The copper era., 1904-11-24
Drastic Measures Talked Politically in
 the South.

against the republican party. the south to cast its vote independently in the electorial college"
 \ movement looking to this end is already under discussion by several southern democrats. who. if the plan receives any encouragement. will urge it's ratification by the peo- pIc of the southern statc,. How far reaching it will bc. whether it will ever amount to what its advocates hope. is too far ahead to say. but 1t is known that plan, are on foot for seriou, consideration of the future course of the southern democracy in the national councils.
 According to the present arrange mcnts prominent southern democrats in and out of congress are to be asked to meet in Washington this winter to talk over the ,outh'e political future.
 Should this peaceful conference materializc a resolution substantially as follow, will be offered by q south crn congres9mar:
 ''Resolvcd. That the democrats of the south ido not send delegates to the national democratic conventions: ,that the electors from the southern ties maintain their old cOnstitu
 -~elal privilege and vote in the cleo [lal college -for-1hAt presidential caSdidate regardless of politics, who s<ems to them most likely to offer to the south it's greatest advantages.
 Should such q resolution be adopted
 it would be referred to the several state committees and by them to the people of the state for ratification.
 A southern member of congress in discussing the proposed plan said:
 ''In my opinion the only hope for the south i, independent political action a cutting loose from the mugwumpcry and cowardicc of the northern democracy. The Compari- son is odious. but the negro vote in nine cases out of ten controls the doubtful states and the presidency. There is no reason why the south. with something like ljO votes. should not hold the balance of power and 90 independent into the cleo toral college and cast its vote for that candidate least inimical to the interests of the people of the south. This T mean that the northern democracy is left free to cvadc and trucklc aS much ao it plca>cs. Inde- 1,- h..r-, Inf if can 20 ahead and do what it thinks best to defeat the republican party. If from our standpoint 1t nominateS a candidate in whom the south has confidence our electoral vote will be cast for him. The same k true of the republican candidate. or any other candidate. should we be un- able to get something which ap- breaches our ideal We will cast our vote for q southern democrat. We had better lose with him than lose with candidate and platform only partially in sympathy with Us. It seems to me that the time has been reached for some such course as above outlined Flying in the face Ql holding the suffrage features of our state constitutions, the republican party comes out for reduction of our congressional representation be- cause we have excluded not negroes, but illitcratcS. from exercising the rights of franchise.
 'Whatcvcr k left for the south should be for the south. The effect ought to be q good one on both the republican and north democratic partieS.'
 SOUTH SHOULD ASSERT ITSELF
 ''I think the time has come for the south to assert itself and refuse to any longer follow the dictate, of the democracy"
 This was the declaration of Repre- James Hay. of Virginia.
 The talk of Il new party" said NIr. Hay. "or reorganization along radical lines should not be listened to by any true democrat. \ new party l certainly could do no better than the 1 old one. and there k no need of radi- | cal recognition. The democrats should simply get together and stand for the principles ot true democracy. 1 We have sustained scvcrer defeats 1 than that ;of November $ and recov- cred. In 1872. after the disastrous of Horace Greeley, it was freely predicted that the democratic party would cease to exist. but it lived to administer defeat to the re- publicanS in 1881 and 1899, and see | no reason why the democrats may not ! history to repeat itself.
 Ut is too carly yet to talk about 1 who the leaders will be. When the | party gets together a leader can he 7ouNd W60 win suit all elements of | the party. 1t is impossible to tell | what the next four years will bring | forth. Let the democrats take | cheer If they get together and | present d solid front to the oppoSi- l tion q leader will be found without | any troble.
 "One result of this election will | be that the south will no longer re- frain from asking representation up- |