The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-17
CiRCUMVENTED BY THE STATE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY
Demands An Expression Untrameled
From Eeach Citizen Qualified to
Vote, Unrestrained by Any Con
ventiOn Proceedings. The RecOg-
milton of the Minority No Less
Important Than the Majority But
the Minority is Helpless In a
Packed Committee.

Dear Slf.-ln acOfOance WIFI your
suggestion that it is proper for me
10 make a statement throwing light
On the recent division of sentiment
in the State Central Committee; ad-
Vancing reasons for the betrayal of
the promise held out to patriotic
hope by the old committee and sug-
eesting some plan to circumvent
those arrayed against expression of
the popular will, beg to submit
the following:
The resolution of the State Cen
trail Committee which was adopted
reads:
Whereas, the Legislature of this
State has not provided by the pri-
mary election law or otherwise for
4 direct primary, etc: and,
Whereas, It is impracticable If
not impossible to hold primary for
the selection of the above mention
ed delegates. etc, because such pri-
mary, if held, would be entirely too
expensive to be borne by the said
delegates, etc. and for the further
reason that such primary could not
80 held under the authority and
protection of law, but only by the
order of this committee or with the
consent of all parties who might be
etc.
Therefore be it resolved etc, that
a State convention. etc, be held x i;
Ito elect twenty delegates and their
alternates to the national cOnven-
lion of the Democratic party 8,
also to nominate Presidential elect
ors and to select the member of the
lamocratic NationrI Executive Con-
nittee from this State:
BE il further resolved. That tbs
Committee recommend that tha
arioHs parishes throughout 1hp
State hold presidential preference
primaries and elect their delegates
10 the State convention in the same
way at the same time, provided they
have the necessary funds to defray
lie expenses of said primaries. but
this Committee considering the hea-
Wy expenses already incurred in The
recent primaries and others to fol
low in the fall, does not feel dis
posed to make this action compul
eory on the various committees.
The FIRST and Second Whereas
A casual reading of the first and
snrand whereas and last rcsolH
ion forces the conclusion:
First. that the State Central Com
mittee furnishes as a reason for mol
calling a State wide primary thai
such primary could not be held IN
der the authority and protection Of
the law, but only by the order Of
This Committee. And vet. thoreaf
ter this Committee recommend :
that the various parishes through
out the State hold presidential pre-
ference primaries. etc.
Second. That the Camniltea
deemed a primary .'impracticahl.'
f not impossible heeanse s,,rh
Urinary if held would ha entirely
too expensive TO he borne by tha
said delegates. etc"
And then 'srcconmends that II
rafions Parish copmittens . hold
primaries < nrovided fhav hcve
the necessarv funds 10 defray tie
asnanses. etc.
Who is TO bear the expense of the
parish primaries? The State law
provides no fund for parish commit
tees, and orders. refund Of any
amounts held on hand after assess
mants of candidates in law-orderea
primaries.
: Wherefore and from where shall
he funds Gomez There is but one
nnswer-tha parish committee must
s-iiEeuf authority and protection Of
law either assess those who desire
3