Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-19
The Results of the Prim ary.

Mr. Hugh M. Dorsey has won the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Georgia by a decisive
majority The Journal cheerfully accepts the
result, and, Democratic paper, pledges its
support not only to Mr. Dorseys election, but also
to his administration in so far it is conducted
for the best interests of the State.
In The Journals opposition to Mr.. Dorsey and
other candidates, there no tinge of personal
CT factional feeling. We had objection what
ever against him or any aspirants in the primary
as far as they individually concerned. We
die object to what we considered the anti-Deno-
cratic and sinister influences that stood behind
some of the candidates.. We believed 1t unfair
and dangerous that avowed enemies of the party
should be countenanced and encouraged in
important matter as choosing the partys leaders.
We believed-as we still do-that Democratic
primary ought to be Democratic in method and in
spirit no less than in name. We protested against
the scheme of a political outcast to dominate the
affairs Of a party to which he has repeatedly
proved a traitor and against the national leaders
of which he is directing his dastardly attacks.
We felt also that the welfare of the Western
and Atlantic railroad, the States most valuable
possession, was endangered by what appeared to
be the plan of special interests to get control OF
the Governorship, the Comptroller Generalship
and Railroad Commissionership. If there were
concerted efforts to that end, they have been
the contested places on the Railroad Commission
will remain in the hands of their trusted incum-
bents.
1t was solely on matters of principle however,
and in no wise personalities, that The Journal
spoke it's mind in the recent primary. We respected
the character and ability of all the candidates, and
we shall support all the nominees in their endeav-
ors to serve Georgia well.
Mr.. Dorsey having received a majority of the
vention doubt or hazard. Had he received only
plurality of the popular vote in majority of the
counties he still would have been assured of the
nomination under the rule adopted by the State
Democratic Executive Committee. AS matters
have turned out in this primary, there can be no
question of what the majority has wied or of the
due accomplishment ofIthat will
But suppose none of the candidates had
ceived majority of the popular vote. 1t would
then have been possible, under the county unit
rule, for a minority candidate to secure the nomi-
nation Indeed, under this rule, minority candi-
date inevitably would have secured the nomina-
ton if none of the candidates had received clear
majority of all the votes cast. Therein lies the
unjust and undemocratic element of the so-caled
county unit rule 1t makes it possible for one vote
to outweigh ten 1t strikes at the all-important
principle of popular government that every citi-
zen's ballot should count alike.
The fair and democratic way of dealing with
this problem was exemplifed in the recent run
off" primary in South Carolina. In the first pri-
mary there were five candidates, none of whom
received a majority of the popular vote. Former
Governor Blease led the field with a plurality of
some twenty thousand votes his nearest rival,
but he lacked eight thousand votes of having
clear majority. Obviously, 1t was not the will of
South Carolina Democrats that Cole l.. Blease
should be their nominee for Governor; and for
tunately they had a party rule which protected
their rights. In accordance with that rule, the
two candidates having the highest number of votes
we're required to run in second primary. By
that means the citizens who had voted against
Blease and who constituted majority of all the
voters had a chance to make their will effective.
The result was that Blease was defeated by Gov
ernor Manning
Under this simple and equitable plan there
can be no convention juggling, no discrimination
against any community of voters, no denial OF any
citizens full suffrage right. In Georgia, on the
contrary the county unit rule invites juggling and
discrimination 1t abridges the right of the indi-
vidual voter and makes it possible for minority
to override the majority's will.
The time has come for Georgia Democrats to
break away from the folly and injustice of the
county unit rule. The time has come for them to
repudate once and for all the malicious interior
ence and influence of political adventures who are
loyal to party and no principle, and who are a
menace to the State. We say this without preju-
dice toward any nominee of the recent primary,
for the result of that primary is unmstakable and
is binding upon all true Democrats. This is no
hour for factonal differences. 1t is the hour for
united and generous effort to promote the national
interests of Democracy and to upbuild the Com
monwealth. For these very reasons, however, we
should take thought of the methods and principles
best suited to Depocratic stability; wherefore it
behooves us to shake off the tyranny of the county
unit rule and the obloquy of political cutthroats