Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-21
olIly POST. lNTELLlGENcER.
soNF sTGcEsTrONs TO DELEGATES.

The position OF delegate eiec'eo '"
a constituency in party con-
,ention is not by any means an enviaole
me. Il is filed with responsibility ans
,aset with annoyances- A delegate who
q honestly and intelligently attempting
}, ran,esent those who elected him, by
his best Judgment upon all
matters requiring action, is often forced
to arouse personal resentments, and per-
baps incur life long enmities. few
words of suggestion to the delegates
elect TO the county convention that VIII
meat in this city next Saturday may
perhaps not be inopportune. They are
soually applicable to other localities.
The two questions upon which there
vas the semblance of an issue made at
the primaries in this city last Saturday
were first, that Of land grant forfeiture
and second, woman Suffrage. Incident
sllv but not prominently, were included
the struggles Of candidates for local
offices. TO secure the election OF persons
who would in the convention favor their
nomination. When questions OF prin-
chile are at stake, personal preferences
abould be subordinated thereto. and
sven sacrificed unless such preferences
are found TO be in accord with the pub
lio demand. The expression OF the
people of this city at the recent prima-
rles was unequivoeally in favor Of for
feitine unearned land grants and as IN
mistakabIy against interference with
the law comforting the ballot upon
women in this Territory.
While a delegate to convention
should exercise an honest and intelli-
gent Judgment in all his acts therein,
he in not free from responsibility to
those whose representative be has for
thu time being become. He voices not
alone his own opinion, but the senti-
ments of those who selected him to
represent them. He does not represent
himself alene, but bis constitu-
ency. They have signified, in the only
method possible, their position upon
leading questions. and commissioned
him to give practical effect to their
wishes. To this extent he ceases TO be
independent. because be acts not in an
individual but in a representative capa-
city. To illustrate II 1t be trne that
the people Of Seattle in the late primary
election signified their opposition TO any
attack upon woman suffrage, IL is the
bounden duty of the delegates whom
they have selected to give practical
force to that sentiment by nominating
men known to hold views In accord
with the people. The selection of the
men Ia confided to the wisdom of the
delegates; the position they are expected
TO occupy upon the suffrage question
having already been decided by the
people, can thereafter no longer be a
question to be decided by each individ-
sal delegate.
This is also true of the forfeiture ques
ton. The people Of this county have,
In various ways, expressed themselves
as opposed to further continuance of
the land grant to the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company. The deleRates-a
large majority, If not all-were chosen
TO represent this sentiment. 1t ia their
duty 80 to do. No delegate elected
after contest upon q prominent issue
has q moral right TO disregard the
wishes of those who entrusted to him
the duty of giving practical force to
their expressed views. To this extent
he is not independent he is not free To
act In opposition TO his constituents.
The practical work which is to be
done in the convention on Saturday
next, in order to give force and effect to
the views Of this people upon the two
questions referred to il, first. to incor-
porate in the platform Of the party res
olutions expressing the sentiment of the
party in this county upon both ques.
tions second, to select a. nominees to
the Legislature men known to be In &C
cord with the platform of the party. and
third, to select as delegates to the Ter
ritorial Convention men who will repre-
sent honestly, intelligently and ably the
views of the people upon these ques-
tons, and who will labor to ensure their
adoption by the convention to which
they are accredited. The selection of
such persons is--subjeot only TO the linn
itation that they shall hold identical
views with their constituents -exclu-
sively the duty Of delegates, each of
whom is, or should be absolutely free to
exercise his individual judgment.
There are those who hold, and who.
when defeated at the primaries, will en-
deavor to convince elected delegates,
that each Ia absolutely independent, en-
tirely free 10 vote as his owa preference
or interests may indicate upon all ques.
tons and candidates that. once elect
cd. q delegate Ia representative. not OF
his constituents, bus merely and solely
Of himself. Il is not true. The exer-
else Of individual judgment. in the Sc
lection Of candidates for legislative of
fees especially, is justly modified by the
questions upon which they will be called
TO act and the expressed views of the
public upon such questions. II is the
duty Of the delegates who will meet in
convention next Saturday 20 express the
views Of the Republican party in the
county upon the forfeiture aud suffrage
questions. Those views are we'll known
10 every delegate. and, even though be
individually may differ from his con
stisusnts, be is morally bound TO give
expression 10 their wishes.