The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-17

10 become Candidates 10 the Sldt1
convention in order to defray the
Expense of primary, or they must
devise some other method than a
primary.
1t Is Clear as Day
1t is as clear as day that delegates
who would have to bear the expense
of the trip to the State convention
at Baton Rouge would have to bear
the expense of primary.
Hon. Zach Spearing who offered
the adopted resolution deplored
holding the primary on general
election day with the regular elect
ion commissioners as primary off
Icers.
Had general State primary been
ordered the only expense would
have been printing the tickets; the
returns could have been made out
with those of the general election.
The assessment on each candidate
for delegate would not exceed $500
Under Spearing's plan, adopting
his idea, the expense of commission
ers, clerks and peace officers fall on
the delegates to the State conven-
ton.
Taking our own parish as fair
example.
Three commissioners and two
clerks at $500 each at % polling
placs woeuld cost 1920. A deputy
sheriff for the day of election and
bringing in the box the next day
at $500 per day would be $3.50: that
is 500; under the primary law two
commissioners may accompany the
box: this would increase the total TO
about $3.50: add the expense of print
ing and delivery of the tickets would
make not less than $1,000
with total of %. delegates
to the State convention should each
have an opponent the probable ex
pense would exceed $1,000.
The System Adopted
In other words under the system
adopted by the State Central Com
mittee, should the parish executive
committee carry out the ideas Of the
mover of the resolution, the expense
of each opposed candidate for the
State convention would about equal
the expense Of each candidate for
the National convention under The
other plan.
Add to this the cost of the trip
to Baton Rouge should 664 delegates
go; the total would add at least an
other $4,000 Per head.
The condition thus created is far
worse than the condition depiored.
But even that-bad as it is, is no
the worst feature of the resolution.
Therefore be it resolved that a
State Convention be held to
elect twenty delegates and their al
ternates to the National convention
of the Democratic party
The choice of delegates is left, TO
tht general electorate of the State
as represented at The convention.
ii is denied to the units of fepres-
entatlon namely the Congressional
districts. ''jF'
This means
First. That no matter what the
i'll the parishes may de
termlne as to presidential prefer
enct or National committeeman, tn.
voice of the Individual voter or col
lectlNe mass OF voters III Caddo is
siIenced by the terrific
in South Louisiana.
That means your vote for Wilson
would be an empty compliment, for
a Wilson man would be an anomaly
if selected by the State convention.
Second, That provision means
that the twenty elected delegates
may all be chosen from one class of
voters constituting the silent minor
ity now in this and other districts.
1t confers upon the convention
the power to impose the unit rule:
A rule which absolutely STILES the
voice of the Independent delegates
and casts his vote for him but
against his democratic convictions.
An Arbitrary Rule
1t means that a coalition effected
by the six men who are chosen at
large combining with the four men
from two districts, and one man
from another will cast the vote OF
the other four districts. the majority
of The districts. the Representatives
of the majority of the people, and
there is no remedy-there is no APP
peal
The substitute offered would have
left to the districts the untramnel
led choice of district delegates and
have abroeated the unit rule.
II would have been consistent with
the character Of Congressional rep
reser citation. The Stat unit rule has
10 piern in Congress. the district