The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-17

The politicians who are loudest In
abuse Of the executive committee Tor
referring the financial question TO vote
Of tho people asserting that II had no
authority In the premises. almost WIN,
GU. exception participated n the so.caIiea
harmony meeting OF me nfn nio ,,' III y,
was attempted without arY authority
whatever, to make A platform Tor ths
party.-Fort Worth Gazette.
The Gazette is unfortunate In rs appeal
TO precedent The Baker committee never
pretended to have the authority 10 make
a platform for the party. ard never at
tempted 10 dc so. TO the contrary. IN fact.
4. distinctly and In plain terms disclGimed
having any such authority. Here is tie
language employed hy the Baker commit
tte In what has been known as the Dallas
Harmony Agreement. ard to which the
Gazette refers:
Whereas. a serious division exists among
democrats In Texas, and II Is to the IN
;erest OF the party and OF good govern
ment that such division should pc al
iusted and the party he reunited upon
the basis OF frpternnl union Involving no
sacrifice of principle on the part OF any
democrat. nor tho imposition Of amy
terms celucuiatcd to bring humlHatoni
Resolved. We most heartily favor re-
union OF the party. AND WHILE THIS
COMMITTEE DOES NOT ASST ME TO
FRAME OR DICTATE a PLAFORM,
yet Tor the p8rposr Of reunion WE
RECOMMEND as - basis Of adjustment
and settlement az AL differences honora-
We rcl,ernfe our Enforcement Of the
Na'iounl platform ndonicd az Chicago in
1882 as u true expression Of democratic
fmth and stand az "a unit ready TO second
the exerlions of our democratic president
and congress- IN tho execution of the de-
mgsqds q 2. sad platf9 p,3 - Ar nn,
NARlES AND CONVENTIONS TO BE
HELD IN 1894 be composed Anl cousu-
tutcd on the basis OF the vote for the
democratic electors in 1899 and no por-
son who was then Of age and did not go
vote, unless prevented by sickness, db.
Renee or other good cntFe, and no per-
son who viii not pledge himself 20 abide
by the action OF the State convention. so
assembled shall he allowed to participate
in the primaries.
II viii bc noted that the Baker com
miitee recommended" and proposed" II
did not Issue any rercmptory orders to tho
people. for tho very good reason that the
members, including tho distinguished
chairman, recognized the fact that they
had no right TO do so. That very question
ctme mn during the committees dollbora-
tions, 1t was agreed without division tluai
the committee had no authority to bind the
democratic party by Tea action and It was
FOR this reason thai the distinctive dis
clalmer was Incorporated IN the rosolu
lions finally adopted. Of course, It was as
gmed, and correctly IS was subsequently
proved. that the democrats Of the stat,
would, in the interest OF party peace, In
dorso the course Of the committee, bu
never nor at any time ala the Baker CON
mltteo assume tho authority to chang,
party customs or dictate TO the people how
they should conduct their local affairs
Mr.. Baker, tho worry able chairman, wa
At all times very circumspect In this r.
gard. ON more than ono occasion h.
deemed 1t proper TO counsel the utmos
caution In tho matter Of tho authority %
the cominittoe and his wise conservatism
coon oame 10 hn recognized AID valued b.
all % his associates
The Institution OF a comparison bo,wee
the Baker and tho Dudley committees
tho very last thing tho Gazette shoul
have thought Of.