New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-08
ASSAULTING TIE UNIT RULE.
-nE FEELING WITH WHICH TT Is REGARDED-KFL-
NY TELEGRAPH To THE rRBrNEl

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRBrNEl
CHICAGO July The first fruit of the defeat Of
the New-Yorll auti-Cleveland men was a plan 10
make an sssault In the convention on the unit rule,
which is relied on 70 hold the delegates who come
Instructed t. a fuldlment of the wishes of the
State conventions that sent them. The resolution
OF the minority IN the New-Y0rk delegation, taken
on sunday night after the result Of the caucus Of
the Kings County men had been learned. 10 never
theless oppose the nomination Of Cleveland, was
equivalent to declaration that the unit rule must
be broken if poss bic for the sake of appearances.
The working mp Of sentiment against the rule was
left 70 others. and early this morning
paper was put II circulation for signatures among
others than the Ncw-York delegation. pledging the
signers 20 vote in favor of resolution To abolish
tie rule. The effort soon spent itself when II came
IN conf co with tic strong state, rights feeling
still existing among the Southern delegates. The
pledge was heard IF at intervals until the largest
number Of names appended was reported at -. and
then disappeared. IL Is doubtful now whether the
question will ice raised at all I'm the convention,
the Indications being that Kelly will content him
seif with al announcement by the chairman Of the
delegation Of the number OF votes cast Tor other
candidates than Cleveland IL the caucus, thus
bringing the dsafection of Tammany and the
Flower men to the notice of the convention.
Inquiry of prominent leaders in the convention
shows the unit rule 70 be strong tradition with
them that there is httle chance Of It's change,
eept by as solemn a proceeding as an
amendment 10 the Constitution Of the
United States requ.rE Senators Beck and Hamp-
ton and Messrs. WarterSon and Morrison, who were
spoken 10 on the subject to-day. agreed IN the
opinion that the Democratic National Convention
had no right 10 override the expressed wishes of
State Convention. They and Others of like mind
seemed TO speak the sentiment of Indiana. Illinois
and all the Southern States except Delaware the
subject. /.
Henry WatterSon said that on the subject Of unit
rule be stood by his own ruling in lS76 wl~n he
was chairman of the convention. He then rul
that the Will IF the ate must rule. ." was made
chairman of that convention. he added " because
knew nothing about parliamentary practice, and
was so blind that could not any body but Ill
den mau but afterward ! looked the subject mp
and found my ruling 90 Ue IN consOnance with the
preccdents of the party
d" Kelly If he makes the attempt viii do IL on the
siren 9Th OF the action OF the convention Of ISIS,
when a resolution was adopted 10 the effect that
the unit rule N glt IN the future De re-
scinded. No mothod was prescribed, and
the southern Interpretation Of the resolution is
that the question must he brought before one con-
ventiOn 70 x guiding rule for the next, and that
meanwhile II must be submitted 20 the STATES.
There is attempt either 20 disguise the fact hat
q great many delegates are dsgUSteu with the attl-
tude of Kelly and TammAuy, aud whatever their
convictions they will vote against the attempt to
NE ddie with the rule in order TO rebuke Iammany.