The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-01-20
DEMOCRATS MAKE GOOD
 PROGRESS

When the members of the Demo cratic state committee, who met in Phoenix last week, outlined a. plan for the selection of candidates to be supported in the primary election next September they did nothing which will interfere with the primary election requirements as provided by the state constitution. What was done amounted to no more than in- viting the Democrats of the state into conferences to consider the matter of efficiency and reliability of those who may be seeking office this year at the hands of the Democratic voters in the state. In providing for the county and state Democratic confer ences to be held in advance of the state primary election, as provided by law, it was of course understood that no Democrat could be bound to abide by the results of the confer ence; in the old convention days no one could be prevented from running for office without party nomination; neither can anyone be prevented now for seeking a Democratic nomination at the September primary election if he chooses to refuse to heed the councils of his party.
 Rpublican criticisms of the action of the Democratic state committee amounts to criticism of the action of the Republican party preceding every primary election held in Ari- zona since the state constitution, in cluding the primary law adopted, with only the difference that Repub- 1icans through the state and county committeeman of that party have named favorite candidates to go be- fore the primary election whereas the Democratic committee has pro- vided for conferences to be composed of representatives freshly chosen by known Democratic voters in every election precinct in the state.
 Those who desire to seek office at the hands of Democratic voters in the state will be invited to sub init their claims to a Democratic conference composed of Democrats who will be commissioned to choose men whose qualification for the places they seek are known to be the best. The conferences will con- slider. all matters pertaining to first, the welfare of the state of Arizona and second the welfare of the Demo ratio party.
 The action taken by the state Democratic committee was after an open meeting of Democrats had been held and after many leading Demo crats representing every section of the state and almost every calling had discussed the matter of promot- ing the welfare of Arizona and the welfare of the Democratic party. To the plan proposed early in the dis cussion by Hon Tom Smith, of Phoe- nix, man who has been prominent in the upbuilding of Arizona and sustaining the Democratic party, there was not dissenting voice, so the plan, as given in full in The Cop per Era last week, was the unanim- ous word of more than two hundred Democrats after earnest thought and extended discussion. In the Phoe- nix conference were Democrats rep resenting every past thought and ac- tiol and men who had been allied with every faction and party-weaken- ing influence in the past.
 Such meeting cannot but pres- age harmonious action in the naming and supporting of Democratic eandi- dates who will go into the fall cleo tfon and let us all fervently pray that K it will mean complete Democratic success in Arizona.