The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25
IN AN AWKWARD PREDICAMENT
WHERE ONE CONVENTION MIGHT
PUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Its Face-The Log-ROIIinE Field
Would lie WIdened-State and Ma
tionai Affairs Two Distinct Issues.
Looked Upon n Free silver Move.
The state Executive Committee
May he Called on 10 Act.
The proposition advanced 20 hold one
instead OF two democratic conventions in
Georgia in presidential years and this
IS a presidential year. meets with little
favor in Savannah.
II is regarded as a trick Of the free sill
yer element of the party TO capture the
state II possible. because they regard it
as a foregonc conclusion that the national
convention viii not commit the party to
the Is TO ] issue. Another objection adj
vanced is that 10 would precipitate TOO
long canvass for statchouse officers
and governor. which is not desirable. It
has been aptly suggested that no such
idea was ever advanced until a division
in the party on the financial question be-
came apparent.
The discussion Of the matter is spread
ing all over the state. Mai. 7. ". Mel
drim was asked yesterday as 10 his views
on the one convention idea.
The democratic party of Georgia is di-
vided on the financial question" Maj.
Meldrim replied. 1.-THE men who favor
sound currency are 10 better democrats
than those who favor free silver. This
division IS one within the party, and both
sides will unite in the support OF a demo-
cratic party platform yielding their in
dividual preferences and assuming that
the national democratic party VIII wisely
judge and decide upon the financial policy
TO be maintained by that party.
IF a convention were held in Georgia,
and a financial plank inserted in the state
platform. and If the national platform
should not contain the same plank, but
on the contrary one of an opposite ma
ture then the democrats OF this state
would be placed in the awkward pfedica-
ment of being compelled to stand either
upon a national platform or upon state
platform. 1t would, therefore, he bet
ter, much more polite, and in every way
wiser for the democratic state convention
10 be delayed until after the national con-
vention has been held.
There is no reason why both conven-
tions should be held at the same time.
There is no expense attendant upon the
holding of these conventions to the state,
and in the present condition OF affairs
q. few months may make very great
change In the political conditions of the
country. AS a general proposition II Is
not USE to adopt platforms and select
10 the election. The times may change.
but political platforms and candidates
having become fixed cannot be changed.
Il have not considered the question or
the authority of the state executive com
mittee to make the change, because l
have not before me the resolution that
conferred the powers exercised by the
committee. But the cardinal principle of
the democratic party is that no powers
shall be exercised by an agent unless
those powers have been specially delegat-
ed. The democratic party is and always
has been the party of strict construction.
II would seem as If the power had not
been specially delegated TO the committee
TO consolidate into one convention the
action which Is usually taken at two con
ventions'
the question of one convention instead of
two. He was busy at the time, and replied
that he had not as yet given the matter
any particular thought. He said, how
ever, that as member Of the democratic
executive committee from the state at
large in view of the fact that the ques-
tion might come before the committee for
action, he felt that he should not make
any statement with regard to IL at the
present time. Mr.. duBignon said he had
not examined closely into the powers of
the committee, but he was of the opinion
that II had the power to say for what
purpose a convention should be called,
and whether or not one convention should
take the place OF two.
I'm my Judgment" Hon Pope Barrow
said, when asked about the matter, 1.-THE
established usage of the party ought not
be departed from. There is no reason
now for change, and what the conse-
Quences will be we cannot foresee. 1t is
possible that they might be exactly the
opposite of what those who advocated
this innovation desire and believe they
would be-
There are many reasons why national
and state politics should not be mixed
up with one another Every firm be-
lever in the doctrine of state sovereignty
and home rule must be opposed to any
thing like a commingling of state issues
with national issues This is the direct
tendency of this movement. The domes-
tic affairs of the state of Georgia of
political nature, ought, in my judgment,
10 be discussed and settled at a different
time from the national questions which
come before the same people. 1t is step
in the direction of Capitalization against
which the democratic party has always
set its face.
denominations among candidates for
state offices are common enough, and we
have plenty of what Is commonly known
as "log-rolling'' when the convention is
dealing with them alone; but If you bring
into the same convention nominations
for state officers, delegates to the national
convention, and the selection of presl-
dental electors, you widen the field of
combines and ''log-rolling" beyond the
point of safety and clean methods
There are two distinct issues TO be con-
sidered," Mr.. ]. p Williams said, when
asked about the matter. They are those
of our local state politics, and those OF
national politics, and there is no doubt
about the fact that it is better to keep the
two divorced. l should oppose one conVen-
ton on that ground generally speaking
even if there were no other"
Mr. Charles +. PrendergaSt said there
was no doubt that the one convention idea
was a cheap trick of the free silver ele-
ment He did not believe in the states
committing itself on the financial ques-
tion until after the national convention
has acted and adopted party platformIt
was an effort, he said, to endeavor to get
the state committed to the free silver side
SO as to have Georgia that way at least,
in case the national democratic conven-
ton does what it is expected TO do, and
adoDts a sound currency plank
MIR. Walter c.. Charlton said he was OPP
posed to one convention on general prin-
ciples. The issues he said should be kept
distinct and separate. He thought the
question was one for the party and not
the committee to decide, and that there
fore A convention would have to be called
before a change could be made.
Senator w. w. Osborne says he is en-
phatically opposed to the movement TO
make one convention take the place OF
two. He says it would impose additional
primaries upon the counties, and would IN
many ways work injury rather than ad-
vantage to the party in the state.
Mavor Herman Myers said the nomina-
tion of state house officers at the early
convention would impose upon the peo-
pie too long a canvass, and a long cam
vsss is not desirable at this time.
w.. Of he