The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-06-14
The Congressional Convention.

To the Editor of the Dallas Herald:
The democrats of the third congress
sionai district are called upon by the
chairman of the executive committee
of said district to meet in conyen-
ton at Fort Worth, on the Goth day of
July. pexl for the purpose of
nominating a democratic candidate to
represent the district in the next cop-
gress. The nominating convention at
Fort Worth IL to be composed of dele
gates from the various counties in the
district, appointed by county conven-
tions, to be holden in the respective
counties on the 25th day of July, which
said county conventions, in their turn,
are to be composed of delegates from
the various lutices' precincts, selected
at primary meetings, to be holden on
the 18th day of July. All of this is
strictly in accordance with party usage
for some time past, and IL entirely con
sonant with the present party 0rgani-
cation. The chairman has done his
duty in calling the convention, and has
done it thoroughly and well in the
elab0rateness with which he has ar
ranged the details.
We conceive that 1t is not inconsis-
tent with the allegiance we, as a demo-
crat, owe to the party to raise the
question whether OF not there is any
necessity for such u convention, in the
present status of parties, and to invite
the attention of democrats of the third
congressional district to the considera-
ton of that question,
Our own judgement Is clear and
firmly settled that there is no necessity
whatever for the holding of nomi-
mating convention in this district, and
with your leave, Mr.. Editor we pro-
pose to state very briefly the reasons
on which our conviction is based
TO 90 to tho root OF tire matter, NOM
mating conventions are in their very
nature antagonistic to and ineompati-
bic with the grand, underlying prinoi-
Piles Of all democracy, that il, that the
people are the sovereign and rightful
rulers of the county. BY the nomi-
mating convention system they are
converted into mere machines to reg
lister the will of those who have been
fortunate enough, or shrewd enough,
to get seats in the convention. They
really have no choice Of their own, for
let the nomination be ever so distaste-
full, they are forced to swallow it I'M
complainingly, otherwise they are de-
nouneed as boltera, and rs giving aid
and comfort to the enemy. If they de-
sire TO exercise their manhood and in
dependence by voting for some one
that they conceive to be better quail.
fled for the position than the nominee
of the convention, instantly the party
leaders crack the party whip Yigor-
ously over them, and they are either
brought back into line or, If they per-
sist in asserting their manhood, 70
epithets are toe opprobious to be hurled
at them by those with whom, only
just before, they occupied relations of
| full fellowship and communion. No
one of any observation or experience
can have failed to see the above posi-
ton illustrated time and time again.
1t may be replied to all this, that the
system of nominating conventions is
based upon the theory of representa-
ton; that the people do really make
the nomination because they assemble
in their primary meetings and delegate
to their representatives the right OF
acting for them in the matter. But we
all know how that is. 1t is well known
that six men, well organized and act
ing In concert, are more than match
for an hundred who have no under
standing among themselves. 1t is just
so at primary meetings of the people
A few precinct politicians get together
prior to the day of the meeting of the
people, and arrange the part that eacf
Is to play; the resolutions are all writ
ten out, the delegates to the county
convention all selected; probably ar
animated discussion on some side issu,
| will be arranged to come off between