Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-19
A MENACE TO THE RIGHTS
OF GEORGIA CITIZENSHIP


ternoons ago, without debate consideration, the
Senate passed a bill to make the so-caed COUNTY
unit rule the and only plan under which prima-
ries may be held in Georgia. 1t is said that many
of the gentlemen present voted aye under the i'm
preston that the had to do with some'
purely local matter 1t is hardly conceivable that if
the true import and peril of this bill had been
lized, it would have gone unchallenged.
However that may be it is now before the House;
and unless the freedom of Georgia citizenship is to
be sacrificed unless the principles of popular gov
eminent are to be impaired the representatives of
the people must stand ready and united to repulse
this inroad upon the voters right
We may waive for the moment the merits or de-
mirits of the county unit rule a practical device
for particular occasions needs. What if it really
possesses all the virtues It's advocates claim a
handy instrument for dealing with certain situa-
lions? Does it follow that it should be embodied in
the statutes of the state? Are we to make matter
of convenience or expediency matter of inviolabe
law? Are we to declare that because particular
plan works we'll under some circumstances it shall
be the only plan to prevail in all circumstances?
The county unit rule is merely of number of
special devices which the people may apply or dis
card as they see fit and those few partisans who
would engrave it tablets of stone part of
political decaogue show as little sense of proportion
as the frog that tried to swell himself to the size
of a bull"
In the very outset, then, it should be noted that
however good or bad this rule may be, a rule,
it in nowise entitled place among the states
fixed laws Yet, the Felker bill would make it iron
clad for all times and all places where a state
district primary is held. 1t would make this rule
apply without exception to the nomination of judges
and solicitors as well as to that governors Surely
the members of the general assembly who are IA
miliar with actual conditions and who know that
many judicial circuits and in many districts the
enforcement of such plan would defeat the will of
the majority of the voters, will suffer it to be
thrust upon their people. OF this much least
we may be certain that if such an unfair scheme
should be fastened upon the people, without an OPP
portunty for popular expression they will lose no
time in resenting it.
For our own part we believe that the county
unit rule is inherently illogical and un-Democratic
It strikes at basic principle of Democracy and of
potent citizenship when it takes the election of Off
Gals out of the hands of the people and places it
within the control of a convention
This, to be sure, will not always be the result of
the county unit rule, but it may be, and matter
of record, it has been the result. When majority
of the delegates to convention corresponds with
the majority of the popular vote cast, then the
county unit plan is harmless and at the same time
that these delegates may trade and bargain so to
name an official who has not received majority of
the popular vote, then the county unit rule nufes
the will of the people as expressed at the polls and
becomes positive menace to Democratic govern
ment
Every citizen is entitled to vote that will truly
count. The fact that he happens to reside within
certain boundaries established for purely admins
trative purposes should not be permitted either to
take from or to add to the power of his ballot A
man is no less Georgian because he lives in Ran
dolph county, nor any so because he lives in
Fulton. The vote of is as sacred in its rights as
the vote Of the other The citizen is the important
factor in government, not certain lines the map
which may and do shift from year to year.
Counties made for the people, not the peo-
pie for counties.
The man unit" as a good citizen recently said,
us higher Democracy than the county unit"
What, after ALL the purposes of our county
and district divisions? Are they within themselves
supreme or invioate? Do we trade or labor or make
our friendships according to any county unit plan?
Are the interests of any two citizens less mutual
because they chance to live opposite sides of
county line? Or the rights of either whit less
vital than those of his neighbor?
The fact is, every who has ever considered
this matter knows, that county units like district
divisions and judicial circuits. have been established
purely for administrative and legislative purposes
pretty much a desk is provided with separate
drawers house with rooms