Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-05-26
THE PRIMARY ELECTION LAW


The subject Of primary elections Is enlist
ing public attention in many parts Of the
country. There are many welghty reasons
for letting parties manage these things for
themselves. Legislation upon the subject
is not likely TO be permanent; what 10 en-
acted at one session Is pretty sure TO be
changed at the next session, II an opposing
faction gains control and the people will
be hArrassed and perplexed BY the jockey.
ing Of rival leaders. Moreover, what may
suit one party may not suit another whose
practices and precedents are entirely differ.
ent, and II is hardly fair that men should be
controlled by rules which q dominant ele.
ment in one political party for the moment
deems advantageous for itself. II 10, per.
hAps, too much TO expect that law framed
by men who make q business Of politics,
and who, in ell they do have In view def.
mite aim and purpose, can be perfectly fair,
and the almost certain result Is 70 intensity
the bitterness Of factions and 10 foster those
practices which bring ell elections into dis
repute.
These seem 10 be legitimate deductions
from the first attempt 70 subject the prima.
ries Of Montgomery county 10 legislative
supervision. For many years the Demo.
cratic party has been governed by rules
adopted by popular vote Of the party, and
while some abuses have grown up under 1t,
1t is still true that every man has his chance
and every voter his opportunity TO cast his
vote unvexed by technical requirements.
There was no popular demand for change,
and 1t seems 10 have been mistake TO change
1t without some consultation with those most
affected by 1t, and without the most careful
attention to the details Of the law.
The Act OF 1904 to regulate primary cleo.
lions in Montgomery county seems 10 have
overlooked these obviously just require
ments, and we have law crudely drawn,
which has excited unusual criticism both as
70 lts scope and It's motive, and about some
of whose most important provisions there Is
% much doubt that the Court has been in
voked TO declare how much Of 1t Ia law, and
whether It's provisions can be enforced.
II is not difficult to forsee disaster II the
party has laws like this thrust upon 1t
against lie will. We do not undertake TO
impute motives, or TO make charges in re-
gard TO the provisions Of the law as 1t ap-
pears on the statute book but we cannot
blink the fact that 1t has aroused much dis.
content within the party ranks and that the
party must face the consequences of some.
body's blunder
The merits Of the case presented 10 the
Court 1t would be unbecoming 10 discuss in
advance OF the Courts decision but the
provisions Of the law and lts probable effect
are proper subjects Of comment. A glance
discloses something more than crudeness
and careessness in It's preparation. The
door Is left wide open for fraud-which 1t
should be the object Of all law 10 prevent.
1t is not enough TO say that honest men will
not 80 use 1t. II there were no fraud or 10.
justice and no bad and cunning men In the
world, there would be no need for human
laws and the halls Of legislation would be
empty. The very fact that the legislature
undertakes TO deal with . subject presup-
poses some wrong or detect which ought to
be remedled and the presumption lie tina.
the Legislature intends 10 hedge 1t about
with safeguards which will effeotually do
feat bad men in their efforts 10 perpe-
trate wrong. Those who are TO admins.
ter law to day may be honest men In
whom the community may safely con.
flde; those who may administer the Law TO.
morrow may be men whom no one would
willingly trust As far as human foresight
can make il so, the law should provide for
the conditions which may exist tomorrow
rs we'll as for the conditions which exist
to-day.
WHAT'S true of legislation, generally speak.
ing, has double force when applied TO cleo
tons, and possibly most Of ell when applied
10 primary elections, for these are the sources
Of all our political activities. and they should
be pure II it is possible to make them 30. A
party governed by rules which offer the OPP
portunity for fraud cannot very long escape
the domination OF those elements which
take any advantage to gain point, and 1t
Is only question Of time when self respect.
ing men will abandon 1t. 1t seems clear
that this danger turks In the law under re-
view II the contention Of those who are
attacking it Is sustained, the danger will pass
away. Should the law be upheld, the first
move Of our representatives, 10 the next Leg.
lslsture should be bill for its prompt re.