The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30
POLITICS IN THE STATE.
Candidates In the Field and News
paper Talk on Party Policy.


Candidates in the Field and News
paper Talk on Party Policy.
| Let us have two conventions. The time
| to refuse the people an opportunity 10
| speak on national questions is not when
I hatohal questions are most important
Townsville Times Enterprise: Two con-
l ventions, one to consider national issues,
the other state, will unity and hold the
party together One convention VIII bring
I dlscord and strife, will breed factions ana
I result IN no good to the democratic party
Macon Telegraph: The democratic party
[ OF The state and nation is united, except
I upon one question-the currency. Be
cause OF its division on this question, II
Is now IN state Of wreck. Because OF
II, many OF Its represent atiVes in congress
are at war with the administration II put
IN power. While this division continues
| the future OF the party is absolutely hope
less. Inc party, in any practical view,
| Is not a party at all, so long as its factions
| night each other on this question instead
OF lighting the enemy
Atlanta Journal: 1t appears that few
weeks ago five or six free silver politicians
from Georgia held caucus In a Wash
/ ington hotel and determined that the
democrats OF Georgia should hold only
one convention this year instead Of two,
as has been the custom in every presi-
Qeifllal year Tor at least a generation past
Thus was the one-convention scheme be-
gotten, and Immediately on emerging from
their caucus the five or six free silver
pollucians began to cry out that the peo-
pie were clamoring for one convention
and that one convention is necessary to
the harmony and general welfare of the
democratic party. As to what faclntles
the little Washington caucus had for
communicating with the dear people
away down in Georgia we are not in
formed. 1t is a very common thing for
the politician to pose as the champion OF
the people and in their name TO do battle
for some scheme of his own, but the sud-
denness of this one-conVenti0n movement
| begotten by half a dozen free silver poll
ticians, and the cool assumption that IL
Is in the interest of the people is paral-
leled only by the historic declaration OF
the three tailors of Tooley street.
Columbus Enquirer: 1t is difficult to see
clearly in what way the consolidation OF
the two state conventions can be legiti-
mately and satisfactorily accomplished.
The argument is that il would be advan-
tageous to the party to combine the two
conventions into one, which can easily
transact the business and discharge the
duties of both. 1t might be reasonably
proposed that as one of the two branches
OF the legislature could be organized so
as to transact all the Legislative business
required by the state, an amendment to
the constitution should be submitted to
the people, to consolidate the two bodies
permanently into one. That, however,
t M P Yt not pc suggested Tor ,r some
evidences of a strong opposition to the
movement, which we suspect will develop
more strongly, and be much more per-
ceptible, as the people find out more about
II. Then there seems to be an unanswer-
able argument against the consolidation,
that the one convention would have to be
held at late date otherwise the selec-
ton of presidential electors and the for
mutation Of platform of principles,
would antedate the selection by the ma
tional convention of a presidential ticket,
and its adoption of a national platform,
by which the entire party must be bound.
Brunswick Call: When the one conven-
tion suggestion was first brought to our
attention we thought, from a business and
economical standpoint il could be made
into the subject and have materially
changed our minds, and we are now con-
vinced that it would be dangerous to the
party, misleading to the people and dam
aging TO all parties concerned. The ma
tional convention will declare in favor of
sound money by some means Georgia's
state convention may declare for free sill
yer. Now, If the one convention is held
what opportunity will we have to rec
oncile these differences? Would not such
a state OF affairs practically rent us en-
twain from the national democratic con-
vention? The National democratic conven-
ton meets on July T. the party platform
VIII be made and presidential candidates
nominated. Suppose the one convention
idea is adopted, it must be held prior to
mat date IN order to send delegates to
that convention. And the same conven-
ton which names presidential electors and
state house officers and frames a state
platform, are named for Georgia before it
is known what the national platform will
be. How can people intelligently work in
that manner? Let the old custom stand
II mas worked well for over thirty years
Let it stand.
The matter of paramount Importance
therefore, is to settle this question in
the party-that is to say, the party must
declare itself in terms so clear and I'M
equiVocal that nobody can be mistaken
as TO It's policy That is the only possible
way TO bring about party harmony-the
only way in which to bring the influence
or party loyalty to bear. So long as the
position of the party is uncertain either
because of the ambiguity of it's declara-
tons or the circumstances under which
these declarations are made, the fight
OF the factions will go on and the party
will be helpless. We want the executive
two conventions. Then the democrats of
Georgia will divide on the currency ques-
ton and 1t can be seen on which side is
the majority. This does not mean perma-
nent division. The majority, which has
fairly and honestly shown that it is a
majority of the party, can then say to the
minority: Brethren, we have differed in
opinion on an important question, but it
is not so important as the preservation
of the influence of the democratic party.
We are the majority, and it is a demo-
cratic principle that the majority shall
rule. VIII you not help us to sustain
democratic principles in the government
in spite of this difference OF opinion on a
single subject?''
FITZGER PROSPEROUS