The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-06-16

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! missioners, two from the majorit,
party and one from the minority
party of the several counties, be ell
ected by direct vote of the people Of
. the counties. He would provide fol
State Board whose duties shall
be purely ministerial to canvass and
declare the result.
So far as The Herald is concerned
this is no new proposition. 1t has
repeatedly urged just such plan
and IL the so-called regulars had pre-
sented a bill of that character instead
of the Leach-B Baxter iniquity 1t would
have been passed and Tennessee
would not now be in the deploi able
condition that exists.
This journal believes in the direct
control of the election machinery Of
the counties. 1t constantly opposed
the Patterson machine because 1t
sought to vest all power of control
of Democratic primaries and conven-
tons in a State Board at Nashville.
This Board had the power to name
every election officer and to canvass
every return in the State. It was a
power that was utterly repugnaDt to
every instinct of Democracy and
caused a revolt that all but destroy
ed the Democratic party Every NOM
inee of the primary held under the
plan was repudiated by an over
whelming vote of the people.
y The Herald condemned that plan.
1t contended that the people should
have direct control of the election
machinery devised Ito register Their i'm
perial will. 1t could not on principle
condemn that plan and advocate the
State Board system regardless of the
number and the method Of election.
It believes in fair and just minority
representation and to that end insists
that no elector be allowed to vote
for more than two of the three mem
bers of the county board.
The Herald approves the general
suggestions of Mr.. illiams. They are
in accord with it's sense of Democracy |
and it's conception of fairness. 1t is
willing to meet him across the
chasm' to which he graphically re-
fers upon the plan outlined. 1t may
not be able to approve all of the de-
tails of Mr.. Williams bill, but If his
shall be bona tide at
tempt to restore to the people OF
the several counties the direct con-
troll of the election machinery, pro-
perly safeguarding the rights of the
then, regardless of the
views of others, The Herald will
urge the enactment of the bill.
1t is not only because we desire
the Republicans fairly treated that
we insist upon actual, bona fide min
ority representation. 1t must the re-
membered that in the election Of
1908, a Presidential year, when the
Democrats of Tennessee were united
for Mr.. Bryan, the so-called domin-
ant party carried only fifty-four of the
ninety-six counties of the State. In
more than forty per cent of the
therefore, the Democratic
party is the minority party. it is
Just as essential to protect and safe
guard the rights of the Democracy
in Union and Scott counties as It is
hat the Republicans shall have genu-
ne minority representation in M2ury
md Sullivan counties If a county is
Republican that par
y should and would under
he proposed law, have two
members of the county Board.
And they are entitled to it
Republican counties are Republican
a majority of the people pre-
err that party This is a Democracy I
md the people have a right to vote as d
hey desire, but we do insist that
heir votes shall be counted and reg a
stored as they are cast. 9
The Williams proposition should a
ring peace to sorely afflicted Ten C
lessee and harmony to the Demo I
ratio party.