The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-09
Advice to Local Democrats.

The G | o b e published yesterday
letter from Mr.. John l.. Townley, chair
man of the Democratic county COM
mittee, giving his opinion OF the proper
method of procedure for Democrats in
the calling of city convention. Mr..
Townley advises that the Democratic
Citizens committee, which unQueStion-
ably represents practically the entire
Democratic party in this city, and
which is legally authorized to act,
should call a convention regularly, and
allow any other bodies or individuals
assuming to act under the name of
Democracy to do as they please. He
points out that the so-called Organiza-
ton represented by Mr.. Bell has al
ready been declared irregular by the
courts and that it need not be con-
suited in any way.
In an interview in this mornings
issue, another prominent Democrat
makes some comments and suggestions
in this connection, which seem to us
to be not without weight. He has no
criticism of the general position taken
by Mr.. Townley, and believes that Mr..
Michael, of the Democratic Citizens
committee, is fully empowered to act
for the organization and for the party.
There is, however, a point in
VOWED which might become of no lit
tie Importance. The body Of which Mr..
Michael is the acknowledged chairman
is entitled to use only the designation
Democratic Citizens" 1t was obliged
to adopt that distinctive appellation in
60 Go-lnt "a
fraudulent convention attempted to be
held two years ago under the name of
the Democratic party, and it has no
claim to any other.
1t is, no doubt, true that Mr.. Bells
committee has no legal standing or au-
thority whatever. 1t is also true, as
this gentleman points out, that no local
political organization now existing has
legal right to use the plain, simple
and all-important designation Demo
craft on the official ballot. If, then, the
Democratic Citizens committee proceeds
to act alone. its candidates will be
labeled Democratic Citizens " On the
ticket. There would be nothing to pre-
vent Mr.. Bell and his associates, or
any candidates whom they may choose
curing the required number of sigma
lures, and thus obtaining the right to
place these names on the ballot under
the heading Democrat" This would
certainly be a serious matter; for il
would need more than the time of an
entire campaign to explain to a large
number of voters that the word Demo-
craft did not mean Democratic at all;
but that, if they wanted to vote for the
real Democratic candidates, they must
mark the names followed by the term
Democratic Citizens"
1t is clear that some way to avoid
this possibility should be thought out.
We do not know whether the best way
is that proposed by the gentleman
whose opinions are given this morning
or not. His method would certainly
seem to be conclusive as to legal au-
thority, but it would also require
perfect agreement among a large num-
| Der of men and a very remarkab BILE
political unanimity. He advises that
the old Democratic city committee,
| quorum of which never came together
! and whose authority was usurped by
Mr.. Scannell and his followers, should
now be called together by it's chairman.
| This committee would have a right to
| speak, under the ruling of the court
| declaring usurperS those who tried to
exercise its power two years ago, for
| the Democratic" party. The commit
tee headed by Mr.. Michael would
| speak for the Democratic voters them
selves. The committee of which MI
oh
the same time, and since the county
| includes the city, the Democratic coun-
| t. committee would carry weight with
| the city organization. These three
| bodies could then agree upon a time
and place for city convention and the
| arrangements for holding primaries
If each were to issue an address to
voters and publish directions for pri-
maries to be held on the same day and
in the same places throughout the city,
and all were, as far as possible, to unite
upon delegate tickets then distinct
consolidation would be effected; so that
the st. Paul Democracy would be har-
monious once more in name, as we'll as
| in fact, and all Democrats would be
able to vote for a set of candidates
placed on the ballot under the good old
! name of Democrat" without any
other designation and without any need
| to add to it or any power anywhere to
| subtract from it.
We believe it to be possible for
| Democrats to act thus on a common
basis for their common interest and
we know that it is desirable for them
to move as quickly as possible AS
| there is now no prospect of discord in
the party itself, so there should be no
possibility of awkwardness or dispute
in the constitution Of the official ballot.
The various city and county commit
tee officers, together with the leading
Democrats of the town, should take
counsel together to meet this situation
| without further delay