Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-12
HERE'S FAID WARNING.

Dr. an extension OF the primary cleo
lon system so as to include nomina-
ions for Federal and State offices
instead Of having them made by n
tate convention. has aroused opposi-
ion from the rural sections OF the
tate. The character Of this opposi-
ion may be realized by reading the
Glowing editorial from the current
ssue of the Sussex Journal OF George
own:
Some Of the upstate Demo-
Gratis and committees arc Advocat-
ing Statewide primaries for tho
nomination OF State officials,
thereby doing away with the State
Conventions.
This is about the limit OF up
State selfishness to permit the
city of Wilmington TO grab all the
nominations for that city.
1T might come with more sense
and grace IL Wilmington were
giving Democratic majorities. and
the balance of the State Republi-
can majorities. AS matters now
stand. IL seems foolish for Demo-
cratic leaders of Wilmington 10
undertake TO dictate party affairs
while they have been doing D.
little to elect the State tickets
heretofore.
IF the next Democratic State
Convention should be so unwise as
TO agree TO Statewide primaries,
that would mean the end OF the
Democratic party in the lower
counties.
Sussex snd Kent will never
agree to such a plan OF nominat-
ine State officers, and II is just as
well to say so at this time and
save trouble hereafter.
General primaries In Kent and
Sussex have not worked well.
They have not given better quail
fed nominees than under the old
county convention plan. Candi-
dates are averse to making two
canvasses In order to be elected
TO Office. 1t takes time and makes
for expense to have to make a
personal canvass for a nomination,
and the best fitted men will not go
to the expense and trouble OF
making the contest for nomina-
tons.
Kent county Democrats are
already considering the advisa-
brity OF returning TO the county
convention method of nominating
county and district officers. Sus-
sex may do we'll to take up this
same question.
"If the county general primaries
do not work as well as what was
hoped for them, Statewide pri-
maries for nominating officers
could not be expected to DO bet
ter"
We have no doubt this editorial e
precision. so far as ii applies TO {
suggestion for State primaries. voic
the opinion Of a great majority
Democratic voters throughout rul
Delaware. And a great majority
Republican voters, also.
We do not Join the Sussex Jour-
IN fearing Il "hogging" OF the nomin
tions by Wilmington. In the event
popular primaries being adopted.
though such a contingency would
- .gvxsx sxt,
by popular vote. could easily sect
such a result by effective combinati'
But experience has shown that VIII
Wilmington could hog" the couI
ticket nominations by both part
under the system Of popular coui
primaries long In practice mere, "
mington has never made any atten
In this direction Candidates from
rural sections have no real difficu
In securing a large following amc
Wilmington voters
The objection to State primaries
nomina tions. however, may be sou
ly based upon. the assumption that
respect of popular primaries, as v
n other matters. there may be g
much OF a good thing" In small &C
Wunities the popular primary is ID