The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-23
THE COST OF
 PRIMARY Henderson Explains Its Cost of Conduct, IT CAN NOT BE HELPED Live Subject Dealt With tn Cofre-
 spondence. Uaasr Primary system the Candidates Must rsy-csndidases Are to Have . speskins at oAina
 Grove en July ss.
 

In an open Ietter to William Stall of Flatwood, Wilcox County, Chairman w. A. Henderson makes answer to those who have thoughtlessly and hur- Executive Committee for fixing the primary assessment for congressional candidates at $500.
 MT. Henderson intimates that no way has ever been found to run a pri- mary without money and that as long as the people insist on primary the candidates must pay for 1t. He shows In his letter that the Committee ascer- tained very carefully that to put five men in each box in every election pre- cinct In the nine counties and to pay For the necessary blanks and station cry x3,400 would be required. The fg- nres are open to inspection and any in- terested Democrat can ascertain on in- vestigation If that much money is
 Moreover, this calculation was based on paying each election manager dol- lar day. This is only half the cus- tomary pay for such service. The Committee believed that 1t was impos. sible to get reliable men through out the District to serve without pay. It has never been done In a primary and the members of the Committee said among themselves that managers and cloFks could not be secured.
 MT, Henderson admits that a pri- mary election under such circumstances "is bar to a poor man" but he ask <. How are you to remedy lt2" He In. inmates that the Second District Com. mittee will rejoice If any way is found to run primary without a heavy cost.
 MT. Henderson's letter follows.
 Montgomery, Ala. July 22, 1908. MT. William Stall, Flatwood, Wilcox
 County, Alabama:
 Dear sir--Your favor of the l7th costs ss.4oO to hold primary eiect,on has been received.
 You say that the 'exorbitant an- trance Tee Is bar to the poor man, I fully agree with you that the primary election costs too much, but how are we to remedy itf
 The Commlttee calculated the exaet amount 1t would require by ascertain- ihg the exact ftumb ber of voting places in eacn County. putting the coat at si Tor each manager per day, and that with the ballots and returns and other stationery will figure up about s2.4Oo.
 We have never been able in thfs District to get managers to act with out pay. ss none are so patriotic. ana many of them want pay in advance for their services.
 AA tne CAuufuate6 VIII secure the services of managers free, that will re- dnce the expenses at least 75 per cent and all money In excess of cost will ba refunded pro rata. The committee ls powerless to change the conditions now. but I think that the State sh o1,ld pay the expenses of the primary, as the November election Is only a ratih- cation of It.
 regret the circumstances and I am sure you will see that have no discra- ton In the matter. We must stand upon the case as 1t is, and enforce if to the letter for all alike until If is changed by proper authority.
 Very truly yours,
 w. A. Henderson. 'Chairnan Democratic Executive Com.
 mittee. Second Congressional Dis
 trict."
 The campaign in the Second District VIII take new turn on July ae when at least two of the candidates will ad- dress the voters of Pike County oarDeeue will be given on that day by the people of China Grove, a prosper- ous community in Pike County. Tha congressional candidates have been in- vited to deliver addresses and the inyi- Lafion hes been accepted by Hon. S H Dent Of Montgomery and Hon. William Hodge Sanford of Pike. The occasion s more in the nature of a free for ali l 'psaking than In a joint discussion.
 IDe speakers are promised a great | srowd for tho speakink.
 
 Ice Cold Mitchell Melons. sandvvsch | E C0s, Phones D{ST ana ASAa