Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-07

and effect, Is 10 carry out the will OF the ma
jority? The unit rule is simply this: That the
whole shall act together rs the majority directs.
Opposition TO it, accordingly, can only como
from desire that the majority shall not control,
but that not only
MINORITY
but every individual shall act independently.
Meanwhile The unit rule really operates in party
action from the beginning 10 the end, aud there
Is no reason whatever why It should not guide
the action Of our national delegation. ma
FORTY Of voters at the precinct meetings selects
the delegates 10 the County Convention, and
may instruct, for that Is a right inseparable
from the power 70 select representatives; ma
tority OF the County Convention names the dele
gates to tbs District Convention, with the same
power TO instruct; majority OF the District
Convention chooses the delegation 10 represent
the district and carry out lts will, both a. TO men
and measures; and the State Convention In
electing delegates at-large acts by its majority,
which may further determine what these dele
gates shall do and how they shall DO II.
TIE NATIONAL CONVENTION
itself is governed by its majority, which nom-
mates the ticket and frames the platform, in
strict observance OF the unit rule, and the votes
OF every State delegation are announced by its
chairman, either as unit or otherwise, as IL
may have agreed. or as 1t may have been in
structed.
Captain Wise inaccurately says that the vote
Is not taken in the National Convention "by
States IS such. but by congressional districts"
when the truth Is that in that body on every
question the roll is called by States is not called
by districts, and in no sense do tho delegates
vote by districts. IL Is only as basis or mea-
sure Of representation that the congressional
district Is recognized by tho National Con-
yeniion, and the two delegates elected by
every district vote together or not. as instruct
ed " as they themselves may determine. SO,
when state is called, the delegation votes
solidly together, OF every delegate for himself
the chairman making the declaration accord
ingly; but In no case IS there call OF districts,
nv ANaHT Lots 81 q
cases there may be call OF the roll of delegates
from State. In fine.
THE ROLL
is called by States, tho vote is taken by States,
and whether the delegation vote as unit or not
depends solely upon whether IL hiss been in
structed, or has itself agreed so 10 do, or not
The presidential electors are chosen by q ma
lority Of each state Convention, 20 act as unit
they do act in the electoral college in casting
their votes II elected They are not chosen by
districts separately acting. The voter in Lee
snd In AccOmack, in the Ninth district and Ia
the First votes directly for the twelve electors,
who vote the Republican presidential ticket
lie does not vote tor the eloctor OF his own dis
trct merely. They are not elected by districts
but by majority Of the popular vote OF the
state, the whole parry acting as a unit and not
by congressional districts. In case Of failure
70 elect the President and Nice-President by
tho electoral vote the election goes 10 the
House Of Representatives at Washington,
where each State votes as a unit, directed by the
majority OF us representatives Evidently. as
this brief review Of Republican theory and prac-
tice shows, the majority Of the party in any State,
through It's representatives In the district and
state conventions, not only has the right 10 pre-
scribe the unit rule ~ control the action OF its
national delegation 10 nominate President, but
should exercise that right, because u liz i'm
portant thar the party should secure the nomi-
nation which Its majority prefers. and because
the state goes as tbs majority OF voters shall de-
eide, while the electors chosen vote solidly as a
unit, moi as each congressional district may have
gone
Although the arguments or assumptions
against the plan OF organization and the unit
rule are the reverse Of each other Il is apparent
that the opposition 70 each Is founded Ia the same
policy
ATRuckLIsG
70 q minority at the expense Of the majority: an
abdication OF the majority In favor OF the minor-
~. confess that am for bowling 70 the will of
the majority, and Tor carrying into effect what
ever may DO reld or d0ne 10 show that the will OF
Tie minority IL wiser. better. and more important
Anxious as | am that every individual Ia the
party should DO satisfied and harmon
lied, do not comprehend how this 10 70 DO
achieved by subieciipg the majority 10 the
rule VI any smaller number. and IL the mi.