The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-07
THE soUrH's INFLUENCE.
Its Duty to Dictate Democratic
 Doctrine to the Party.

| Chicago Chronicle.
 The article from The Montgomery Ad- vertiser, which appears elsewhere on this page is of interest to Democrats every where for two reasons.
 It shows that an important Southern newspaper has no hesitation in declaring that if delegates from the South were to insist upon a reaftrmation of the Chicago | and Kansas City platforms next year,
 Tit would fervently wish that they be allowed no voice in the convention. It declares that while representatives of the Southern States in the next Dem
 ocratic National Convention should aban-
 don the impossible theories of lS96 and 1900 they should not attempt to dictate either the candidate or the platform, for
 that would not be good judgment or good policy"
 While The Advertiser fully appreciates the power and the responsibility of the South in Democratic councils. The Chron- icle is of opinion that it Is at fault in holding that there would be improprety in the representatives of that section talk ing a positive stand in National Conven- tions and maintaining their position against all corners. Dictation is an un- pleasant word. but adherence to principle and loyalty to genuine Democratic leader
 ship need not be looked upon as dicta- tion. If that be dictation what shall be
 said of the attitude of representatives Of
 Populists in Populistic States who not only command but threaten?
 The Chronicle holds that most of the
 disasters which have overtaken the Dem ocratic Party of late might have been
 avoided if the representatives of the South in National conventions had asserted themselves as Democrats and citizens in
 manner which is their unquestioned right.
 Sixteen so-called Southern States in
 which the intelligence. wealth and virtue
 of the people are largely to be found in the Democratic Party certainly owe it to
 themselves and to the country at large to assume the position in National Con n NJ O. litical influence entitle them. They have as much right to insist upon candidates and platforms to their liking as any oth- CT States have. and if it comes to q mat ter of dtctatiOn 1t would be better for the Democratic Party North Gs well as South to have it's candidates named and its principles formulated by the representa- tiVes of Democratic States than 1t would be to leave that undertaking wholly in the hands of Populists and Socialists, who do not represent Democrats any | where.
 | A generation ago the South acquired l the habit of deferri ng to the opinions of | Northern leaders as to candidates and | issues likely to prove formidable in few | Northern States. This policy would be
 wise today, subject always tn the con
 dition that candidates and policies shall | be Democratic. On this point the South
 ought to insist and. If necessary, to dic-
 tate. Such dictatiOn Is needed by party | which is prone to accept undemOcratic ! leaders and principles. relying upon the | loyalty of the south to the organization | 10 supply two-thirds of the electoral | votes necessary to an election
 | Recent experience has shown that even | the South cannot maintain it's soidlty l under such conditions. and the fact that
 the Democratic Party in the more Pop l uous States~ of the North and West has
 been practically without official represent l alton for eight years shows how false | have been the hopes held out by and how
 disastrous have been the consequences | of PODuliStiC leadership.
 1 The southern States arc entitled to "dic-
 tate" Democratic doctrine to the Demo- cratic Party They once undertook to
 dictate something else. They should be
 as jealous in right doing as. a generation 1 ago. they were in wrong doing