Turnout in yesterday’s Republican and Democratic primaries was very low throughout the state. Voting on adding to Alabama’s already bloated Constitution was even more miniscule. These items illustrate the dominance of the Democratic Party until very recent years.

Jan. 16, 1896–Reports from all parts of Morgan County are coming in from leading Democrats endorse the action of the county Democratic executive committee in calling a primary on the 7th day of March and a county convention on the 10th day of March to nominate county officers.

Feb. 5, 1896–The political pot is getting hot in Hartselle as the primary elections to select county officers and delegates to the state convention to nominate candidates for state office get closer. Voters don’t directly nominate candidates for state offices. This is done in Montgomery.

May 18, 1908–For the first time in the history of the state the voters of the Democratic Party voted directly for a presidential candidate today. William Jennings Bryan received the most votes and the Alabama delegation to the Denver convention will be instructed to cast their ballots for him.

March 13, 1910–It is a foregone conclusion that Emmet O’Neal of Florence will carry Morgan County for the Democratic nomination for governor in the upcoming primary election. In fact, it is a hard matter to find any man (women didn’t have the right to vote) in this county who will tell you that he is going to vote against Mr. O’Neal. Once O’neal wins the Democratic nomination it is assured that he will be Alabama’s next governor.

March 15, 1910—The largest vote ever polled in this county is expected at the Democratic primary on May 8. This is evidenced by the large number of poll taxes that have been collected in this county for the past year. (You must pay your poll tax in order to be eligible to vote.) County Tax Collector George C. Hardwick has just made his final report which shows a total of 3,244 who have paid the required poll tax. Taking off the insignificant Republican, Socialist, and other votes in the county and of the men who fail to vote, it is safe to say that fully 3,000 votes will be cast in this county at the Democratic primary election. The main interest in this county is centered on the nomination of a probate judge and a sheriff.

May 11, 1914–The last day before the Democratic primary which will decide who is to be the next governor of Alabama passed quietly and there were no new developments in what has proved to be a spirited 30-day campaign.

March 31, 1922–Morgan County records today revealed that 45 candidates have qualified in the Democratic primary to be held on August 8. The race for sheriff is most popular in the county, no less than 11 candidates having qualified in that campaign.

Feb. 27, 1924—The Morgan County Democratic Executive Committee, in session today here, decided to go ahead with plans for holding the presidential primary on March 11. M. C. Wiggins of Hartselle, publisher of the local paper, was elected chairman of the committee.

May 5, 1970–Hartselle favored Decaturite Albert Brewer over George Wallace in the Democratic gubernatorial primary today. (Wallace was ultimately elected.)

March 14, 1998—Susan Parker, the wife of Rep. Paul Parker, D-Hartselle, today qualified to run for state auditor in the Democratic primary in June. Mrs. Parker, 42, was the first Democrat to qualify for the office. (Mrs. Parker was the last new Democrat to be elected to statewide office in Alabama.)