The daily sentinel., 1912-03-21

Not the slightest effort is being
made or will be made to prevent the
members of the democratic party in
Mesa county from expressing their
choices for presidential nominations.
The central committee meets next
Monday, as previously announced by
fhe Sentinel.
Any request for a presidential
choice primary, to be held in con-
junction with the primaries to elect
precinct delegates to the county con-
vention, will be given fair and earn
est consideration, so far as The SEN
tinel can learn, and The Sentinel fur
ther believes that, if such request
is properly presented, it will be
granted.
The democratic party is the strong
ast advocate of the primary system.
L has come nearer following the de-
sires of the majority of the people
in the selection of candidates for any
office than any other party has ever
done. This is true in almost every
state in the union.
Reports to the effect that efforts
would be made to choke the voice OF
the rank and file and to line up the
local convention for any one man
against the wishes of the majority
have never had at any time the
slightest foundation.
The Sentinel finds that the senti-
ment of Mesa County democrats over
the presidential race is greatly di-
yided, as we have said before VIII
son, Clark and Harmon have many
followers, with Wilson and Clark in
the lead in this county
AS far as The Sentinel personally
is concerned, we would like to see
the presidential-choice feature con-
Quoted in connection with the pre-
cinCt primaries, If it is proven that
any number of democrats want such
a feature.
The Sentinel has no personal fight
TO make for any one candidate for
the nomination. Wilson would suit
us splendidly; so would Clark: so
would Harmon. They are all big
men. Either of them can make
winning race. We are for the MAN
WHO is NOMINATED just so long
as he is worthy of the nomination
and worthy of the votes of the peo-
pie.
We find that The Sentinel's views
along this line are shared in by the
big majority of the democrats of the
city and county. Among the old
time leaders mere IN the city and
valley there are many Wilson men.
many Clark men and quite a number
of Harmon men, and we further find
that there is NO disposition to get
into bitter factional wrangle over
presidential preferences.
Let the delegation go uninstructed
to the state convention, if it is the
wish of the majority.
Let Woodrow Wilson have the To-
cal delegation, if it is the wish of the
majority
Let Champ Clark have the delega-
tion If it is the wish of the majority.
Let Judson Harmon have the dele
cation, if it is the wish of the major
ity.
However if efforts should be made
TO poll the sentiment OF the demo-
cratic voters on presidential choice,
Il should be arranged so that every
presidential candidate would get n
square deal and that ONLY demo-
Gratis vote on the matter. DO not let
it be a primary conducted as the
Roosevelt primary was conducted
here last week, with the friends OF
ONE candidate in absolute control of
the primary machine, the printing OF
the ballots, the offering of the poll
ing places, etc.
Chairman Henry r. Rhone of the
democratic county central committee
was called up by The Sentinel this
Continued on Page Five.)