The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-09-25
[coMMOSIcArED.1
AN tNWARRANTABLE SPLIT.

senator IN open violence to the rules gov
erning not only the deliberations Of such
conventions, but the course Of democratic
organizations should not receive the APP
prevail of the democrats of the district
Let US briefly review the situation
Clayton was entitled to txo votes in
the convention, Cobb tour and Fulton six.
There we're two candidates for the sena-
torial nomination; Messrs. Venable, of
Fulton. and Todd, Of Clayton.
From both Clayton and Fulton counties
there we're contrasting delegations. In
Clayton, Mr.. Todd had carried the regular
primary without opposition. but an unau-
thorlzing mass meeting had chosen another
delegation. Ia Fulton, six delegates to
the Senatorial convention were chosen in
July last, at a mass meeting called TO
select delegates TO the state democratic
convention, and TO choose new county
executive committee. The call was plain
and unmistahable, aud when the point was
raised that the mass meeting had exceeded
Its authority in selecting delegates TO the
senatorial convention, four of the six dele>
gates thus selected promptly requested the
democratic executive committee TO remove
any doubt as to the title of Fulron's dele
gates to seat in the convention, by sub,
uniting the matter to primary election.
These delegates we're unwilling to serve
with their titled questioned. and when IT
appeared that the mass meeting which
chose them had been called specifically for
another purpose, they asked to nave the
matter settled by primary election at
which everybody would have full and free
opportunity to vote.
A primary was accordingly fixed for
the 10Th of August, and, after a months
notice, delegates favoring Hon. W. Fl.
Venable were elected with practically no
opposition. 1t was full, fair and free
primary, and voiced the sentiment Of the
county.
But Mr.. Taliaterro, one of the six mass
meeting delegates, refused to yield claim
ing that he had been duly chosen, and that
the executive committee had no. right TO
order primary after the mass meeting
had acted. He held that the authority of
the mass meeting was absolute, and that
the purpose for which it was called did NOT
restrict its action.
The senatorial convention assembled and
the first step of the chairman was to call
for the credentials.
Clayton responded with two sets of
delegates-one favorinC Mr.. Todd, having
the credentials of the democratic execu.
tive committee Of the county, and the
other the certificate of the chairman of
the mass meeting by which they were chos-
en-.
There was no question about the creden-
tials of Cobb's four delegates.
Fulton presented the credentials of the
six delegates chosen by the primary, duly
signed by the officers of the democratic
executive committee.
Mr.. Ta.iaterro demanded the right to
cast Fulton's vote, but when asked for his
credentials responded that he had none.
The chairman of the mass meeting had re-
fused to give him credentials, in the face
of the primary.
The chairman Of the convention very
properly ruled that only those bearing the
duly authorized credentials of the party
organization could participate in the tens
porary organization of the convention.
After 1913 ballots for temporary ehair>
man, the vote being six and six, CLAYTON
and Cobb withdrew, declared Mr.. Talisfer-
70 entitled to vote for Fulton, and by his
vote nominated Mr.. Todd. The regular
convention, after protesting against the
bolt and urging the delegates to return,
then declared for Mr.. Venable
As matters now stand there is no doubt
about Mr.. Venable's having the prestige OF
party organization behind his race. and if
the boiling delegates insist in their unwise
and unwarrantable action it will insure Mr..
Venable's election by an overwhelming
majority
The right thing for them to do is to re-
consider their hasty action and proceed in
regular order with the work of the convsn-
ton. For the sake of harmony this oppor-
tunity has been given them. They should
not persist in their folly. but should return
TO their trust
1t may be that further balloting would
De fruitless that on every question tie
would occur, aud that the convention wonId
sit until the regular election. So be it
then neither side could be charged with
disoFganIzing the party and both candi
dates could 20 before the people without
either Of them boiling the party to do so
The Constitutions sole interest in the
matter is the interest of the party. 1t is
not a question of Venable or Todd, but Of
party organization, which must be main
.ained
1t must be remembered that for 1913
ballots the Cobb and Clayton delegates