The Monticellonian., 1918-07-26
ANTI CATTLE DIPPING AND DEM.
 0CRACY.

It has been rumored, with some foundation, perhaps, that a few of the anti-cattle-dippers are taking of running independent candidates against certain of the County Democratic nomi- nees who favor dipping, or who, at least, are in favor of execut- ing the law as found upon the s.atut. books. To do such a fool-hardy act would not only be rank nonsense, but would be dig ging the political graves Of those who took part in such a propa- ganda.
 In the first place, there would be no more chance of electing an independent candidate, in Drew county, than of flying to the moon; and in the second place, Ii such an untoward event should happen, such officer or officers would ba subject to indictment and removal from office if he, or they, failed to carry out the edict of the law. But, aside from this, there is another and much more important and serious feature to the matter: Every man or wo- man who voted the independent ticket would, under the Demo cratic Primary Election law, be disfranchised, so far as the right to vote in the next Primary IS concerned. One of the principal elements and rigid requirements O. the new Primary Election law is that q voter who refused to support the regular Democratic ticket at the last General Elec- ton will be denied the privilege of voting in the Primary Election following. So it is plain to be seen that this would oa a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face'--a consummation not very devoutly to be wished, If a little time for reflection is taken.
 It is not a question, now, as to whether dipping is the right or wrong thing to do, at this june ture; but the sole problem to solve is whether you will be an open violator of the law, subject D all of its penalties, or uphold .s mUesty, as every good citizen slo i'd do, until repealed by the Legislature.
 1t is extremely doubtful if there ever was law enacted but what was obnoxious to some one, and if, for such reason, its enforcement could be lightly brushed aside, the whole legal structure would be a farce.
 Whether this contemplated movement to run independents $ the inspiration of ambitious politicians, who think they see a chance of riding into office, dis satisf ad voters who failed to get { .eir men n the late Primary Election, or Republicans who are wanting to make a breach in the iron-bound, rock-ribbed Democ- rlcy of old Drew, we do not know. But one thing we do know, and that IS that the men and women who participated in tae last Primary, and by so do  ing plighted their word and sa. cred honor to support the ticket at the General Election, will nev- e. De weighed in the balances and found wanting" There will be enough of them true to prin. ciple, true to honor and stead. fast in their obligations, to plant the Independents Should any bob up) so deep and low that mid-night's darkest hour would be as monday compared With their abode.
 The Monticellonian sincerely desires that no part of our peo pie will be selfish enough, indis erect enough or unreasonable enough to launch an independ ent movement. But if they do they will act in haste and repen, at leisure.
 The news which came over the seas last week WIS gooc