon the
self. abregation of the members
thereof but also upon the political
good sense Of the people, whose
will in this instance has been
demonstrated. The action of the
committee will have the effect OF
strengthening the party against the
common foe and will cause re-
turn to the fold of many of its
wayward supporters and cause a
general revival among the best
citizens in the political affairs of
the state. The BANNER can not
laud the action of the central COM
mittee too highly, nor can it too
warmly congratulate the people of
the State upon the great victory
achieved. Unlike some of our
contemporaries we apprehend no
party descriptions or such dire
calamities to befall the party
under the primary election method.
On the contrary a policy which
increases the political scope of the
individual voter must rebound to
the good and intactness OF the
party.
1t now behooves the State Cen
trail Committee to adopt such
rules for the conduct of the gen.
eral primary as will strip the
campaign of all unnecessary fric-
ton and contention, and if this is
done wisely and with a view to the
maintenance of party unity, we
have no doubt all will be well in
the end, and that the dominant
party of the State will be hence
forth beyond disintegration. AS
we have often pointed out in the
course of the discussion on the
primary election method, the
electorate we now have is of a
high order, as to intelligence,
patriotism and public welfare, and
for the Central Committee to have
ruthlessly ignored this fact would
have been tantamount to an open
declaration that, Notwithstanding
the publication Of our suffrage
laws, the voter is as yet wholly un-
worthy of being trusted with the
settlement of great political prob
4 lens. The action of the State
Central Committee makes it large
ly binding upon all parish COM
mittees to adopt the primary plan
of selecting candidates for the
local offices, and while this may
not follow in every parish we have
no doubt that large beginning
will! be made at the approaching
election in this direction, and that
the people will be so thoroughly
satisfied with results that IN two
or four years hence any other
method of choosing representa-
tives OF. public off sials will have
become entirely obsolete.
The date of holding the State
primary election has not, as yet
been fixed. A subcommittee of
fifteen has been appointed by
Chairman Kruttschnitt, including
himself, to formulate the rules for
the government of the general
state primary, and to report to the
State Central Committee at its
meeting on October 18th, at which
date it has adjourned. 1t is very
likely that the general primary will
not take place until some time
after the first of January, 1904, in
order to give voters the full of the
present year in which to qualify
by the payment of the poll tax.
AT that time all who are entitled
TO vote both in the nominating
primary and in the general elec-
tion will have qualified, and the
same electorate which will select
the candidate will have the oppor-
tunity of electing him over his
Republican opponent. This fore
cast of what will be done appears
entirely logical and equitable to
us. It is now the duty of Demo-
Gratis to rally around the old
standard and to carry it on to a |
glorious victory. The BANNER
will not be found laggard in
doing its full duty towards the
successful candidate Of the party.
But, in conclusion, we beg to eau
ton moderation. and general
spirit of rivalry among the candi-
dates, free from vituperation and
acrimony. We want the cam
paign to be fought out on the
broad line of argument with the
greater glory of the State and the
Increased happiness of the people
in view. No appeal to the pas
sions and prejudices of the people
ought to be resorted to by any
candidate, and this cause we trust
will be eschewed by each and
every one.
THE UNDOlN0 OF LOUISIANA'S
SUGAR INDUSTRY.