Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-26
larlraster fr1teIliger1cer.
FRIDAY EVENING. MARCH 20, 1880.
Convention Precedents.

The Harrisburg Patriot thinks that
the action of the Pittsburgh convention
of 1873 in refusing to let the chairman of
the state committee make up its roll of
delegates, and requiring him to call the
state by districts, is not to be regarded as
precedent because the convention was
virtually bulldozed into that action"
That is strange way to talk of a con-
vention which selected the Patriots can
didate for governor and in which there
were not twenty delegates on the final
vote who sustained the chairman of the
state committee in his pretension. 1t is
manifestly somewhat difficult to discuss
the point in controversy with journal
that thus summarily disposes of the au-
thority of a convention precedent. But
we understand the Patriot to say that the
contrary practice prevailed at the con
ventions prior to that of 1873, and that
what it did was an innovation on the
usage. If it can show this it may make
something of case, though nothing that
can be said of the usage of the party will,
of course, prevent every convention from
being law unto itself when it assem-
bles. The usage, however, is binding on
the state committee and its chairman,
and it is of interest to know what it is.
1t is not very material in the present case
whether the Patriot is right or wrong in
saying that the 1878 convention estab-
lished new practice, since the chair
man of the state committee will natur-
ally feel impelled to adapt his conduct to
the latest order of the party in conven-
tion assembled.
But we do not understand that any new
practice was introduced at Pittsburgh.
The manner of organizing convention
always varies somewhat, according to
the varying circumstances, and just be-
cause each convention has the right and
the power to regulate itself. There is nc
invariable practice. The chairman of the
state committee calls the convention tC
order, and if there is no contest Ovel
the temporary organization he gives
place at once to the temporary chairman
If there is more than one candidate fol
that post and a necessity arises for the
calling of the roll, the chairman of tht
state committee maintains his place unit
the roll is called and his successor il
elected. But it is not in his power to sa.
whose vote shall be taken. If any vOt'
is disputed it must be rejected unless TIN
convention shall order it to be taken
which it perhaps would do if the prime
facie right of the delegate to his sea
appeared to it to be clear. Th'
question should always be submitted
to the convention and its opinion taken
The chairman of the state committee
should never attempt to impose his opin
ion upon the convention and if he
never does SO there can be no trouble ant
he will not he g sat down upon as wa
Chairman McClelland, because of hi:
persistence in putting into the conven
tiOn set of delegates from Philadelphi:
whose right to seats was challenged ant
whom it was manifeStly unjust to sea
until their credentials were passed upon
If the chairman of the state commit
tee is a man of sense and fairness and 81
acts, there can never be any difficulty il
the organization of convention, wheth
er he calls the roll of delegates or of dis
tricts. He has but to pass by the contested
seats and arrogate to himself no power o
decision in the matter, to be perfectl.
safe. He will remember that it i
only as a matter of convenience tina
he is permitted to call the convention
to order. He has no control over it or tn
credentials of its members, for he is no
of it. The Patriot is mistaken in sayin!
that the practice is for county conven
tions to certify the delegates they elec
to the state committee. This never ha
been done in this county and we do no
think it is usual practice.