St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-04
RAMsEY,s DELEGATES.

ulnnS 10 Doth parties TO the controversy
in order that the fullest opportunity
might be given for a free and fair dis
cnssion of all the points involved. This
was done purely in the interest of fair
play, and that the people of the state
might be properly informed as to the
merits of the controversy. The contest
ants have availed themselves of the OPP
portunity that has thus been presented
through the GLOBE columns to say all
that could be said or was necessary to
say on either side. The ground has
been fully gone over, and the public are
now prepared to lender Judgment.
A careful and conscientious review of
the facts and the arguments as they
have been presented in this controversy
leaves no room for doubt in the mind of
any unprecedented man as to the sound
ness of the position occupied by the
county committee, or as to the right OF
the regularly appointed delegates to
represent Ramsey county in the state
convention. If there is an individual
who has an honest doubt on this matter.
we ask his attention to the following
brief summary of facts: The only au-
thority in existence by which Demo-
cratic state convention could be called
is the state central committee, of which
Mr.. DORIAN is chairman. That commit
tee did issue a call, to which Mr..
DoRAN's name was appended. Pursu-
ant to that call the Democratic county
committee of Ramsey county, the only
authority in existence which had the
right to do so, issued call for a county
convention, for the purpose of electing
delegates to the state conven-
ton. The convention was held and
the delegates elected in exact pursuance
of the cali of the state central commit
tee, and according to all established
usages of Democratic organization.
There was nothing irregular about the
county convention held at Market hall
on the 27th of July, nor even suSpi-
cion of irregularity. The delegates
chosen by that body have as much right
to seats in the next state convention as
Mr.. DORAN has to his place Oh the state
central committee. Both hold their
positions by identically the same char
acter of title, and in each case fortified
by laws and an unbroken chain of prec-
edentS that have governed Democratic
organization from the time of the found
ing of the party down to the present
day.
The persons who propose to contest
the seats of the regularly elected Ram
sey county delegate have no more claim
upon the attention of the state conven-
al
would. They are absolutely without
title to recognition. The meeting which
elected them as delegates was held
without an authority, or even the
shadow Of authority. In no particular
was it a convention held in pur-
suance of the call of the state
central committee, or of the county
committee, and into whatever other
assembly the delegates chosen by
last Saturday may claim admission,
there is no preteXt upon which they
could legitimately assert claim for adj
mission to the next Democratic state
convention. 1t would be just as reason
able to suppose that they were entitled
to seats in the British parliament, for
according to all Democratic law and
equity and usage they have as much
claim upon the attention of that body
as they have upon the Democratic state
convention.
1t is claimed by the contestants that
fraud was practiced in the primaries,
and in consequence the proceedings of
the regularly constituted convention
were Initiated. If the allegation were
true it would not give validity to the
claim of the contestants. A claim
which never had a legal existence, and
which rests upon no authority, cannot
be made valid by the misconduct of
others. But there are no evidences that
the allegation of fraud is true. On the
contrary, all the evidence is in refuta-
ton of it. If there had been fraudulent
methods employed at the primaries the
evidence of it could have been pro-
cured long ago, because those
who are now making the charges
participated III the primaries, and
if there had been fraud perpetrated
evidence of it would have been forth
coming long ere this. Hence we are led
to believe that the charge of fraud is a
dishonest pretenSe. under the cover of
which certain selfish and ambitious poll
ticians hope to obscure schemes of self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which they desire to
keep hid from public view.
The GLOBE expresses all the more
freely its honest opinion on this subject
because it has no axes to grind, it has no
l-@D 81 - e.
favor, and because, above all things else
it holds party integrity and party organi-
cation to be paramount to the success of
individuals or of factions. 1t makes no
difference to the GLOBE who may be
governor, who may be congressman,
who may be chairman of the state COM
mittee. or who may be anything else, so
long as Democratic principles are es-
tabliShed in the government of the state
and nation, and the laws and usages of
the Democratic party are respected by
those who are placed in authority. The
GLOBE does not cater to the officehold-
ing class. 1t prefers to be the exponent
of the Notwithstanding and the nom
office-seeking masses.
And as the representative of an
honest Democratic constituency. COM
posed of the n-officeholding ard nom
office-seeking classes, the GLOBE has
no hesitation in saying that any at
tempt to exclude the regularly elected
delegates from the state convention
would be a gross outrage upon the Dem
ocratic voters of Ramsey county and
violation of every principle governing
Democratic organizations. We have too
much faith in the good sense and hon
est purposes of Minnesota Democrats to