The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-13
THE CAUCUS SCHEME.


 The undertaking of some Democratic members of the Constitutional Conven- tion to bring about a caucus next week, to consider the report of the Suffrage Committee. is in The Advertisers opin- ion a serious mistake.
 It is understood that the purpose in holding the caucus is to discuss the suffrage restriction question in Party council behind closed doors, to deter mine what shall be adopted. to put the Party seal upon 1t, to bind Democratic delegates to vote for that plan at a fixed day. and to shut off discussion upon it on the floor of the Convention. The idea in this plan Is that it will not do to wash dirty Party linen in public, that the press and people cannot be trusted with hearing of the delibera- tions by which the suffrage provisions are matured. that in public discussions of the Committee reports material may be furnished the enemy to use on the stump against the adoption of the per fected Constitution.
 This view. in our judgment. is not broad, wise or sufficient. The suffrage question is a vital one to every citizen of the State. The people have a right to know all that is said on the discus sion that leads their representatives to whatever conclusion may be reached. The Constitutional Convention, though composed largely of Party men. is not Party machine, and it will be risky thing to turn it into one. as would be the case if this caucus proposition is carried out.
 The people are bound to have this discussion sooner CT later in some shape. If 1t is not heard publicly now, it. will have to be heard on the stump before The Constitution is adopted. The Party will have to defend itself against the shafts of the enemy at that time. if not now, and it will be wise to forge all the weapons in this assemblage of the Party's strongest men, where the friction of brains is at Its best. If the work is done now it may greatly simplify the task at the critical time later. It is easier to lead and formu- late public opinion than it is to change and reform it after it is already made. There may be some Party linen to the dark closet forever. If 1t is not washed now. 1t may be all the dirtier and ranker smelling later on. To cram 1t down out of sight for the present will not help things at all. Bring 1t out. apply the alkali of honest purpose. put it through the flowing waters of free discussion. boil it in the hot cauld- | ron of debate. expose 1t to the purify ing sunlight of publicity, remove every | vestiRe of foulness by the abundant ventilation of public opinion. That is | the only effective. permanent method of dealing with Party dirty linen, if there be an accumulation of such stuff. Furthermore. We doubt the possibil- itv of this dark lantern proceeding. We don't believe that a considerable number of the strongest men in the | Convention would suffer themselves to be silenced in public debate by any Party caucus. They would not admit the authority of the caucus so far. Their conscience will impel them to utter their views aloud for the hearing of all the people. We believe there are l many such men in the Convention.
 There is abroad a. considerable amount of suspicion that the real pur- pose in this caucus movement Is not 50 much to discuss in secret and formu- late the suffrage restriction as it Is to fix an early date for it's consideration and disposal. There has been a strong quiet movement in existence for some time to bring about that result. ir order that other matters agitating the public mind may be thrust aside and left unconsidered. If this suspicion ha. any basis in fact, it Is all the more reason why the caucus proposition
 should be let alone. It is the duty O.
 this Convention 20 give every com mittee ample time to work out al
 needed changes, and then to give tn,
 committees reports careful considera
 tion. The best Constitution possibl
 should be devised, and all the tim
 necessary for earnest work should b.
 consumed. It would be great blunde
 to institute gag rule on any commit
 tee. or to turn out a lop-slded instru
 ment.
 From every standpoint, therefore, tn
 caucus undertaking seems to us yer,
 imprudent. We hope that body, if i
 assemblies, will refuse to do what i
 proposed.