The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-26
SERIOUS BAR TO CADDoS
PRIMARY

OF the lbeinOcfdiit ,tActhttN' VIM
mitee Of Caddo Parish iii ordering a
primary for The same date as the
general election to name delegates 10
The state convention, to instruct
these delegates in the selection OF
Delegates 10 the National Convention
and National committeeman and TO
express a choice of candidate 1or
President on the Democratic ticket.
According to a ruling by Attorney
General Guion in the case OF the
Washington Parish committee, IL
will be necessary, if the primary Is
held on the same day as the general
election, to provide separate com
missioners and separate polling
booths.-Shreveport Times, March
&c.
There is no serious bar to CaddoS
primary. In fact, there is no bar
rier. nor legal restriction to the
holding Of The Democratic primary,
as already fixed by the Democratic
Executive Committee of Caddo Par
ish, to be held on Tuesday, April 10
next.
This assertion by the Caucasian Is
deliberate, Notwithstanding the opln
ion of Attorney General Guion, in
his ruling in the case of Washing
ton Parish over a so-called tangle in
volving the legal authority of de
funct committee Of that parish.
The authority of the Democratic
Executive Committe of Caddo Par
ish is derived from the decree Of the
Slate Democratic Central Committee
which provides that delegates to the
State convention called to convene
In Baton Rouge on June 4 next may
be selected by primary, convention,
mass meeting, or by the executive
committee of the parish in each par
ish.
It may be assorted that the Demo
cratic Execute > Committee OF Cad
do Parish, hs pompHed with the
authority and The instructions Of the
SI21e committee, will not recede
from its position and the primary
election for the nomination of TWEEN
ty-three delegates TO the State con
vention; for national committeeman
for delegates and alternate to tho
Baltimore convention and for the IN
dividual expressions of presidential,
candidates.
Unlike the Parish of Washington,
the representatives of unadulterated
Democracy IN Caddo Parish have
been hewing to the line and propose
to give to the Democrats of Gaddo
The right to determine by their ma
iority vote, who shall represent
them in the State convention and
who they would honor for the other
positions already named.
In the Parish of Washington il
was attempted to inuzzle the people
through The. arbitrary action Of a
few individuals, who, declining to
submit TO the gag have appealed to
the attorney general for relief.
In this case The attorney generals
opinion is in substance that while q
primary election may be held CON
temporaneously with the general
State election and practically at the
same polling places, separate booths
and election officers must be provid
ed.
IL such a ruling had come from a
layInan it.would arouse the risibles
Of his friends and acquaintance.
II is sufficient to say that such a
rule is equivalent to the nullifica-
ton Of the proposed primary, espec.
tally where there are no funds pro-
vided. or ways and means devised
to meet the necessary expenses.
In viewing The condition or the sit
uation arising from the undemocrat.
lie and arbitrary proceedings OF
the few in the Parish of Washington
we would admit eandidly that while
the interposition of the attorney
general may have been desirable IL
Washington, it is not necessary in
Caddo Parish where ii is acceptable
Indeed. if we were to be held
10 the technical rule, even to the
weight of the single hair from hu
mans head, if any applied, irregu
larities ina primary election for de
lcgates to state convention as con
hsmplated and ordered for June ith
next would be of trivial consequence
since Il would devolve on the Dem
ocratic executive Committee of each
parish to issue the credentials to
the accredited delegates named for
the convention.
II is proposed in Caddo Parish to
give every Democrat an opportunity
10 vote for his choice and whoeve,
shall receive this distinction by q
majority cast at the primary on
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