The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-18

PiotAoAA ouopleu represents CoHSCleH-
tious consideration of every phase of
the issues touched upon. It is not "cut
and dried" platform. The committee,
composed of strong men of earnest con-
viction and differing views, were not al
ways unit, but after discussion and
conference they wrote platform upon
which they were a unit with the excep-
ton of two declarations. The conven-
ton wisely sustained the majority of the
committee upon the exception that relat-
ed to party principle. The matter of
primaries, which was rejected, was one
ent that the party is not yet ready for
the primary. 1t will come, but too many
wise men now are hostile to it for the
party to adopt it.
The chief discussion in the committee
and in the convention grow out of the
minority report signed by H. A. London
and N. A. Sinclair on the question of en-
dorsing the Kansas City platform. The
plank as presented by the committee
read thus:
1--WE reaffirm our allegiance to the
Democratic party and it's policy as enun-
ciated in it's national platform"
The minority presented this substitute:
For the words we re-affirm our alleg-
lance to the Democratic party and it's
principles as enunciated in it's national
platform the words we re-affirm our al
legiance to the fundamental principles
of the Democratic party"
There was much debate in the COM
mittee over the proper wording of this
declaration.
Quite a number of the party leaders,
most of whom were ardent believers in
the Kansas City platform, believed it
wisest, all things considered, to make
general declaration of allegiance to
fundamental Democratic principles"
rather than to specifically declare "as
enunciated in it's national platform" Be-
fore the committee they asked to be heard,
they made their argument, the commit
tee considered their we'll presented
T views, and then wisely resolved to let
the plank stand 'as enunciated in the
national platform" Those who were
jealous for a general declaration were so
strongly of the opinion that their posi-
ton was correct that they carried the
fight on the floor of the Convention, and
sought to secure the adoption of the
minority declaration. The debate was
participated in exclusively by men
whose devotion to the Kansas City plat
form was not open to question. Some
srtong speeches were made on both
sides, notably those by c. M. Busbee, A.
c. Avery and c.. L. Alternately, for the mi
nority and for the majority by Senator
Ward Senator Cameron Morrison. j. J.
Laughinghouse, r. L. Stevens, and Con-
gresham w. w. Kitchin. 1t is no lack
of praise of the other speeches to say that
the speech of Mr.. Kitchin was THE
speech of the Convention. A synopsis
has already appeared in these columns.
1 have not missed a Democratic Con-
vention since Governor Scales was NOM
mated, and / do not hesitate to say that
ocratic Convention that surpassed Mr..
Kitchin's speech last night.
1t would have been most unfortunate
and unwise, after the direct issue had
been raised, to have voted down a de-
claration re-affirming the National Dem
ocratic platform, and the Convention
sustained it's general reputation for wis
dom by voting to endorse it by a large
majority. The last National platform is
the party's chart until another is writ
ten, and any action that would indicate
any back down from the declarations in
ocrats on the defensive from the opening
to the close of the campaign. 1t may be,
as some of our leaders believe, that the
discussion did good. But if the vote had
been against re-affirmation, it would
have been in my judgment, the one mis-
take of the Convention. AS it voted to
sustain the majority report. all is well.
Neither in its declaration of principles
nor in the personnel of its candidates did
the Convention appeal to the support of
any class of people as a class. 1t re-
jected all suggestions of crawling on it's
knees to what is known as Commercial
Democrats" Co misnomer) or in any re-
Election upon them and their convictions
The Democratic party in North Caro-
lima cannot expect every man who votes
the ticket to argree with the majority
upon every declaration. 1t allows and
rejoices in the largest independence of
opinion consonant with abiding, as Mr.
Cleveland said "by the arbitrament of
the National Democratic Convention. "
There is no man who believes in the fun
damental principles of the Democratic