The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-22

, system that was in force by the demo- cratic party for so long a time
 The primary was substituted for the convention, for the fundamental reason that it was considered that you would come nearer getting an expression Of the preference of the individual members of the political organization or party in
 primary than could be obtained in a convention, where only the individuals were represented, and did not themselves take part. What was the obligation rest 1 ing upon a member of a convention of the democratic party as heretofore held?
 It was essentially that, upon his particr- pating in the proceedings of the conven- 1 tion, he would be bound by the will of the majority as expressed therein, both in the nomination of the candidates and in the enunciation of a platform. It was seldom the case in the convention days
 that man who had participated in the convention did not support the nominee of that convention, although it was not
 the man of his choice; and if such a per- son failed to support the nominee, there
 was applied to him what Was then con
 sidered the opprobrious epithet of a ] 'bolter.' This epithet was rendered op- probrious because 1t showed that the man referred to had ignored the obligation
 which he had assumed in participating in the convention, and thereby rendered
 himself disloyal to his party.
 NO REAL DIFFERENCE
 There can be no difference, as I es-
 teem it, in the democrat who partici- pates in a primary than in the delegate
 to the convention who participated in
 the convention. In fact, the statutes ot
 our state regulating the holding of pri- maries recognizes that the governing body of political party holding pri- mary has the right to fix the qualiri- cations of those people who can partici-
 pate in the primary. The language Of the statute is in these words:
 " All persons who are qualified elec- tors under the general election laws of the state shall have the right to partici- pate in such primary elections, subject to such political or other qualifications as may be prescribed by the state execu- tive committee or governing body of such political party
 "We have, then, not only the implied obligation that was imposed upon a dele- gate to convention in the convention days, but the obligation recognized and imposed by the statute that those voters who participate in the primary of the democratic party are also bound by the qualifications prescribed by the state ex- ecutive committee Or governing body or the democratic party.
 Tn addition to the foregoing, 1t IS true that heretofore there was adopted by the state executive comimttee of the democratic party resolution which pro- vided that no person could participate in a primary of the democratic party except under his promise or obligation that he would support the person nomi- mated in said primary. This resolution has never been repealed, and is now in force and effect in our state, and under the provisions of the statute just quoted, constitutes as much qualification for one to participate in the democratic pr1-
 mary as does the requirement that he
 must be qualified eelctor under the general laws of the state.
 "In view of the foregoing facts, no one can question the conclusion that each person who voted in the recent democratic primaries in Alabama has obligated him self to vote for the candidates who were nominated in that primary. and if such participant should fail to support the nominee. and vote for a candidate or
 some other party in the general election, he thereby not only makes himself dis loyal to his party, contributing to It's
 Reorganization. but he likewise breaches an obligation which he assumed when he voted in the primary.
 Certainly, no true loyal citizen who has allied himself with the democratic Iparty, looking to the preservation of our himself in such an attitude"