Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-09-04

/ himself at the Macon Convention.
This clean record in defeat is more
desirable than the nomination won by
the unfair and partisan methods of his
opponents.
1t appears that politicians who were
determined to defeat Governor Slaton,
were busy before the convention and
at the convention, and it seems that
their motto was to defeat him without
regard to the methods necessary to ac.
complish their purpose.
Gov. Slaton carried a plurality o
tass, counties, had plurality
of the delegates in the con-
vention and received plurality OF
the popular vote, but he had no rights
that were considered or respected in
the Convention. The statement on the
floor of the convention that Senator
Smith had put his stamp of approval
on the manner of organizing the con-
vention, was evidence to the effect
that the delegates were not expected
to vote their own convictions, or to let
their votes express the wishes of the
people Of their respective counties.
The appointment of such politicians as
Newt Norris meant that rank partisan
prejudice, instead of conservative rea-
son, and a strong desire to do right,
should dominate the policy of the
Convention. In this connection we
dare to say that there are delegates
who attended the convention, and who,
under the impulse of the moment, for
got themselves and followed the lead
eEship Of the politician, now regret
that they became parties to the unfair
Steam Roller methods employed.
The only evidence that the delegates
to the Convention had, as to who the
people of their respective counties
wanted as short term Senator, was
that expressed by the people them
selves at the primary, and likewise the
only evidence which the delegates had
as to the second choice of the people |
of their respective counties, was that
expressed by the people themselves al
the primary. If they were honor
bound to observe the first choice, they
were likewise honor-bound by the
same character of evidence to observe |
the second choice of the people. This |
was not done. When Mr.. Fielder with |
drew from the race, the delegates from |
Sumter County ignored the desire of
the people Of Sumter County who vot I'd
for Slaton, and cast their votes with
the partisan politicians who had de-
termined to defeat Gov. Slaton before |
the Convention convened. These dele
gates considered their duty to the par
tisan political faction to which they |
belonged superior to duty to the vot-
ers of Sumer County as expressed by
the voters themselves. Partisan pol |
itics won. The people lost.
We have always admired Mr.. Fielder,
and regret very much that he stated |
on the floor of the convention that he
a Progressive Democrat, and that he |
wanted a Progressive Democrat nom
mated for the short term Senatorship |
We had always thought Mr.. Fielder was
a full-blood Democrat.
By the way, how much of Demo
crat is Progressive Democrat? Is he |
a half-bIood, or a one-fourth blood I
Democrat? We mention this simply |
because we don't like half breeds of
any kind. We like the kind that can
be registered and we like a Democrat
who can register as full-blood Demo-
crat, without any strain of impure po-
litical blood.
A Democrat is one who believes that
the right to rule is in the people and We
have never been able to understand
how much the Progressive Democrat |
wants to do towards depriving the peo-
pie of their inalienable right to rule. |
but it seems that the Progressive Dem !
ocrats in Georgia interpret Progressive |
Democracy to mean the right Of parti-