Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-02-15
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OF which have appeared N
columns. Recently MI
tchcstel' sent u, "a comaun-
ION on the "unpopUaty or
primary election a~ THIS
peals very strongly to U.s. H.
as the enemies Of party pei-
.ics who .oi,tcd this aW upon
the Democrats Of Mars and.
The Republicans ycry rarely
operate under the law alNa}
managing with a Very 'eN eN-
ceptionS to leave them uomna-
tions in the hand, OF the State
Central Committees OF their
party. They favor the law ior
the Democrats. because il leave,
sore from which there is no re-
covery. and drives Democrats,
into the Republican party Mr.
Winchester handles the subject
admirably and state, conditions
as they really exist. He say
The unpopulurity ~ thc
present primary election law it
more and more manifest every
day. and citizens Of al, sorts
and conditions exhibit "a grow
ing disgust with il, operations
in the past and its possible
workings in the future That i
has not been effective In sectu-
ing a better class Of men as
candidates is admitted BY all.
even by many OF those who
were most emphatic in then
efforts to secure its enactment
by the General Assembly a
very large majority OF the
County people. irrespective Of
party, were not enthusiastic in
favor of it, and it was really
ossed to please small, but
persistent and clamorouS
- retormers and up
silly residents OF Bal
lily. who at that time
influential with the City
Aspapers. At the present
time there is very little doubt
but that a large proportion Of
the members OF both parties
would be glad to get rid of it,
and go back to the old conven-
ton system, which was inStru-
mental in securing for the pub
lie service a class OF men in
most respects superior 70 those
who have been nominated under
the primary system now eStab-
lished BY law. The great eN-
penSe attendant upon a primary
election deterS many citizens
who would make excellent can
didates, and excellent officials.
if elected, and this is especially
the case with regard 70 the
membership Of the General As
Sembly. No man likes 10 90
through two strenuous cam
paigns. and very few men OF the
right calihre are willing 10 do
so. The fact that a very few cit
liens in proportion 10 the whole
number take part in primary
contests. is largely due to the
personality Of the men who en-
ter their names, most Of whom
are glaringly unfit for the posi-
tionS they seek. Citizens and
taxpayers who are really inter
eSted in the public welfare and
in the character of the men who
should hold the offices, often re-
fuse to vote because they can
see no real choice in the list Of
those who are before the people
as candidates, and hence a large
number of inferior men are nom
mated and later on elected
A movement is on foot IN
ONE of the counties to remedy
lis evil the present year The
opposition is being made to
Ill conventions OF representa-
i've citizens. men chosen by dis
.r.icts in each county. to meet in
county conventions in the old
time way and to select carefully
I of candidates to be entered
! he primaries, the members
he convention and those who
them there to pledge them
: es to use all their influence
secure the nomination of the
n placed on the list. The
position is to make these con-
ntions large enough and so
oroughly representative of the
hole community that there
ould be no doubt as to the re-
lit. The candidates would
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