Typed as spelled and written
Kay Cunningham

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Fifteenth Year - Number 22
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, July 28, 1904

A COUNTY CONVENTION ECHO.
----------

     Editor DEMOCRAT: - At the recent county convention I suggested to the committee on platform and resolutions that some action should be taken by the convention in regard to the rules in our primaries. It appeared to be the opinion of a majority of the committee that it would be the best policy to leave the question for the executive committee to handle.
     Each voting precinct is entitled to a member of the committee and I take it that the matter will have careful consideration in due time.
     If the majority rule is to be ignored and a minority permitted to make nominations, it appears to me that the unwritten law should be made the written law. It should be "put in writing" that the use of our ticket is withheld from those offering for more than two consecutive terms.
     It is true that this would be poor return for submitting to the striking down of the majority rule, a fundamental principle of our party.
     But it would prevent possible combinations for perpetual office holding under authority of a minority.
     If a candidate disregards the rotation custom of our party and secures a majority for the third fourth or more terms, be has committed no great wrong. He is in position to quote party law.
     The majority rule is democratic law.  The minority rule is centralization and is the property of the republican party.
     The two-third rule was thrown "over the garden wall" by the Texas democracy because it enabled the minority to lock conventions and stifle the will of the majority. That was the "dark horse" era. Under our present system it is possible for less than one third to defeat the will of the majority and the majority is deprived of the "dark horse" priveledge.
     Strict adherance to the principles and usages of our party the
less dissatisfaction. 
     Departure means isms, faction and strife.
     In the south the white man must rule.
     Our party is the white man's party. Our brethern should be with us. We should build up and not invite opposition by having rules incompatible with our principles. This is no personal matter.
     We should not criticise the action of any of our county officers.  they traveled under rules made by our party officials.
     Our first duty is to roll up and solid vote in November, from canstable to Parker.

FOREST GAITHER SR.
Chilton, Tex., July 26, 1904.

----------

Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas