Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-06
Aailcastcr flrtelltQellcer.
EVENING. JULY 9. 1851.
The New Rules.

THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 1859.
The New Rules.
We print to. day correct copy of the
rules for the government of the Demo-
cratic party in this state, as framed by a
Subcommittee, reported by the general
committee of resolutions and adopted
with few dissenting votes by the Dem
ocratic state convention. 1t would be
unfair to say, as it was hopeless TO ex-
pect, that the delegates were unanimous
" in favor of all the provisions of the
new rules, and had they been reported at
q time when the convention was
less anxious to proceed with the
more interesting but no less inn
portant business of balloting for
nominees one or two of the new fea-
lures might have encountered serious,
but not successful, opposition. The
matter of a more efficient organiza-
ti0n of the party by certain well-settled
rules has been so persistently pressed
upon the attention of the party for the
past year that the delegates came to
Harrisburg fully determined to make
some deliverance upon this subject, and
it was deemed best to refer it to the res.
olutions committee, where it was well
considered.
The plan reported and adopted in
wolves two or three leading features. of
greatest importance, about which there
was no reasonable difference of opinion
and the operation of which we feel conf
dent will recommend them to permanent
continuance. These are the representa-
tion of every county in the state COM
mittce the organization of the commit
tee i'm January for the interests of the
whole party, and not at the tail of
the convention, for the sake of the can
didates merely; the appointment of an
executive committee to conduct the
state campaigns, and of perma-
nent secretary to keep up the Or
ganizatiOn the whole year around.
To have secured these chief essentials of
an Efficient and permanent organization,
is great advance on the old rickety
system which tended to introduce strife
at the state convention over the chair
manShip, to secure useless state COM
mittee, to impose upon the chairman all
the responsibility of the campaign, and
to break the organization to pieces as
soon as it was over.
ii Of ho tnf
committee from the state chairmen &C
oticio was generally approved, but in
Difference to a few districts, where the
county chairman is selected on purely
local grounds, latitude was given to the
local organizations TO determine how
they should select their representatives
to the STATE committee, with the under
standing that wherever practicable the
county chairman will be the state
committeeman.
The widest difference of opinion was
expressed with regard to the basis of
representation in state conventions. All
were agreed upon the abolition of Sena,
tOrial delegates and there was general
acquiescence in the fairness of the prop
OsitiOn to base the representation on the
total Democratic vote, and not upon the
appOrtionment, which SO often gives the
controlling influence to a minority. But
with the fifty senatorial delegates taken
off the membership it was found exceed
ingly difficult to satisfactorily apportiOn
200 members Oh the basis of the party
vote, and finally more liberal
basis, resulting in convention of
about four hundred members, was
fixed SO as to secure ample represen-
tation for every constituency. On be-
half of Il large convention it is urged that
that :, fuller representation, freer action
and less liability to be bossed and SIT up
are secured against; it are presented the
probability Of tumultous proceedings,
difficulty of securing accommodations
and the inability to control the body to
deliberate conclusions. 1t is proposed
however, that with a large convention
next year, when only a single candidate
is to he nominated, the new plan can he
given fair trial, and if not feasible it
can he readily modified. But in Ohio
and other states, where the larger con
ventions lave been held, the party ad
heres to them.
The rules are to so into force in Jan
uary; the organization to be made
for this campaign will then end
Meantime the local organizations should
arrange for the election of representa-
tives on the new state committee, and in
all cases where practicable they should
make their county cllairmen members of
it, so that it will be continuing body,
not Liable TO he disturbed OF changed
very largely at any one time, and thus
kept free from the danger of being bossed
or set up in any special interest. Let
the new rules be given a fair trial, and il
they don't work /" none will more
heartily move for their repeal than they
who are responsible for their adoption.
The outlook for the material interests
OF the country is rather hopeful than
otherwise Business is being established
on sOunder basis; profits are lighter
and speculation less rife, but results are
better assured; the proportion of fail
ures for the past six months is little Ovel
half as great as for the corresponding
period four years ago; promise of good
crops gives assurance of reduction in the
o<.fe lnk., -