The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-18
\ NEW DEPARTURE FOR THE
sOUrH.

L
Some queer things are being printed
in the Northern newspapers respecting
| political conditions in the South. For
instance. Washington dispatches In
some of those papers say that>a con-
ference of Southern leaders to consider
the question of the political independ-
ence of the Southern states viii meet
in that city in the near future. The
| scheme is for the South to choose her
electors independently of any political
| party, with the view of casting her
| electoral votes for the presidential cam
didate of the party whose policies
promise to be of the most benefit to
her. whether that party is the Repub-
| lican, the Democratic or a new party.
1t is said to be the scheme of a South
ern senator.
There is little If any foundation for
this story. The fact that the name
of the Southern senator isn't given is
pretty good evidence that there isn't.
Besides, the scheme isn't practicable.
The choosing of electors means dis
NNASoAO4l VI ROllliCdl ISSUES anu the Is
sues would be the same as those which
the parties of the North would discuss.
Discussion would disclose differences
of opinion and these differences would
bring into existence two parties. These
parties would be in sympathy with the
parties at the North. 1t couldn't be
otherwise, since the issues would re-
late to the government in which both
sections were interested. The electoral
votes would be divided between the
two parties or one party would get all
of them, as is the case at present. And
in the electoral college they would be
cast with one or the other, or with
both of the Northern parties.
If there is a Southern senator who
is going to present this scheme at a
conference of Southern leaders he will
find that he viii have very little sup
port. Indeed, it is pretty safe to say
that no such conference will be held.
The idea that is being thrown out
that the South is tired and disgusted
with the Democratic party of the
North doesn't emanate from the trust
ed political leaders of the South.
There is no reason why it should. The
South had as much to do with the
making of the national Democratic
platform as the North. She has no
reason therefore to complain of it, and
as far as we have observed she isn't
complaining of it. The Democratic
party wasn't beaten because of any,
thlng that platform contains or of any,
thing left out of it. Nor was it beaten
ON account of it's candidates. 1t was
beaten because wage-earners and
wage-payers were afraid a change in
the political complexion Of the govern
ment might bring hard times. and thew
were satisfied to let well enough alone.
And it must be admitted that Mr..
Roosevelt's personal popularity con-
tributed to the victory.
The South isn't going to take an in
dependent political attitude. Her lead
ers couldn't agree upon such a course
and the people wouldn't follow them If
they could agree. The South is going
TO stand by the Democratic party, and
under the auspices OF that party is
eventually going to practically dictate
the policies of the government again.
The South is the American and con-
sentative section Of the country, and
the people will look to her for leaders.