The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-01-13
DEMOCRATS MEET IN THIS CITY
AND START THEIR CAM.
PAIGN STRONGLY IN IA.
vOR OF COUNTY
PRIMARY


Democrats to meet in Tucumcari, on
Saturday morning at ten o'clock a
number Of the leading Democrats and
members of the various precinct COM
mittees were here ut the scheduled
time for opening. Nineteen of the
~ precincts were represented, but
the meeting was called to order about
eleven o'clock. Il was then found
that Mr.. DavidSon's Office was too
small for the crowd who desired to
attend and IL was moved and seconded
that same should be adjourned to be
held at the court house commencing
promptly at one o'clock.
At one o'clock the meeting was call
ed TO order by c. G. Davidson, county
chairman, and after selecting T.. T..
Winter ms temporary secretary, Mr..
Davidson outlined his policies for the
present and said this meeting was
merely TO find out whether the Demo-
Gratis wanted a primary or conven-
ton by which TO choose their candi-
dates for county Offices. He plead
for harmony in the party ranks and
paid n beautiful tribute TO President
istration. He also spoke very highly
of the efficient manner in which the
county Offices have been run and said
Quay county officials were said TO
rank at the top Of the list in the
state.
The court room was comfortably
filled with representative Democrats
and everything went of without
serious fight or hardly any opposi-
t!on. The first and really the only
question, Primary or Convention"
was put before the meeting and
number gave their views concerning
the matter.
Senator Alldredge spoke in favor
Of the convention and used as his
main reason the thought that Quay
county should recognize the Spanish
Americans by giving them n place
on the county ticket and figured that
would be the only way Spanish
American stood any show to gain
nomination in this county where the
majority Of the voters are so strong
ly English-speaking people. He made
an excellent talk in favor of the con-
vention plan and 1t seemed for time
that that was the only plausible way
10 avoid making up ticket wholly
composed of English-speaking citi-
zens. Patricio Sanchez, committee
man from Revuelto or precinct No. 2,
then spoke along the same lines and
asked that the Spanish-Americans be
recognized this year. A number of
other committeeman made shore talks
and most Of them stated that their
precincts were nearly unanimously in
favor Of a primary, but the solution
OF the problem was not reached by |
the primary supporters until G. w. |
White Of Rama precinct made an eX-
tended talk in favor OF the primary |
and among other things he said ar
rangements could be made whereby |
certain Offices could be set apart for |
the Spannish-Americans and no En- |
glish- American would be allowed to
announce for said Office. This would |
guarantee that the Spanish-Americans
would receive proper recognition at
the hands of the Dei ocratc party. |
Mr.. White declared he was heartily
in favor Of the old saying, equal
rights to all, and special privileges TO
none."
Col. Reaves of Endee made short |
talk In favor of the primary and said
that was the only way whereby the
common man would have his say in
who should fiji the Offices of the coun-
ty. He believes in weighing each
candidate in the balance and then
supporting the who is the most
competent TO iii said office with dig
nifty and honor.
A. r. Billingsley was another speak
or who poured hot shot into the con-
vention plan of selecting candidates.
He said the sharpers, tricksters and
professional politicians manipulated
things 10 suit themselves and used
the common "guy" as tool to fur
ther their own personal interests.
There was no vote taken In the mat
ter as II was so plainly eviden that
the primary plan was in the ma tity
The date Of the primary will I be
set until the convention is held Sc
lect delegates to the state convention,
which will be held some time in June.
A committee of three composed of
Messrs White, Lowenstern and San
chez, was selected to get up suitable
rules to govern the primary so that
IL will be made safer than the one
held five years ago.
After the precinct committee meet
ing had adjourned a mass meeting
was called and J. II. Welch, of For
rest chosen as chairman, with A. r.
Moses secretary. A resolution was
read by II. o. Norris Of House, en-