Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-19
The Unit Rule-Again.


the dinner Of the Reform Club OF New
York. President ANDERSON took occasio
not only TO issue q wall-strcet proclama-
ton notifying the Democrats OF the coun-
try at large that their wishes we're not to
be consulted in the matter Of providing q
bimetallic and more abundant currency to
the people. but also TO give notice. 30 we
understand his threat, that the unit rule
was not to govern the New York delegation
in the next Democratic National Conven-
ton. We do not know what other
meaning he could have intended his
remark 10 have when he declared
that an attempt would be made by the
Democratic State Committee at the State
Convention TO elect delegates to the Ma
tioDal Convention 10 refuse arbitrarily to
seat delegates not willing to obey that
committees commands. That is to say, II
the delegates to the Democratic National
Convention from New York are instructed
to vote as unit, as for many years they
have been instructed to do and have dons,
then the Democrats whom President An
pERsos represents will attempt to bolt. or
in other words. will refuse to obey the In
structions of the Democratic State Com
Inittee of New York.
But can President AspERsoS's threat be
carried into executionf The unit rule IS
enforced by the Democratic National Con-
yention itself. This body always adopts
regulation providing that when delega-
ton OF its members are instructed to vote
as a unit by the convention which elected
them, or by the State Committee, then the
votes Of that State must all be recorded
and counted together. How President An
pYRsos proposes to get nd Of this "arbi-
traryn regulation, or unit rule. we do not
know. JOHN KELLY and Tammany Hail
used their utmost exertions to get that
regulation changed by the ST. Louis con-
venton Of 1876, but his two hundred
| braves with their white stove-pipe hats,
essayed in vain to accomplish their purpose
JOHN was at Cincinnati in 1880, and TAM
many il was feared would be again OBJ
streperous, but Mr.. TILDEN's positive re-
fusal to run again for President removed
| him out of KELLY's way. In 1884, at CHI
eaco. the Democratic National Convention
enforced the unit rule in the interest OF
Mr.. CLEVELAND that IL, 80 far as the New
York delegation was concerned. Wedonot
know that il worked in his favor taking
| the national convention as body. We
infer from President ANDERsoS's outgiving
that it is already as good as settled that
the New York delegation. If it votes as
unit, will not cast single vote for MIR.
CLEVELAND in the next Democratic Ma
tional Convention.
The Virginia delegations to all Demo-
cratic national conventions are always ex-
pected. we think. TO vote as unit. The
rule operates 10 turn down" small-fry
politicians and to cause them to be valued
at their true worth. II prevents unprinci-
pied delegates from selling their votes. 1t
silences the wiseacres who seek to be the
first to nominate dark horse. 1t removes
temptation from the pathway of the am
bitious and mercenary delegates. To sum
up the reasons why the unit rule should
be prot ected and preserved would be to
give too much space to the discussion of
regulation whose merits have for fifty
years caused II 10 De adopted by Demo-
cratic national conventions.
Hon. WILLIAM +. Villas, Of Wisconsin,
followed President ANDERSON, but did not
say anything against the unit rule. He did,
however, though coming from North
western State, second President ANDER-
SONS denunciations of the bimetallists.
| We do not think it worth while to discuss
| the silver question just now. We have re-
| peatedly given our reasons for this opin-
| ion. But it is noteworthy that Mr.. SPRING
Err. of Illinois. chairman of the Committee
| on WAYS and Means of the National House
| of Representatives and an open and avow-
ed bimetallist. should have been invited
and should have accepted an invitation-to
hear himself and his Democratic associates
| in the House read out Of the Democratic
party by three Cor more) wise men of
! Gotham" However. Mr.. SpRINGER's views
ON tariff reform are sound, Us we have
| heretofore shown He said not a word on
the silver question. Wise SPRINGER.
TO return to our subject: We take IL for
granted that the next Democratic National
| Convention will not allow the unit rule to
fall into "innocuous desuetude." 1t is a
\ rule which has developed new merits
whenever it's aid was needed in the cause
of good government or of rigid party disci-
pline.
Let us not consent to make rules or
platforms to suit our own favorite. Such
rules will surely return to plague the In
| xoptorS