Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-24
THE STATE CONVENTION.
Unit Rules and Othsr Matters.

Unit Rules and Other Matters.
BelIefonte Watchman.
Just at this time harmony amounts to
much more to the Democracy than does
any one man, and it will very likely shape
its course accordingly.
Square and Sound Talk.
Shippensburg Chronicle, Dem.
The chairman of the state committee
will do wrong to himself and the party's
best interests if he should recognize the
dictatiOn of his fellow members of the
committee, and place the MCGOWAN Phil-
adelphia) delegates on the roll. Whether
this pleases Mr.. Wallace or displeases
MIR. Randall, is not the question.
AS in the case Of legislatives bodies,
the members of the convention themselves
are the sole judges of their election, and
not the state committee. Mr.. Miller will
do right, therefore, in trampling the die
tatOrial mandate Of the committee under
his feet, and in organizing the convention
as all his predecessors have done. In
SO doing lie will be carrying out the time
honored usages of the party, and need not
fear the result.
Erie Observer
The state committee at the Pittsburgh
meeting few weeks ago instructed Chair
man Miller to place the MCGOWAN or city
committee delegation on the roll at the
organization of the state convention. Mr..
NIiller's sympathies are the other way,
and it is understood that he does not feel
bound to obey these instructions.
He was not chosen chairman by
the committee, and not amenable to
it as to the manner he presides at the
opening of the convention. He un-
derstands that his duty is simply minis
teria!, and that he has no power to make
up roll at all. That he simply follows
the precedent of calling the counties or
districts, and making the roll by putting
down the names of delegates as they re-
spond, and emitting the names where
notice is properly given of contest.
We are not i'll sympathy with Chairman
Miller in his presidential preferences,
but think his views correct as to the man.
ner of temporary organization. Every
is its own master. and controls
its temporary as we'll as its permanent Or
ganiZation.
AS to the Philadelphia contestants, the
Observer several months ago proposed to
refer all contests from that miscalled city
Of Brotherly Love back to themselves-tO
shut out all delegations until they settle
their own contests. We have not since
changed our mind. 1t cannst injure the
party, as both wings would be treated
alike, and the decreasing Democratic vote
in Philadelphia shows that the people have
lost confidence in those who have been
running the machine. Let the gentlemen
settle their disputes outside, and not come
every year to disgrace the convention with
their disorderly and disreputable contest.
No Unit Rules.
Norristown Register.
The delegates to a state convention rep
resent the people of the congressional dis
tricts which sent them !; and the two sent !
to the national convention from each dis
trict are expected, under Democratic prin- |
ciples to represent the people of that dis |
trict and not those of another. 1t is by no |
means impossible to retain unity of action |
under this system, as far as a compliment
tary vote goes, but it is not probable that |
it could-nor is it advisable that it should
be carried any further. Two Pennsyl-
Vanians are mentioned as possible candi-
lates before the Cincinnati convention. 1t
would be manifestly unjust to either one
for the followers of the other to compel
he whole delegation to vote in favor of
heir choice. 1t is opposed to Democratic
principles; it is opposed to right and JUS
ice and it may defeat the will of large
of the voters in the country.