Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-07-09
1anraster fntelligenrer.
wrprrsDAY EVENING, JULY Q. 1894
The Unit Rulc at Chicago.

The unit rule Is not good rule In
itself, and we do not think that the
national convention has proper power
TO enforce It upon the delegates. In
New York II has prevailed in many
state conventions, and has the force of
an established practice so that the revolt
against IL does not come with very
good grace from Convention members
especially when they did not attack the
instruction to vote as u unit when u WAS
given in the state convention. III the
rule should be applied to any set OF dele
gates at Chicago, those from New ork
should certainly be held to 1t, because OF
the long usage in that state and the un-
resisted state instructions capplng H.
But We do not think that the rule Is one
10 be observed In democratic AS
sembly. The theory in our con.
yentions is, and ought to be, that
each delegate Is an autonomy,
and that his Independence as a
representative of his people is something
to be well guarded. 1t is the policy of
the convention to guard against combi-
nations and TO leave itself in condition
of the utmost mobility. State delega-
tions naturally incline to stick together
without instructions, to maintain the
states influence and to hold their vote
in hand TO trade with other states for
support for a favorite candidate. State
conventions naturally incline to have
their delegations vote as unit, through
a desire to secure that influence for the
state vote which is given to 1t by lts
being cast In solid body. Their rlght
to instruct, however, is very doubtful.
Over the delegates at-large it may be
very reasonably urged that they have
this power but the district delegates,
who do not directly owe their appoint
ment to the convention are not properly
subject to its order.
1t is the custom of Democratic
national conventions for the chairman
of the delegation to cast its vote, which
gives faculty for unit voting that
makes it very difficult Of resistance by
dissatisfied members of the delegation.
They would with difficulty catch the
eye Of the chair, to dispute the vote an
nounced, if they sought to do so, amid
the confusion Of the great assemblage :;
and an ordinarily modest man would
not readily make the effort. The chair
man Of the delegation has it very much
In his power. Mr.. John Kelly is not a
very suppressible man, and has served
very good purpose in raising the
question in the convention as to The
propriety of its undertaking to silence
its individual voices.
We think it probable that the Chicag
convention would be composed Of
much less distinguished body of men
than those who now compose 1t, If u
delegations generally were under th
yoke of the unit rule. 1t is one that n
self respecting man would readily as
sume unless he was in the majority a
least and was going to have his vii
made effective. 1t is very CALLING, in
deed, to be in minority in a delegation
and to find your vote being steadily cas-
in opposition to your judgment. Among
the many distinguished men in the con
ventiOn, there are very few from New
York state. Its membership is made up
of men not ger orally known and that Is
generally its charac .er. New York Demo
Gratis of independent force and national
fame do not seem 10 be in its
delegations, and probably DO not
care to put themselves where they Can
Ouly he counted az parts of a machinr
National conventions, wishing to seCur,
the best Iossible membership and to Civ,
the highest value 10 the results OF thei
labOrs, will certainly dud 1t to be thei
policy TO give the largest liberty To it
delegates, that it may have the benefit o
the judgment Of them all and be relieyeC
from the dict.,ion Of few.
II We have judged Gov. Cleveiau(
properly he would not desire to be
candidate forced upon the convention
His strength is in the demand for him by
the people, and on that rests his candi
dacy. He has declared that in this
as in all things, the people should hay,
their way /; and he is right. So that il
would be strictly in the vein OF thl
Cleveland movement for the Chicago
convention to cut loose from the uni
rule and give every delegate his indie
pendent vote.