The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1909-10-29
RULES FOR PRIMARY
DISCUSSED BY MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE
IN REPLY TO {. h. CLAY.
Marietta. Ga, Oct. %. 1909

The letter of E. H. Clay's in the
Marietta Journal which came out last
week seems to call for reply from
some member of the Executive Com
mittee, in view of the fact that he so
severely and unfairly arraigned us for
our action in formulating the rules
for the white Primary on November
18th. AS l was the one who introduc-
ed the resolution, adopting these
rules, | can not, in justice to myself,
and the other members of the Com
mittee, let Mr. Clay's letter pass un-
noticed.
In the first place, we were elected
two years ago by the people to serve
them in the capacity of an Executive
Committee. 1t was our duty to call
Primary and fix rules and regula-
tions under which the same should be
held. This, we have done to the best
of our ability.
The majority of this Committee not
being the Representatives Of any can
didate, being elected by the voters and
acting for the voters, We adopted such
rules and regulations as we thought
would be perfectly fair to each can
didate for office and would best pro-
tect the interests of all the voters and
general public However, if Mr.. Blair
was Mr.. Clay's representative on this
Committee, l must say he was more
favored than any other candidate. The
whole truth of the situation is simply
this.
Marietta has a widespread reputa-
tion of being afflicted with political
strife and corruption The better ele-
ment of it's citizenship is clamoring
for clean methods and better record.
The only way this can be accom-
plished is for the Executive Commit
tee to stand by them and adopt such
rules governing Primary elections as
will be absolutely fair to all candi-
dates and as near as possible protect
the voter from undue influence. Let
him feel assured that he can vote as
he pleases and that his ballot will in
variably be protected. Then his vote
| is a privilege in deed as we'll as in
| name-the same to the rich and the
poor, the educated and the unedu-
Gated.
To this end we have formulated
these rules, which stand for them
selves. Each voter can inspect them
and judge of their fairness.
| Now, comes Mr. e. H. Clay, one OF
the candidates, for Mayor, turns him
self loose and exploits lot of wild
| cat statements, which l denounce as
mass of untruths, pure and simple
and without foundation
| He said a deliberate attempt was
made to deprive him of representa-
ton at the polls. THIS IS UNTRUE
He has the same rights as other can
didates.
He says that we provided the booth
system of election, printing all the
tickets on one slip of paper, for the
express purpose of depriving some
men, who did not know how to read
and write, of voting his choice in this
election THIS IS UNTRUE.
He also knows, or he ought tC
know. that we violated no Provision
of the Charter of Marietta in formu
lating these rules. The election pro
vided for in the City Charter applies
only to the general election on De
cember 18th, and has absolutely moth
ing to do with this Primary. He says
the resolution as originally drawn
provided that the Managers were tC
be elected by the Executive Commit
tee. THIS IS UNTRUE. No such res
olution was ever drawn and presented
to this Committee.
He says majority of this Commit
tee is against him in this race. Let
that be as it may, / do not know
should or would our political opinions
prevent us from taking an oath that
we would hold the election fairly and
impartially? We have to take this
oath and we wish all concerned to
know that the interests or political
manmuvers of no candidate shall
swerve us in being true to our oath
| He says this resolution was type
written in the Office of a law firm of
this city and turned over to their
figure heads" to be introduced and
passed. THIS is UNTRUE. What
law firm does he refer to? challeng,,
an explanation.
He says: "A more corrupt scheme
was never worked out in the brains
OF an INSCRIPTIONS politician than the
one have just described and that its
purpose was to deprive a great many
laboring people who are unfortunate
In not being able to read and write.
from casting the ballot of their choice