Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-04-29
Nominations without A fractional
Line-Up.

The communication which we printed
last week, signed "A Believer In Democ-
racy. touches SO important a part OF our
Democratic system Of government and SC
entirely misunderstands or misrepresents
our position taken with regard to Demo-
cratic primaries in our editorial Of April
18th that it compels us to briefly re-state
our position.
The heading Of our editorial was Demo-
cratic Success More important Than Fac
TONS" Our whole line of argument was
against the continuation Of the bitter fac
tional warfare which has in recent years
been waged necessarily for the control Of
the machinery Of the Democratic party in
Montgomery county. No language in ouI
editorial can be fairly taken as an attack
upon the direct primary system of select
ing party candidates. We believe that
the right and privilege the registered
voters Of the party now have to inspect
and pass upon the character. qualRca-
tons, records and motives of the various
candidates for party nomination is one of
the most important existing guarantees Of
self-government.
We quote the language of the final para
graph Of our editorial of April 18th. in view
OF which we are unable to see how our
position can be confused or misinterpreted !:
I'm the name Of Democratic success and
the best interests Of our county. we urge
that the present party necessity should
end the fractional war within the Demo-
cratic party. and we urge the rank and file
OF our party and the workers and leaders
OF the various factions to bend their united
efforts towards working out constructive
plans for improving our county govern
ment, which program in itself will Justify
our party success, as well as towards the
equally important selection in the ap-
preaching primary Of qualified Democrats
OF high character and good local standing,
without regard to past fractional strife, as
the party nominees. We do not believe
that there is anything more dangerous to
the chancesof Democratic success in Mont
gomery county next November than a
primary between the organized factions Of
the Democratic party"
The primary election law, as developed
from the old Crawford system in this coun-
~, is now a part Of the statute law Of
Maryland. We believe that this primary
election law has the approval Of a large
majority OF the Democrats OF MONTGOMERY
county. Approaching the independence Of
the Democrats of Montgomery county. we
have done nothing SO foolish as advising
against" primary election this year. We
have simply called attention to some Of the
evils incident TO some Of our recent pri-
mary contests waged between organized
factions for control Of the party machinery,
and pointed to the dangers that will come
to party success from Q repetition Of a
bitter factional fight of this kind this year.
We can see no danger to Democratic
success In the approaching general cleo
ton from primary contest, in which the
issues raised concern the qualifications Of
the candidates for public Office and con-
structive programs Of the candidates. In
fact. we feel that such a primary cam
paign will be the means of producing a
Democratic platform and of selecting Demo-
cratic candidates which will be of GREAT
benefit to the future Of Montgomery county.