Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-22
SHALL THE PEOPLE OR POLITICIANS
ELECT OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

What the political motive what purpose
the Bottom of that bewdrng and extraordinary rule which the
state Dcomrac executive committee has invented for apporon
ing county's vote in the forthcoming primary9
just why this Socaled proratlng scheme been
contrivedY
This question worth studying 1t is uppermos today in
the minds of Georgia citizens Its the bal
lot rights of voter the state Certain or
gans nave taken particular pans TO insist tnat tne Oh
Judge Hart from the gubrnaora has eliminated all ques
tons the prorang plan Indeed those allied with the present
administration have this prorang plan forgotten
Yet candidates for the office of attorney
any candidates for judghips and
citorshps this rule unless abolished be called into
ton county of Georgia where three more
candidates receives majority of the popular vote
Far them from being deau this mysterious rule is issue
vital than because the people probing its
tive and purpose deeply every day.
follow devious and out-ofway paths the public
that they bound unusual end That
mas .h; en . 49, 49, NJ ;ttn + nt otns;biy 70 End
plan determining primaries in those counties
where three candidates seek the office but where no
candidate receives majority of the popular How did
the committee prOceed
To begin with discarded clear simple and thoroughly
tcabe plan that already existed the parys established rule
law for suaonshe second primary plan This
plan which nauguated by the convention OF 1906 and which
urepeaed fact aciy ndorsed by the succeeding
venon of 1905 provides that counties where candidate
cves majority of the peoples votes there shall be held sec
primary which the candidates having received the large
number of votes shall again order that the people them
selves may choose between them.
Why did the state committee simple and already
established plan and substitute figure out intricate rule
public does understand but which leaves the deter
convention instead of to the
people purpose could led the committee
to abandon method in of that
is confusing and circutOus?
Hon. Hewlette Hail. former chairman of the state executive
ntmated that somehow the second primary plan
concted with the majority rule and the county unit system
Nothing could be inaccurate glance at the facts in the
will The majority rule requrnga candidate to re-
majority instead of plurality OF the popular vote
established by the convention of 1906 Mr. Hall points out
Endorsement of Mr. Halls committee That
established also the second primary plan
cific method applying the majority rule
there possible conflict between the county unit
tenn and the second primary plan Mr. Hall insists that accord
ing fourth plank of the state Democratic platform which
as truly observes lis the law governing the committee well
Democrats until changed the committee was bound to
the county system was ana no one
of dspung matter But wherein does the county unit
TEN with primary pan IT, the first ballot
ing people candidate majority of the vote and
then the with the largest number of votes the
again the who then receives the majority
the couny in the state convention does not this plan
serve absolutely the county unit system?
the committee the fact that need
essy and unreasonaby discarded plan which thoroughly
consistent the majority rule and with the county unit
which and the nVoae law OF
the Democratic party -. .
It is part law by very principle which Mr. Hall himself
has invoked THE ACT OF A STATE CONVENTION rs THE
OCRATS UNTIL CHANGED. This is the principle which Mr.
committee their stand Then by what authority has
present committee ignored the second primary plan winch was
established by the Democratic state convention OF 1910 and wch
stood the convention of 1908 and which, therefore,
by the very principle Mr. Hall nvokes still binding In throw
ing out primary this committee usuped
party laws which, its former chairman INSISTS
must govern well all Democrats until changed
This then remarkable pursued by the
state Democratic committee its to put into
effect the 'proratlng scheme
Naturally therefore, the people want to know what lies at
the strange
There is but answer
THIS RULE HAS BEEN CONTRIvED FOR THE PURPOSE
OF TAKING GEORGIA'S ELECTIONS OUT OF THE HANDS
CONTROL Oh THE OLD POLITICAL MACHINE DON'T YOU
SEE THE TRICK2 THIS PRORATING SCHENl44 HAS BEEN