Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-08
LETT TO EDITOR
8 "a EDITOR 81 1he Epeafag capifaI,

me unpopularfty 81 the present
primary election law is more and more
manifest every day. and citizens Of
iii sorts and conditions exhibit
growing disgust with its operations
in the past and It's possible workings
iii the future That ii has no been
effective in securing better class OF
men az candidates Ii admitted by all,
even by many Of those who we're most
emphatic lii their efforts to secure its
enactment By the general assembly A
very large majority Of the county peo-
pie, irrespective of party were not en-
thusfastic in favor Of II, and E was
really passed to please small, but
very persistent and clamorous faction
OF reformers and up-lifters, mostly
residen Of baltimore city. who At
that time were influential with the
city newspapers AT the present time
there is very little doubt but that
large proportion Of the members Of
both parties would be glad to get rid
of 1t. and 60 back TO the old conyen-
ton system, which vas instrumental
Id securing for the public service q
class of men Id most respects super
Tor to those who have been nominated
under the primary system now estab-
Ilahed BY law The great expense at
tendant upon primary election deters
many citizens who would make excel
lent candidates, and excellent officials,
Ii elected. and this Is especially the
case with regard To the membership
of the general assembly No man
likes to go throughtwo strenuous CAM
paigns, and very few men on the right
caiibre are willing to do so. The fact
that very few citizens In proportion
to the whole number take par In pri-
mary contests, II largely due to the
personality oH the men who enter their
names, most OF whom are glaringly
unfit for the positions they seek. Cit
i2ens and taxpayers who are really
interested iii the public welfare and
In the character of the men who
should hold the Offices, often refuse to
vote because they can see no real
choice IN the list of those who are be-
fore the people as candidates. and
hence large number Of inferior men
are nominated and later on elected
A movement Is on foot Id some OF
the counties to remedy this evil the
present year The proposition Is be-
ing made I'd call conventions Of repre-
sentative citizens. men chosen by dis
tricts In each county. to meet Ia coun-
ty conventions In the old way. and to
select; carefully, list of candidates
to be entered at the primaries, the
members OF the convention and those
who sent them there to pledge them
selves to use all their influence to Sc
cure the nomination OF the men placed
on the, list The proposition Is to
make these conventions large enough
and 10 thoroughly representative of
the whole community that there would
be no doubt as TO the result The can
didates would thus be nominated with
out serious contest, and would be re-
neyed OF ali trouble In the primaries,
and thus be enabled to enter into the
real campaign for election unhamper-
ed and untrammeled BY the bad feel
ings which Invariably result from
strenuous primary fight. In Dorches-
ter, particularly, Is the above propo-
sition meeting with favor. and many
of the leading democrats Of that coun-
ty are openly advocating its adoption.
Democrats and republicans Of osher
counties who have been III Baltimore
recently have expressed their approval
|of the plan, and II Is possible that ii
may be very generally adopted
throughout the state
II Is two months until the city pri-
maries take place. to be accurate, the
date Is April Isl. and the city election
will take place on May 9Th. And vet,
there IL every present indication that
q red hot contest is going on The
politicians and party workers of both
factions are as busy ais they usually
are q week before the election, and
inert - no AGlfnB now lulHBH Will
look later on The leaders on both
sides are wise and very capable men
in their line. and are prepared to meet
each other at every point Up to the
present time there has been no mud
singing but indications are not want
ing that before long the mud will be
In the air. and the fur Will dy grim
determination to win Is clearly APP
parent in both camps. and money does
not seem to be any object on either
side Preparations that are being
made indicate that this Will be the
hardest longest, and most expensive
primary contes ever seen Ia Balti-
more. and great rival corporation and
other financial interests are lined up
for battle on both sides.
PAUL WINCHESTER
Baltimore. Feb. 6. 1919.
no The Editor ot the Eveaiag Capital:
|. for one agree with Mr.. James
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