The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-01-22
SCOPE OF THE PRIMARY PLEDGE

The extent to which voter who
participates in next Tuesdays Dem
ocratic primary election will be NOR
ally bound with respect to his future
action is a very live and pertinent
problem just now, and our views on
the subject gibe SO closely with those
expressed in the following editorial
clipped from the New Orleans Times
Picayune of the 10th instant, that we
are glad to quote the article in full
and to accord it our cordial indorse-
ment and approval:
'sTo what does a man bind himself
who enters party primary? Is he
in honor bound to accept the decision
of the primary as final? Must he sup
port and vote for all its candidates
without question? This question has
come before the people of many states
of late years and most divergent
views have been expressed thereon. tt
is now before the voters of Louisiana
and is causing the same difference of
opinion here, from those who believe
that there is something sacrosanct
about the pledge of the primary to
those who believe that it is merely an
expression of the sentiment of the vo-
ter at the timesWhich can be changed
or abandoned BY him at4any time he.
wishes to do so.
There is no way of enforcing pri-
mary pledges, no legal or other
method of making the voter carry out
it's decision, and no honest way of
knowing whether or not he carries out
its orders. 1t is a question for each
voter to decide for himself, matter
for his own conscience. The pledge
has been broken time and time again :;
and many states have sought way of
checking this tendency, the favorite
one being to hold party primaries on
the same day and at the same place,
so as to keep Democrats out of the
Republican primaries and vice versa.
"The question has arisen in Louisi-
ana over the proposition whether a
Democratic voter, after participating
in the primary, can honorably vote
for Parker in the state election. Mr.
Parker has expressed the opinion that
those who want to support him
should not vote for or support a Dem
ocrat for governor in the primary,
while the Progressive committees have
shown disposition to keep out of the
party conventions and councils all
who participate in Democratic pri-
maries. The matter, therefore, does
not today concern directly many vo-
tiers. We believe that there cannot be
any very great difference on the sub
ject. The primary, as we have said,
has no legal or other binding force,
but with right thinking men it must
be evident that they cannot go in
to one political party or meeting,
promise their support to it's candi-
date, and then turn around, go into
another meeting and change candi-
dates without playing a trick worthy
only of the worst grade of politician.
There is another side Of this pri-
mary case which presents a very diff
feEent aspect. There are many vo-
5ePs in this state who are gong into
,he primary for the purpose of aid
ng in the selection of the best parish
and other officers to administer their
ocal affairs, their sheriffs, their as
SCISSORS, their police jurors-the men
Who assess their property, enforce
heir laws, levy their taxes and adj
their affairs.
I'VE can see no reason why any
Democratic voter should not go into
he primary and vote for these can
lidates, yet reserve the right to vote
for governor, by leav-
ng the ballot blank for that office.
here are thousands of Democrats in
louisiana who will not support either
t the primary candidates for COVER
or. Must they, for that reason, be
eprived of the privilege Of helping
I the selection Of their local officials?
We think not. The primary, save in
few parishes in the third district, is
ne equivalent Of q local election.
here is 20 opposition to the candi-
ates to be selected by it. If the peo-
lie want good men for these offices all
emocratic voters should be allowed
nd indeed invited to participate in
lem. But that privilege should not
airy with it the right to vote for a
for governor on the Demo-
attic ticket and then vote against i
le party and primary nominee in the t
enerai election that follows. We ]
not want that kind of politics in ]
ouisiana. c
The Progressive national conven- c
y, j 49,, l. 5&1t l.,