The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-20
Let's Get Straight
On This Subject.

On This Subject.
The Live Oak Democrat, like a
great many others. has allowed IT.
self to be misled, we believe. on
subject that ought to be thoroughly
understood Just as soon as possible.
Discussing the action Of the state
committee In refusing to recognize
any obligation on its part to provide
fl ads for holding the coming primary
ir the respective counties, the Demo.
crat says:
IL in even one county OF the state
the primary should not be- held. what
would be the legal effect and What
would he the party law under such
circumstances? To bind the lesisia-
turo would It not be necessary that
every county in the State should de-
clare it's choice In primary. and Il
one or more counties fail TO do so.
could not the legislature with entire
prcrrcty ignore the voice OF the
counties which did declare their
choice. and discharge its constitution
ri duty OF electing senator, regarI-
less OF an incomplete and detective
primary?
Now let Us analyze this matter.
The Democrats Of Florida have
adopted the primary as the medium
through which their public servants
shall h. selected the primary does
not helooa 10 orc man. 0r to Inn
tied number OF men, or to commit
tee Of a party. IT, belongs TO all OF
the members of the Democratic party
in Florida.
4 vacancy occurs and tire primary
Is called into requisition Tor the pur-
pose Of filling that vacancy. In ac-
cordonce with custom and order and
executive necessity. the state COM
mittee meets. recognizes the vacancy,
ard fixes dates on which the Demo
Gratis OF Florida may exercise their
privilege of selecting man to fill
the place made vacant. 1t is part
OF the duty Of the state committee
TO fix the dates for a state primary
Having done this. It then notifies the
chairman of each county committee
II Ia then up 70 the respective coun-
~ committees TO meet and provide
ways and means for holding the pri-
mary In the respective counties. The
question Of holding a primary or Of
not holding one in any county lies
wholly with the Democrats of that
county. IL they DO not want TO hold
primary, there is no way in the
world 70 force them to do SO. If any
particular precinct does not want to
hold 4 primary you cannot force it
20 do so. 10 any Democrat does not
desire 10 vote in a primary you can
not force him to do so.
But the refusal or failure OF Dem
ocrat TO vote does not invalidate the
primary in his precinct. The refusal
or failure Of precinct to participate
does not invalidate the primary In
that county. And the refusal or fail
'ure OF county to participate in
state primary does not iuvalidate the
primary in the state.
Therefore, II one Or a dozen coun-
Ties should either refuse or be un-
able to participate in the coming pri-
mary. their non.participation could
not in any way invalidate the result.
1t is privilege they nave either
TO go in or stay out, and they have
the same privilege In any primary.
II is not confined to this particular
one. II they stay out. they will sim
ply be neglecting an opportunity to
have a voice In the selection of a
United States senator. That is all.
AS a matter Of fact, there is no
ofncial record to show that Calhoun
county held any primary at all
IN the state primary Of May 10.
1908. Calhoun held q primary, but
no returns were received by the
state committee and Calhoun there
fore had no part in the general re-
suit. The state committee simply
vent ahead, counted the votes of the
counties whose returns were in. and
declared the result. The absence of
Calhoun. while 1t might have affect