Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-31
The County Unit Wrong.

Regrettable though 1t Is, the passage or the
Nell Primary bill by the House not surpris-
ing, is it perturbing to those who realize that
the inherent wrong of the measure makes it's ul-
innate reputation by the people and by the Leg
islature inevitable. We have an abiding faith in
that truly American maxim, "You can't fool all
the people all the time" Soon or late-and
opinion is that il will not be late-the people of
Georgia going to smite the County Unit system
into smithereens, if the General Assembly thrusts
it upon them For amount of sophistry
keep them from discovering if they do not already
know that the County Unit System is abso-
lutte negation of the principle of manhood suf-
frage. and as plain piece of Prussianism the
Kaiser himself ever devised
Under this baleful system, which is the main
feature of the Neill Primary bill, votes ir State
primary returns not counted many ballots
representing the minds of many citizens they
counted in arbitrary units blocks, which often
times misrepresent the popular will. thousand
ballots may be cast in one county and only five
hundred in another Yet, under the Unit system
the five hundred ballots count for just much
as the one thousand ballots, if both counties hap
pen to have the number of Representatives
in the Legislature. Not until it is true to say
that two is as much four, and not until it is hon
est to give only eight ounces for a pound and
only fifty cents for a dollar, the County Unit
II five hundred men vote in one county for
Governor or any other State official, every of
them is entitled have his ballot credited; and if
a thousand men vote in another county, every one
of THEM is entitled to have his ballot credited.
But that is just what the County Unit system does
not do The County Unit system virtually throws
out the ballots of half the voters in the second
county: 1t virtually DISTINGUISHES them; it treats
them not as citizens with the right of suffrage, but
as so many ciphers to the right of decimal point.
That sort of Government may suit Germany but
1t does not suit Georgia. We of this Common
wealth have been wont to believe that in white
Democratic primaries every mans vote should be
counted and counted alike; but the Neill bill,
making law as it does, of the so-called Unit sys
tenn fouts that cherished belief and foists
travesty upon democratic government.
Forty members OF the House voted against
this bill. They will the wisdom of their action
indicated How will the Senate vote? VIII 1t
take stand for popular government, protecting
every citizens right to the ballot? Or will it
stand for Prussianism in the guise of Primary
forms? The Senate can render the State
sounder service than to defeat this unfair and op-
pressive piece of legislation. The fact that the
year by Democratic Executive Committees does not
alter its inherent injustice, and is excuse for
writing 1t into statutory law. That system would
be wrong, no matter how many years it might have
been in vogue; and it will be. wrong, no matter
how long It has to be endured. Let the Senate
take firm, timely stand against deprivng citizens
OF their suffrage right, against Prussianzlng our
electoral system.