Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-13

titled with them. Before the Civil
war the Wings called General Zach
airy Taylor who had not been iden-
titled with any party. After the
war the Republicans called Grant, wht
had been a lifelong Democrat. Aft
or the war the Democrats called
Greeley, who had been a Republican
Rule Governing Petition
"Of course it is necessary to have
some rule for the placing of names
upon the ballot by petition. 1t would
be out of the question to allow any
single voter to place upon the bal
lot the name of any man he wished
his brother Democrats to vote upon
SO we have rule, in this particular
case, that 100 Democrats must peti-
ton for a name to be placed upon
the ballot. This number is not arbi-
trary. II might have been 500 OF
1000. 1t is a reasonable and proper
rule and nobody objects to it, fol
the necessity for it is manifest.
Not 100, but several hundred
Democrats have applied for the name
of Herbert Hoover to be placed upon
the ballot of our presidential pri-
mary. They are confronted with the
DTODOSlJlOI llldI Ills IldIilS small nv
go on-because, forsooth, he is not
a Democrat, or declines to swallow
soma empty phrase. In other words
they are told that neither they nor
anv other members of the party
shall be allowed in their own primary
to exercise their sovereign right to
choose their own leader. Of course
such a ruling by the subcommittee
is indefcnSible. 1t cannot be sustain
ed. 1t is a manifest attempt by the
creature to exercise authority vested
solely in the creator.
But while the subcommittee has
no such authority, it undoubtedly
has the power. It's position enables
it to exercise power beyond Its
authority. Thus it is guilty of an
abuse Of authority. And we ara
Obliged to bow to that abuse, if it
be persisted in, because we are mem
bers of the party organization, ana
believe in staying inside of the
party in spite of mistakes and
wrongs, and correcting those mis-
takes inside and not outside.
unjust Bow--Protestingly
"I can protest against this ABUSE
Of authority, but [ cannot attempt
to over-reach the rules laid down by
the subcommittee. That is to say,
being a regular Democrat, L cannot
write on my ballot the name OF any
man not printed on it by the SUP
committee. I am obliged, therefore,
if the Subcommittee persists In us
abuse of authority, to make SECOND
choice among those whom L am al
lowed to vote upon.
1.-The subcommittee mistake pro-
ceeds from the false premise that the
voters shall always be limited, IN
making their nominations in thelf
primary, to a choice among those
who seek their nomination. L go
beyond this presidential primary and
assert the proposition that in every
primary there should be provided
method whereby a reasonable NUMBER
Of voters may place upon the ballot
any name they choose. In other
words, the primary ought to leave
open a way for the office to seek the
man, instead of combining the pr1-
mary to a choice between candidates
who are seeking the office. Some
men naturally do not want public Of
flee, and often they make the very
finest type of public servants. But
we make it necessary, by our primary
system, for men to seek office.
"Mr. Hoover is not seeking the
Democratic nomination for president.
Neither is he seeking the Republican
nomination. He makes his position
perfectly clear. He contends that the
American people are capable of
choosing theiF own leadership, in
either party, without having candi-
dates manufactured for them. He
stands ready to serve if really called,
but he will not do anything or say
anything to invite or solicit such a
call. He very frankly states that
he does not want public office, but
prefers to be a private citizen. 1t
is conceivable to my mind that a
man can be honest and sincere in
that attitude, but apparently it is
inconceiVable to the minds of some
men. The subcommittee insists
upon making an issue with Mr.. Hoov-
err, but the issue is between the sub
committee and the members of the
Democratic party in Georgia, from
whom the subcommittee derives it's
authority.
"Mr. Hoover's Strength"
'"The great and growing sentiment
for Mr.. Hoover is one of the most
remarka BILE things that ever happened
in American politics. There is every
evidence, with the lights now before
me, that thousands of good Demo-
Gratis all over the country want him
as their standard-bearer in the next
presidential campaign; and also evil
dence that thousands of independent
voters will support him in preference
to any other candidate mentioned in
either party.
cit is most unusual for such
widespread and pronounced senti-
ment to express itself in favor of a
man who has done nothing to pro-
mote it, who is not seeking support
who does not want public office, who
declines to do or say anything that
will make him candidate, who re-
serves the right to vote as he be-
lieves will be best for the interests
of his country.
Surely it would not be contended
that the New York World has manu-
featured the Hoover sentiment. When
the World came out for him, I was
curious to know whether it was the
first move in an organized propa-
ganda, or the expression of one edi-
lO1dl OpllIoH, VI the expression OF a
widespread sentiment that had been
dormant up to that time. There is
every Indication that the World gave
expression to a nationwide senti-
ment, for Mr.. Hoover himself has
done nothing to assist the World or
any other supporter, editorial or per-
sonal, but, on the contrary, has de-
clined to seek the nomination, and
yet the sentiment has gone on grow
ing all over the country.
Which means to my mind, that
Mr.. Hoover is our most avaiIap Die
standard-bearer. Surely if we want
to win the next election we should
place in nomination our most avail
able man.
"Of course, if the primary is forced
down to a choice between Palmer