The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-11
MONDAY, APRIL II, 1904.
As TO rAMMANY.

AS TO TAMMANYs
 The Democracy will watch Tammany's course with respect to Instructions in New York with eager interest Tammany may conclude 1t holds the key to the situation at St. Louis and may determine to use 1t. We do not see that it does hcic the key and we trust Tammany win appear at the National Convention with higher interests to subserve than the advancement of local organization in New York City. Tn other words and to put the point precisely. we believe 1t win be a grave error on the part of Tammany to try to override instructions from the State Convention of New York If that body shall conclude in the light os all the facts instructions should be given their delegates to St. Louis. We have thought all the delegates after be- inx selected with care and discretion might be left free to assemble at the National Convention. there to canvass and debate the entire field of available eandidates. We still think 2. convention 90 selected and so assembled would be better qualified than body of instruct ell delegates to name good ticket. They would bring more care and more intel rgence to the work of choosing if there had previously been free interplay and exchange of opinions on the ground. We have recognized, however. the difficulty in bringing about such a state of affairs and that any candidate whose friends controlled a State Convention outright were little likely to withhold instructions ia that candidates favor. The tempta- tor to instruct would be most powerful: making sure of so many delegates and trusting to good fortune for increasing the number at St. Louis. Such has been the practice in the past. That 1t would be abandoned at this time. we urged in oas own part. because of the peculiar situation within our party. Every Demo- crat seemed and was conscious the par ty had great opportunity. This oppor- tunity had come when the party was more or less torn into factions and was groping about in the dark for a leader. A choice could be better made, both of a platform and leader 1t seemed to us, if the convention were left to carry out tho original purpose of conventions, that 1t should be deliberative body. In New York State there is this peculiarity. Tammany as is too commonly the case finds itself at loggerheads with the rest of the party there, but all theories about tn. best way to select and send dele gates to St. Louis should give way before the imperative necessity of a united party in New York. We have no chance t3 win without New York and the slen- derest of chances to carry that State with our ranks there divided and em- Tammany owes it to the Democracy of tho country at this juncture not to ap- pear at St. Louis as a band of bush whackers. We feel less concerned about the name of the candidate New York is to present, than we do as to the condi- ton of the organization there. We must have a united Democracy in that State or we may as well coneede defeat in ad- vance.
 There are signs that Tammany will prove reasonable and tractable Under tho lead of the able and accomplished ycpng mayor they are building up the party's strength in the metropolis in a way and after fashion that makes Democrats elsewhere rejoice in their suc- cess. This has not always been so. There have been times when Tammany was heavy load to carry. In this cru eial. this critical campaign. all Demo- crats must heartily wish for a Tammany, harmonious and enthusiastic for the par tvs principles. If they are so animated they are little likely to turn up at St Louis only to exhibit bruises and sores suffered in q struggle for supremacy within the ranks at home