The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-31
R.. F. BEASLEY ON
DIRECT PRIMARY
Candidate For Congress Points
Out That Matter Is Left With
Executive Committee
Especial 10 The News and Observer. J

MOnrOe, March 2S.-HOn. X. r.
Beasley has mad public the follow
ing letter to Congressman Robert N.
Page in connection with the latters
letter, published some days ago, ex-
pressing a desire for a direct primary
to select the Democratic candidate
for Congress in the Seventh district:
Il am just in receipt OF your let
ter, which you have previously given
to the press of the State, in which
you say that you had expressed to the
chairman of the Seventh district your
desire for a direct primary under the
amendment passed by the State com
mittee March 20, 1912. That ameno-
ment reads as follows:
Resolved, That the plan of Organi-
zation be amended SO as to authorize
the executive committee Of the sew
eral congressional districts to provide
for a district-wide ballot primary,
whenever, in the judgment Of the
majority OF any Of the said com
mittees,' the interest of the Demo-
cratic party will be served by so do
ing
you will observe that this ques-
ton is thus left entirely to the wis
dom and discretion Of the executive
committed, who are to act upon the
sole principle that their action shall,
in their judgment, be to the interest
Of the Democratic party. They are
not charged to act according to the
desire of one candidate, or two can
didates, who may happen to fancy
hat hey are the whole cheese. They
have not asked my opinion, nor, SO
far as | know, your opinion, or that
of any other person whose possible
candidacy has been spoken of in the
NJ mint, II 10 n -, -
h committee, in it's wisdom and
party patriotis1n-in which | have
full cOnfidence-muSt decide
whether it would be to the best in
tereSt of the Democratic party to take
away from the various county Organi-
cations their right to say in what way
the Democrats of their localities shall
express their preferences, and eS-
pecially at this time, after some OF
the counties at least, have already
proceeded to call their local gather
~ings>under the call of the State com.
, mlttee, in the way that has here
tofore been the party practice in
such localities.
Permit me to say hat I concur
heartily in your statement that the
> people are entitled to a free express
sion of their preferences and tina
y such free expression of the popula,
O Will is the thing upon which / baS,
my candidacy. But permit me t.
l say, also, that such free and full ex
+ preston is no more possible under
= snap primary than under an old tim,
snap convention. The calling of
A primary IN May, at a time when tn
who compose q large ma
JOrlty OF the democracy of this dis
;, trict, are helmingly engaged i
n their work by reason OF an alread
backward season. and when thous
y n ~ n % bo~o
!, from their voting precincts. could no
spare the time to attend. w0uld !
my Judgment, be a mighty poor wa
TO get the free and full expression q
the Will of the majority OF Demo
Gratis in this district. Especially
TINS true when it is remembered tina
this is a we'll understood wav tba
Al has been sought to be used in time
~ past to take nap judgment by car
dldateS who We're themselves. bv rea
son or Ions opportunity, already i
D: possession OF we'll working Organize
tons. which they could hurl into III
preach as easily in May as when tn
c. other candidates.. just entering tn
field. or Yet to enter. had not IN
lie time TO even present their views +
IN the voters.
le If the committee should ask m
y. views | would say that | believe tn;
IL q primary is held IT should not
~ held sooner than the first Of Ancns
d. when the majority Of the people wi
n, be through with their work and sha
n, nave a tune to hear what the var
Il candidates who may offer then
selves stand for. so that they Will =,
only be able 10 make up their minc
as to whom they will select. but W
MT have Tune 10 90 TO the polls and yot
G. As indicating the mpossibjlitv of pe
at TINS the people TO leave their wo,
To attend q primary in the busy g.
n son, ! cite the act tha in a Drir0a,
OF held jr Union county for Stare :
eS hcerS N May -. 1912. the hiche
er vote cast fol any candidate with
'sl without opposition was 500. while
as the following county primary - 4.
~ ne highest vote received y
ne 100. showing thar almost IL 40
~ IS MANY Democrats vent OUT in i
- afef IS Is The earIy Drinra-y