The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-05

course, the unit rule, were readonted on the first day. The next day the committee reported an additional rule. which is sub stantially an amendment to the unit rule, as follows: That in any state which has not provided or directed by it's state con vention how It's vote may be given, the convention VIII recognize the right of each delegate to cast his individual vote.' After discussion this was adopted.
 These rules of the Charleston convenz tion have been continued by readoption by the several conventions down to the last convention
 On the sixth day at Charleston. Mr. Lamar submitted the question whether the state convention of Georgia having requested' the delegates from that state to vote on all questions as a unit, the delegates were not bound by the rule to so vote The chair held that the "re- quest would be included in the term directed"
 The next day Mr Williams made the point that the New Jersey convention had instructed for a certain candidate and had
 recommended that the vote on all other questions be cast as 8 unit. He submitted the question whether the delegates were not bound thereby to vote as q unit. The char held that d similar construction SHobiO De gwen 10 the NOiu ieSoiihthN as to the word request and the vote cast as a unit On appeal the chair was reversed by vote of 15I 10 l45. A ma- Jority of the New Jersey delegation signed a protest against this decision of the con- vention. On the eighth day number of the delegates from the several states had withdrawn from the convention. UT the thirty-six Georgia ceiegates only eleven remained. The request was made l.xYs I f,44 Hf,RF haff recorded. The chair, however, held that it having appeared that the delegates were requested to vote as a unit and majority Of the delegation having with drawn, first protesting that no vote should thereafter be cast on behalf of Georgia, that the action of the majority must pre- vail and none of the remaining eleven could be counted
 At the Chicago convention of 1892 on an amendment to the platform. MT. Wallace of Pennsylvania on behalf of fifteen mem bers out of sixty four, insisted that they should not be bound by the majority on question of principle. The chair held that the instruction of ul4e state conven- ton must prevail and the votes cast as unit, as decided by a majority or the del- egation.
 As has been observed the phraseology of the resolutions instructing the dele gates has been exceedingly varied indi- eating at times a purpose to leave eer- tain matters discretionary with the del- egates, while in others positively reqnir- ing them to acI as directed.
 Rulings at Chicago in 1896.
 At Chicago in 1896 the unit rule having been continued in force along with other rules of preceding conventions, 1t ap- peared that the Wisconsin state conyen- ton had resolved as follows:
 We hereby direct the delegates from Wisconsin to the democratic national con vention to be held in Chicago July next to vote as unit on all subjects and can didates when and as a majority or the delegation may -Aireet.'
 The chairman representing nineteen or the twenty-four delegates from Wiscon- sin announced during the balloting that he declined to vote and that he was in- structed by the majority to cast their votes as he cast his. It was contended on behalf of the minority that while the majority might under the above resolu- tion, cast the vote solidly for any can didate, yet when the majority insisted that the whole delegation should refrain from voting, they could not prevent a minority from casting their votes. This view was sustained by the chair, and five votes of the delegation were allowed to be cast for the candidate of their choice
 It was held by Chairman Harrity in the preliminary proceedings of this conven- tion on the vote for temporary chairman, that where state convention had adopt ed the unit rule majority of the dele gates can cast the entire vote of the delegation; also that if a delegate from such state challenges the accuracy or in- tegrity of the vote of the state as an- nounced then the list of delegates from that state shall be called for the purpose of verifying the vote as reported
 It was subsequently, held further that if the accuracy of the vote as announced was not denied. the roll of the delegation would not be called; also that the tenn porar' roll furnished by the national com mittee must be accepted as prima facle ccrrect, and that no question as to It's accuracy could be considered until re- pcrted on by the committee on creden- t,as: and that there can be no permanent organization or celebration of party prin- cLles until the membership of the con- st-or is first settled.
 At Kansas City no question as to the urit rule or any other rule was contested the pi ceedings being conducted through out with apparent unanimity.