Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-18

Xxx YEN it comes to an issue of popular
W. against political aietasi on,, one
touch of democracy makes the whole
of Georgia kin. Up in Barlow and Whitfield
counties beats the same strong tide of pro-
test that pulses in Chatham and Glynn-the
same resentment against rough method and
gag rule, the same demand for a free ballot
and fair deal, that throbs through every re-
gion of the Commonwealth. By their denial of
the peoples right to vote on the name of Her.
bert Hoover in the coming Presidential pri-
mary the rule-makers of the State Executive
Committee have succeeded at least in solid
flying public sentiment to an almost un-
exampled degree. Georgians Of all counties,
all vocations, all clans Of the party and all
cleavages of ordinary opinion are united in
denouncing this autocratic deal.
Writing from Dalton, The Journals staff
correspondent, singularly competent and
impartial observer, declares: Hoover senti-
ment is stronger here than in the neighbor-
ing city OF Gainesville; and in that city it
seemed almost unanimous" Outspokenly and
as a virtual unit, representative citizens con-
'.enln procedure which in effect says to the
voters: ut is not your will that shall govern
in the approach.Jg primary. but the. will of
your seven political censors; it is not for you
to decide who is Democrat, that is the pre-
cogaitve Of your political overseers; it is not
we'll that you should vote freely as your own
Judgment counsels, you shall be limited to
such candidates as your political brokers are
pleased to select" Is 1t to be wondered that
Georgians to the manner born, people pecu-
liarly jealous Of the liberty their sires
bequeathed them, should revolt against a
rule which strikes at the chief means by
which all civil liberties are exercised and
preserved?
Citizens rightly reason that If such inter-
ference and dictation become a precedent it
will not be long until the primary loses it's
character as a medium of free expression
partisan wire-pullers. In the present instance.
indeed, it Is obvious that If the peoples
reiterated appeal for an opportunity to vote
on the name Of Herbert Hoover is denied,
they will have in reality no choice at all. AS
the situation stands at this moment, Georgia
Democrats will be forced to vote for the At
torney General Of the United States as Pres
idential nominee, or not vote at all. They
will be forced to approve his opinions and
policies, his unqualified Endorsement of ev-
eryth1ng that has been done under the pres
ent Administration, and his apparent inten-
ton of continuing in it's every groove, should
he be nominated and elected-or else re-
main away from the polls. That the At
torney General is an admirable American,
able and upright, none will gainsay. But
that is no reason why the Presidential pri-
mary should be "sewed up for his exclusive
advantage. at the expense of popular rights.
That is no reason why the Democrats of
Georgia should be forbidden to vote on Her
bert Hoover if they so desire. Nor can we be-
lieve that the Attorney General himself, when
apprised of the truth, can countenance such
an unsportsmanlike rule as the committee
has made. Certainly, no one worthy of Dem
ocratic suffrage would countenance It,