The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-01-23

The resolutions adopted by the last
State Democratic Convention relative
to method of making nominations,
reads as we have frequently quoted:
'Be it resolved, (D that the State
Democratic Executive Committee be
and are hereby instructed to formulate
uniform method Of selecting dele
gates to the State Convention, 80 that
fairness, regularity and unity of pur-
pose may be observed; (9) that such
manner of selecting delegates shall be
uniform throughout the State, and the
State Committee shall adopt and pro-
mulgrte a method to that end and for
the guidance Of every county"
This resolution specifically declares
for "a uniform method Of selecting
delegates to the State Convention.
1t says nothing about primary. In
direct primary there would be no
delegates. There was a proposition in
the convention to declare for primary,
and among those who opposed it on
the floor of the convention was the
owner of the Nashville Banner. Fitz-
patrick's original resolution provided
that the committee should have power
to settle all contests arising in coun-
ties, and the owner and publisher of
the Banner spoke in behalf of this res
olution. A resolution or amendment
declaring for direct primary was not
even seconded. The Banners owner
and publisher was very active in behalf
of the Fitzpatrick resolution, which
really gave the committee undue power,
and after the amendment calling for a
direct primary had been argued, the
owner of the Banner resumed his
speech in behalf OF the uniform method
of selecting delegates to the State
Convention"
We take it that there is not an intel
ligent writer in the state who really
believes that anybody is advocating q
nomination by "old convention meth
ods," or that anybody believes that
such methods will be pursued. 1t il
not question OF 'the old convention
methods" or a direct primary. 1t is q
question as to whether there should bt
direct primary or district and county
primaries, with convention delegates
selected by the latter-all selected or
the same day. This is in accord witt
the sense and spirit Of the state ccnven
tion resolution, and is more in ACCORD
with practical common sense and {
rational effort to make nomination il
equity and fairness. 1t has been as
serted that this is merely an OLE
and Objectionable convention method
That is merely an assertion, and is NJ
more to be considered than if it hat
been made to tho effect that the mool
is made of green cheese.
The plan is not absolutely new. /
has been used in congressional nomi
nations. 1t prevents snap convention
being stocked or packed or unfairl
formed. There is no fairer, bette
way, so far as we know. Perhaps n
plan is perfect. II the voters do nc
turn out iu any district, county or com
;, munity there will, Of course, be littl
or no expression of sentiment froI
'' that section, but this would be 80 in
'' direct primary. In either case
would depend largely on the peopl
n whether they would turn out an
actively participate or permit few
run the election, or let it go b
default.
The pretense that there is any effol
or desire to foster snap convention
or "old convention methods" we ca
|, hsrdly-regard as worthy Of respectfl
K consideration, and if any hon nestly hay
y y such apprehension it must be becauE
g they are not sufficiently informed as
1 the actual sentiment and conditions.