The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-04

changing the custom OF holding two con-
ventions in presidential years that has
prevailed without opposition for a genera
ton. and OF holding one convention this
year. Now the same authority says that
it viii cease to agitate the matter IL Gov.
Atkinson is against the proposed change.
In other words. IL prefers TO be guided
10y what the governor says rather than by
the overwhelming majority Of the demo-
Gratis. In its opinion. therefore, what the
governor concludes is for the best inter
est Of the party is Of more consequence
than what the majority Of the democratic
voters want.
We don't know whether the governor
viii take the responsibility which the Con-
stituuon undertakes to thrust upon him
or not. If he is wise, he will not. 1t is
not his duty to decide whether there shall
be two conventions or one. To decide that
question is the duty Of the state com
mittee, and we assume the committee
considers itself well qualified to discharge
whatever duties devolve upon it.
1t is probable that the Constitution has
found out that an overwhelming major
ity of the democrats Of the state are not
in favor o. the one convention movement,
and therefore it is reaching out
for the governors influence to help
it carry its point. But if the
members of the state committee
do their duty fully and conscientiously.
they will not be influenced by the govern
or. however good a party leader he may
be. The first thing they must do is to
decide whether they have authority to say
there shall be only one convention. and If
they hold they have. then they must take
notice that they assume a great RESPONSE
bility in deciding in favor of one conven-
ton. If they call two conventions they are
on the safe side-the side of precedent. If
they enter upon an experiment which may
be disastrous. If there should be disaster
they would be responsible for 1t.
Even silverites have protested against
the one convention movement. They see
the aim is to commit the Georgia democ-
racy to a position on the silver question
different from that which r. Almost GER
racy, and they understand that such a
condition of affairs would Je certain to
bring disaster to the party in Georgia.
They don't want the party disrupted,
hence they protest against a course of
action that might bring about its dis
ruption.
The Constitution announces that Gov.
IA.
position. He will be renominated if he
wants to be, whether there are two con-
ventions or only one, but is the Consti-
tuition in a position TO say that he wants
a denomination? He may abandon re-
nomination for a chance to be senator
True he would not abandon his chance for
the senatorship If he should accept a re-
nomination for governor, but he would
hardly put the state to the expense of
electing another governor, If he meant
to be a candidate for the Senate. But
whatever his Intentions are, it is not for
him to say whether there shall be two con-
ventions or only one The Georgia delega-
ton in congress has declined to accept
any such responsibility. and why should
it be thrust upon the governor, or why
should he accept it?
What nonsense it is to say as the Con-
stitution does, that if Mr.. Atkinson favors
only one convention the man or the state
committee who opposes the proposition to
hold one convention admits by his action
that he is ready to sacrifice the state
ticket to carry out personal aims or pro-
mote personal views" According TO this
the members of the state committee who
don't agree with the governor, if he ia
vors one convention, are not good demo-
Gratis, although the governor has no off,
cial duty in connection with the calling
of conventions. But suppose the governor
favors two conventions? Are the MEM
bers of the state committee who do not
agree with him to be considered as willing
to sacrifice the party to carry out per-
sonal aims? 1t is not supposable. OF
course, that the Constitution had an ink
ling of the governors position in the mat
ter when it made the foregoing assertion.
The silverites, if they are wise. will
let this convention question alone. Let
us follow precedent, and we shall come
much nearer having harmony in the party
than We shall by following those who are
engineering the one convention movement
We note that the park and tree COM
missioners are talking about planting
flowers and shrubs in the squares. With
out any purpose of crossing the purposes
Of the commissioners or making gratui-
tuitous suggestions, we would observe
that it would be a matter of impossible
ity to protect flowers and shrubs from be-
ing trampled upon. In times of parades
crowds of people rush across the squares.
and it would be impossible to prevent
them from doing so. At other times the
flowers would be plucked and the bushes
ruined by thoughtess or misehievous
children. And then there are the pesti-
lent dogs! How would the dogs be kept
from tearing up the flower beds? Besides.
flower beds are costly, and require con-
slant attention. Nothing prettier or