Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-02-12
NAMING PRIMARY OFFICIALS.

1nasmuch as the municipal Democratic primary campaign now being wagcd is being more keenly contested than is usually the case, and as Pine Bluff voters, never had better material before them from which to select the city managers for the next two years, every possible safeguard should be thrown about the election to avoid giving friends of the s:efeated candidates the slight est cause for complaint of unfair tactics.
 Texarkana is experiencing an aftermath of it's primary in charges of fraud" and the cry or fraud" is not uncommon in political affairs of Arkansas Frequently, these charges are unfounded, but they cause bitterness. The average cand1 date for public office usually ac- cepts defeat. philosophically if con- vinced he was beaten fairly. But given cause to suspect that he was the victim of unfair tactis, and he and his friends are ''sore," as they have right to be. The worst of this is that the town, county or state suffers.
 Consider the Clarke-Kirby contest, for instance. Judge Kirbys friends continue to believe that he was elected, and though the Democratic state, convention decided the case against them, the bitterness con tinues. They haven't quit fighting, and the animosity engendered by the suspicion that they Were' ,victfnis of fraud will not die for years. This prevents men from working together |fors the goodfofi the whole people. For: town to progress ,sit IS nsces- sary that there be harmony among it's leaders. 1t is good to have keen contests for municipal offices; a campaign conducted on high plane, but when the votes are counted the contest should be forgotten, and the successful and unsuccessful unite for the common good. This cannot be expected where one side feels az grieyed, because of suspicion that t has been cheated of success.
 l That's why every possible safe guard should be thrown about the forthcoming primary to prevent even | the slightest cause for suspicion. The reputation of tLe men named by the Democratic central committee to ar range for the primary is sufficient assurance that these will be we'll con. ducted. One way that would seem te
 insure there would be no. complaint afterward would be to let the twt candidates for mayor suggest tho judges and clerks of election. TIC illustrate: Let Mayor Bloom and Mir Sorrells each submit the names of six men from each ward, and the judges and clerks be chosen iron these, giving each side equal repre- i sentatOn. With his own friends men of his own selection---in charge of the balloting the unsuccessful candidate could hardly attribute his 1 defeat to unfair tactlcs.
 In this way the interests of Pine Bluff would be protected, for both candidates for mayor, as we'll as op- posing candidates for other offices are big enough to accept defeat h l tho right spirit if convinced the re- suit promulgated represents the will of the people; they are all big enough to forget, and broad enough to work side by side with the victors for tho upbuilding and betterment of Pine interested in--the upbuilding of the city.
 The Graphic believes that If the election officials are chosen accord ing to its suggestion. therell be no ! bitterness after the primary; that the good men ctcsen will have the SUD- port of the good men defeated dur l ing their entire administration in any movement tending toward betterment of conditions here.