Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-05-27

pressed himself as f3vOrink the
Crawford or direct system of max
ing the Democratic nominations In
Sc. Mary's county. In holding this
view he had and has no Interior mo-
tive other than the success of the
party.
We do not think that men who
will not be bound by the result of
o party primary have any right to
participate In IL, but we do think
that any man who will be so bound
has right TO express his choice for
the candidate for whom he is to vote
In the general election. The pri-
mary election law, as we read it,
contemplates none but party men
voting in o party's primaries, and
after one has so voted. prohibits
him from participating in naming
any other ticket or voting in any
other primary for that year.
We advocate the system that will
elicit the participation of the most
voters In the naming Of the ticket.
We think the Crawford System will
do that and we think the people
want the direct system OF nominal
ing.
We know there are arguments
against the Crawford System and
we recognize the force and strength
OF the arguments. Under the di-
rect primary, o populous district
has Q preponderating voice in the
selection Of nominees. but IL has also
predonderating voice in their cleo
ton after they are nominated.
We do not like the feature OF the
New Primary Election Law which
does away with the prohibition
against two candidates for the same
Office being taken from the same
district. For instance, under the
direct primary, according to the
construction Of the Attorney-Gen-
eral, both candidates for the House
Of Delegates might be from Leonard
town district. despite the prohibi-
ton In the resolution adopted by
the Convention Of 1907. In q Con-
vention too both candidates might
be so nominated, but we consider
IL hardly probable.
We are not advocating the inter-
ests of Leonardtown District be-
cause we favor the direct primary.
On the contrary, we favor all sec
tons OF the county having equal op-
portunities TO have candidates for
the Offices and would like to see
every district in the county have
an equal chance for representation
In the county government.
IL our party Is TO win in the CON-
ing campaign we must hit upon
some plan TO stimulate party men to
work for success and to- open to them
the door to commentator and re-
ward for their labors in the party's
behalf. The direct primary affords
every aspirant for Office o chance to
get bis claims before the electorate
and have 10 pass upon them. In a
convention IL oftimes happens that
Q candidates name Is hardly men,
toned.
The argument that the direct pri-
mary entails two elections upon can
didates is often urged as O plea
against IL. But the indirect pri.
mary or the convention does the
same thing. The difference is that
under one system, the candidates
asks votes for himself and under the
other system he asks votes for dele
gates favorable TO him.
We have not space for an exhaus-
tive aticle on this subject. We
want Democratic success; will sub
ordinate any of our personal prefer
ences to that end, and will cordially
and earnestly support the Democrat
ticket how ever ills nominated. We
but want the ticket so named tn at
the rank and file of the party will
feel that Ii Ia indeed their ticket and
will rally enthusiastically to its
support. With q ticket so nominal
ed We will 60 into the fight with as
Aurances Of victory.
The party has nothing to lose, and
may gain much by o direct appeal
10 It's voters.