The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-20
EetterS tc tbe Gdftcr
Precedent and Policy.

Editor The Advertiser:
 The greatly regretted death of MT.
 W. E. McGehee deprived the county of the prospective services of one whom all admired and respected and necessitates the selection of some one to succeed him as candidate for the office of County Treasurer. The natural impulse would be to select his successor in the easiest mode. the one involving the least expense and trouble and the most expeditions. These doubtless were the reasons for the nomination of candidates in similar cases by the Executive Committee of Pike County. of Jefferson County, and the nomination by our State Executive Committee of the present State Au- ditor. What reason can be given why our County Executive Committee should not as in the cases cited select one of the numerous candidates as the nominee for the office of the Treas urer or this county, and thus avoid the great expense of primary, of which the cost of managers, etc., is but q to candidates and the voters alike; and avoid the many disputes incident to any election? The only one that can be given is that the people should be allowed to select their own candidates
 This applies principally to officers ex- of the people, such as Solicitor, Tax Collector, etc, and not to such an of flee as County Treasurer. having no duties to perform in connection with the people except the preservation of the money confided to him-a duty that can be performed by any upright man. giving the bond for faithful perform ance of duty as required by law. But l have not observed that any voter Is crying for this privilege in this in- stance, unless it be some one who has something to gain in the rough and tumble of a primary. The truth is that the people, the voters, desire to pominate their candidates for office either by their direct vote or by the vote of the majority of their delegates or party officials. selected by them, invested with such power, shown by the precedents above cited to exist in the case here. Both methods attain the same end. The question Is solely which one shall be adopted and the reasons above given influencing the other committees named. largely favor the selection in this instance, through the peoples delegates or party officials. Nor is 1t probable that if a primary is ordered the nominee will receive a ma Jortty of the votes cast, and thus be said to be the choice of the voters
 With so many candidates a plurality is all that can be hoped for; and the majority of the voters may desire some other candidate than the one receiving the plurality vote. Thus the people in such case would not be able to select a candidate acceptable to the majority; the Democratic rule. On the other hand If selected by the Executive Committee he must receive vote of the majority of it's members. each rep resenting the people electing them
 Such candidate would be the peoples choice in much truer sense than q plurality nominee in a primary. Owing to the fact that the nominee is certain to be elected the question is not com pllcated by a need to select one who will add strength to the ticket. It is purely the selection of the right man for the place, and this I think can best be done by the Executive Committee of the county. Voter.