The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-13

are best qualified for the supreme
bench. Many of the lawyers them
to the qualifications OF the respective
Candidates. Quite fortunately the pres
emit Supreme Court Judges elected un-
good Judges. However ' It IS but n na e
ural that the lawyers of the State
should from their more intimate asso-
citation With judges and legal affairs be
Judge which. Of the candidates are the
best qualified for a seat on this august
tribunal The average voter knows
lar more; This is but taken as an ex-
ample. The same holds true of nearly
al rS o. t the other State officers
system. 1t has proven a dismal fail
ure. 1t has been weighed In the bal
what shall be doneY how can the
be bettered?
writer that probably the better plan
would be for the election of State Of
ficers to be by nomination by conven-
ton, and that of county officers by pri-
mary. Let US look into the reasons
for this. The convention system. I'M
I'll corrupted by the octopus of Popu-
ism L.n, , worked satisfactorily. It had
ter men were nearly always nominat-
ed and elected than under the present
system. There was less friction and
evils; The campaigns were shorter and
devoted more exclusively to the dis
cussion of broad principles OF states
1m mar and government There was
ter careful consideration, laid down
the principles that were to govern the
respective candidates: they were bound
by them. The people knew what TO
expect. Business interests were less,
disturbed. There was more business
and financial stability: The principles
primary is more of a general free-for.
all scramble, In which vituperation and
petty invective are too prone TO tako
the place of able and statesmanlike dis
cussion Of principles and policies OF,
government.
The county officers, as we'll as those
of the smaller political divisions of
government such as cities; precincts.
vote of the people in primary .@Whyf
The voters are In nearly every instance
personally acquainted with the respec-
knowledge know the respective merits
and dement's of each. They should De
heard. It is well established prin-
ciplel OF local self-government. 1t Is
The best method of electing state
officers, 1t is the opinion of the writer.
would be most wisely subserved, by
convention of delegates chosen by the
counties to meet at designated time
and place to nominate candidate Tor
Governor, candidates for the Supreme
Court bench, and for the other STATE
officers. The convention would OF
course adopt a platform of principles.
These would be followed, and the par
ty would be kept tremendously In line
and working together. Let us, to THIS
extent, turn back to the good of the
older system. Only the other day the
klx4. g. PAM-
olution In favor of amending the Con-
stitution of the United States so as to
choose United States senators by pop.
ular vote. To do that would be but
to change the whole form of our gov
eminent The Federal government Is
government of checks and balances,
consisting of three parts. or depart
and the Executive. Each department.
acts as a check and a balance upon the
other two. The Legislative is COM
posed of a Congress, comprising two
branches, or houses, so constituted That
each acts as a check and a balance
upon the other. Make the United
states Senators elected by direct
vote of re people. and you have then
changed the distinction between the
two Houses. They will then be prac-
tically one and the same. AS wei
abolish the Senate entirely, and turn
government into one House without
any check or balance from any other
whatsoever. To do so would be but to
create an entire revolution in our
form of government. Do you SO lit-
tie respect the time -honored work OF
your fathers that you wish to SO
heedlessly and rashly destroy II!
tread. All call themselves Demo-
Gratis: but today there is no Democrat
ic party in Alabama. Let us have
less drastic legislation: let us have
honest, straigh forward and more eco:
nomic methods. so that the burden OF
taxation may be lightened.
MS cast off sham: let us abandon the
name totally: or else, let us resuscitats
it from it's present comitose state, and
1t in all OF Its pristine
glory and integrity. Let us In good
faith carry out the sound basic princi-
Piles of Jefferson and Jackson.
VIM c. Oates.