The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-01-05
A Democratic Primary.

IL seSflS lldl tuC DSiiOCIbtS vi DOJu
factions in Tennessee are quietly wait
ing the result of the action OF the ma
tional committee which meets in Wash
ington on the Sth inst. in determining
whether Mountcastle or Vertrees shall
be the Tennessee member Of the COM
mittee. The leaders are unsettled, and
hence no definite plans have been made
with reference to the methods of select
ing party nominees. IL is uncertain
whether the factions will continue to
hold out against each other, and the
prospects OF the national committees
action, whatever it may be, contribut-
ing to an amicable adjustment of affairs
are not very encouraging.
Nevertheless, the Democrats of Ten
nessee have a duty to perform in the
selection Of candidates and more espec-
tally in the manner OF securing an ex-
preston from the masses OF the party
as TO the choice OF candidate for the
Presidency 1t lies in the province of
the party committee or committees to
say whether or not the delegates shall
be selected by delegated conventions or
by primary election. Democrats in
q number of the Northern States have
decided to select their Presidential del
egates in a primary election. In the
South Georgia and Alabama have also
adopted the primary election plan of
naming their delegates Thus far a
majority have fallen into line for the
primary system. There is no better
known way to reach the sentiment of
the masses than the general primary,
and therein lies the fundamental princi-
pie Of Democracy, the cohesive and
sustaining element OF its superstruc-
ture. The Democratic voters Of the
State are entitled to a fair expression
upon this subject. Time was when the
masses did not know or could not easily
determine the merits OF the candidates
on account OF inadequate facilities for
the dissemination of reliable informa-
ton, That time has passed, and every
villagcr and rural inhabitant is as well
or better posted than his fellow Ameri-
can of the metropolis, and in the main
safer custodian OF the electoral fran
chise.
People all over the world are demand
ing more liberty. They are not only
demanding equality before the law, but
equal political privileges. Thanks to
the inventions Of Edison and the extern
sion OF the mail and news service, the
people OF the rural communities, as a
whole, are the most enlightened of our
inhabitants, and there is no just reason
why they should be wholly dependent
upon their representatives in determin-
ing who shall serve them in any Office
in the gift OF the people.
Tennessee Democratic leaders may as
well begin to sit up and take notice.
They may as well heed friendly warn
ing while there is time to make secure
their own party relations Unheedful
al the interests of the masses, the lead
ers may have cause for regret.
The general primary is the coming
elective system in the United States and
10 Tennessee, and the party organiza-
ton may as well prepare for it. Those
who expect to be entrusted by the party
can hope for nothing by opposition to
the movement.
Tennessee Democracy should have a
general primary election this year and
in It should be included all the parts. y
nominations, State and county. and the
election Of Presidential delegates.