The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-10-15
DEMOCRACY IS TO
HAVEHOUSECLEANING
Party Leaders Want Men With
Clean Hands
NECESSARY FOR WELFARE
Party in the State Has Too often Been
the Victim of Men Not in
Thorough Accord With
Its Principles.
NECESSARY FOR WELFARE.
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

MONTGOMERY. October 14.-So far as l
have been able to find out, after care
fully going over the capitol and talking
with men who are leaders in greater or
smaller way in the democratic party OF
the state, there is a decided sentiment
in favor of putting up the bars OF the
party next year and making every man
who takes part in the selection OF nomi-
nees show a clean bill of health as to
his past political affliation. In TACT
there Is somew hat of a general agreement
that the time has come for a house clean
ing. and it is certain that sentiment
is building that will result in marked
tightening of the lines at the next pri-
mary election, and the exclusion from
the party councils of all who are not
known to be in full accord with the reg
ulatons and doctrines of the Jeffersonian
following.
The near approach of what promises to
be the most important political strugSis
in the history of the state has set TIE
best minds of the commonwealth 10
thinking on plans to secure the most
wholesome results and the Importance
of the democracy getting in position TO
do the highest and best service to all the
people is emphasized in the fact that its
majority is such as to make its selections
of men and policies the choices of the
whole state. 1t behooves the party,
therefore, to avoid mistakes and to see
that it fosters nothing which will not be
for the highest and best interests of the
two millions of people who are forced
to depend upon it for the promotion OF
that which is best in governmental lead
ership and adoption.
Demand for Reform.
Because of this fact it is of more than
usual interest that an insistent demand
has sprung up for the elimination FROM
the inner circles of the party all who
are not in thorough accord with its pfin-
ciples and a restricted exercise of the
privileges of the primary in the selection
of the candidates of the organization. In
a word, there are many who have be-
come thoroughly convinced that the time
is ripe for the re-establishment of the
lines which distinguish the good from
the bad or Indifferent democrat, and con-
tend that ample opportunity has been
given for the stragglers to return to the
Jeffersonian fold. They believe that
every man should be made to produce
legitimate clearance card so far as party
patriotism goes, and that there should
not be placed too liberal a view on the
proof presented. either, it having become
necessary to protect the democracy from
the fragrant and indecent liberties openly
taken by those who seek only personal
gain or private venture.
Democracy Is Used.
There is no sort of question that the
democracy is being used by those who
have no right to its protection, and. judy
Ing from past history, these viii Turn
and rend 1t at its first real trial. In Z
number of counties it has become quite
the thing for practically every white man
to take part in the democratic primaries
Republicans of long standing and known
antagonism to the efforts of the domi-
nant party of the state go out an, vote
in the nominating primaries, and quite
often those who have never been loyal
democrats constitute the balance of pow
er, forcing men upon the organization
who are Objectionable to it, In fact 1t
seems to have become the practice to ac-
cept the ballot of every white man, no
matter how often he has stabbed the
party or undertaken to discount the very
force through which he seeks to secure
his wishes.
Why Not Stop Now.
Why should this be longer so? ask the
men who have always been good demo-
Gratis. Is the party a constant and long
suffering political mother, holding out
eternal hands to recalcitrant offsprngs,
or true servant of the people, knowing
its duty and fearlessly doing it, even II
1t cast out all who are not to be depend