Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-22
FAIR TO ONE AND ALL.

sudden and significant calm has befallen the gen.
tlemen who recently clamoring loudly against
the rules adopted by the state executive committee for
the approaching presidential primary in Georgia
They have ceased to denounce the plan whereby the
state is to vote as unit just as they have ceased
exploit Mr. Underwood as a southern" candidate.
Finding that the latter slogan had basis in fact
they are now amentng that sectional sentiment was
ever injected into the campaign and finding too that
the state unit system has worked to the advantage OF
Governor Wilson's opponent in Kansas, they have,
concluded that, after ALL it is fair and reasonable
proposition.
In Kansas, Speaker Clark, who is being used as an
anti-Wilson candidate in the west as Congressman
Underwood is in the south, had plurality of only
twenty-seven votes. Yet, he awarded the states
entire delegation with the provision that the dele
gates to Baltimore are to cast their ballots for Wood
row Wilson if it becomes evident that Mr. Clark can
not be nominated.
The Kansas rule is in this respect, precisely that
which the state Democratic executive committee OF
Georgia has prescribed. Every qualified voter will
cast ballot for whomsoever he chooses-Underwood'
Wilson, Clark or Harmon-and the candidate thus
receiving the largest number of votes will be declared
the nominee far this states preference is con-
cerned. Such plan is fair to one candidate as
TO another and the suggestion that 1t was adopted
as partisan measure is too foolish for consideration
Had the state committee wished to design a scheme
that would discriminate against one candidate in
favor of another, it would certainly not have chosen
a method so simple and direct. If this rule was fair
to Speaker Clark, the antiWison candidate in Kan
sas it is equally fair to Congressman Underwood the
anti-Wilson candidate in Georgia
The Albany Herald is known far and wide for its
sound and honest judgment. 1t is also known to be
favorably inclined to Mr. Underwood Its opinion on
this matter may therefore, be accepted thoroughly
And &c 10 What he
Democrats tcho tCGnt their Votes to count
every pote as a unit to be counted for tohdt 1t is
north in a consolidation of the Votes of the en-
tire state-oiH ind little cause for criticising
the rules and regulations laid doom by the state
committee for the primary tohich is designed to
ascertain which of the presidential candidates
the majority or greater number OF the Uoters Of
Georgia prefer A foirer plan, or one that leaves
less room for political trickery or juggIery, than
the one ddopted by the state committee toouId be
hard to conceive. Still there are those Cho are
not satisfied Oith it and toho claim to see in it
an effort to infringe upon somebody's rights and
stifIe the S0iH of the majority
In a convention made up of delegates repre-
senting the majority or plurality of the Uoters Of
the state as dScertGined in popular election in
tohich euery vote is individual unit expressing
the preference of tie Uoter, tohdt could minor
ity however respectable it might BE- do but make
noise and protest against the expressed toiH of
the greater numberP
Coming from friend, If not, indeed, active
supporter, of the Underwood candidacy, this esti-
mate of the committees rules is a complete answer
to the petty attacks that have been made their
Justice "A fairer plan, that leaves less room
for political trickery jugglery, than the one
adopted by the state committee would be hard to
conceive" That is the opinion of Democrat who
has taken the rules for what they truly mean and
for the purpose they were really framed to
The object of the presidential primary is to
certain whom the people of Georgia, a whole
prefer for the Democratic nominee. 1t is primary
to deal with national candidates and national issues
The state is to act in its entirety, not many
separate counties, any than many separate
militia districts The state is in this instance, unit
bearing to the country whole the same relation
that the counties bear to the state itself in guber-
Material primary The so-called county unit system
is in fact merely local device contrved for purely
local situations. 1t has place and meaning
whatsoever in presidential primary where the state
itself is the unit.
The committee has given the people full and con-
elusive power in naming their choice of presidential
nominee and the attacks that have been made against
It's rules come solely from those interests that fear
popular judgment and welded to machine politics.
Taft is one of the most inconspicuous candidates
the nation has ever seen.
We can read the debate on the income tax without
a culver of apprehension
Seems funny to hear reports from the east of
recovery from the business depression" In the
south there amt been none
THE PENALTY OF POOR ROADS
The stormy winter from which we are just