The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-18
ATTEMPT 10 GOVERN BY "CONI.
MITTEE'' INSTEAD OF THE
ELECTED REPRESENT
ATTVES OF THE
PEOPLE.

mons, Chairman of the State Demo-
cratic Executive Committee. by sew
eral gentlemen. members of the COM
mittee and proxy for others who are
members.
We shall not discuss the real mo-
tive that has prompted the letter.
Neither will we discuss the peculiar
personal and professional relations of
certain persons who began the agita-
ton TO get committee interpretation"
of measures pending in the General
Assembly.
We shall not stop to find out
whether some of these men are con-
trolled by their zeal for the party or
zeal in opposition to those measures.
The character of the letter is out Of
the ordinary. We have no, political
campaign on hand. There us moth
ing that the committee can do that
will have any binding force on the
General Assembly. The call says:
"In view of pending legislation in the
General Assembly which we think
involves an official Interpretation OF
the last Democratic platform and In
view OF the fact that the said platform
was presented and interpreted to the
people in the campaign OF 1904 by
our candidates and the speakers sent
out under the direction Of the execu.
tive committee contrary to such legis-
lation."
OF course this refers to legislation
on the subject of liquor and we are
at loss to know why the call did
not in direct terms say SO.
There are a few significant things
about the call. Why was it not is
sued when the legislature was
organized January 4th? Why
did the signers wait until after the
Ward bill had passed the Senate--se-
curing clear majority of the Demo-
cratic members of that body?
The purpose of this call is plain.
1t is to defeat the Ward bill by the
influence of the State Committee. The
sentiment in the House for that meas
ure is strong. 1t has grown stronger.
The liquor lobby here had gained II
votes This is the last stand of the
li-uor interests. We have no doubt
that some of those who sent in prox-
les would recall them If they knew
all the real facts.
But let all this go by. The real
question is what right has the Demo-
cratic State Executive Committee 10
undertake to control legislation? This
when the Republican State Executive
Committee sat in continuous session
in this city and dictated every meas
ure passed by the fusion legislature.
The State Executive Committee. in
our opinion. will not undertake TO
in that body are not answerable to
! ''committees." They are answerable
to their constituents. Without any
interference or dictation or "interpre-
tation" from anv one they can vote
as they think best and be responsible
alone to the voters.
This is a dangerous use to which
it is attempted TO put the party ma
chinery. 1t is species of bossism the
mass of Democrats will not submit
to.
In all of our great political up
heavals it was never before attempted
by Democrats to control the legisia-
ture by committee action. The DEM
ocratic caucus may do So 1t may
bind all those who participate. And
then those who refuse to be bound
are answerable alone TO their consti-
tuents. The caucus refused to take
action on liquor legislation. wisely
leaving every member to vote as his
conscience dictated or as his people
directed.
We do not believe that the members
of the committee after seriously con-
sidering the matter will undertake to
bind. control, or interpret" the
| members of the General Assembly. We
take it that the committee will de-
clare that it is not its province to die
tate or interpret for the members
Tho Democratic members of the
General Assembly will not be com
mittee" ruled. They are free men.
Inc pleSuihplioii 10 liidl every oeHi-
ocrat in the General Assembly votes
laccording TO the pledge made by him
to the people. The cali for meeting
seems predicated on the assumption
that some member of the House will
be false to his promise made to the
people, The fact is there are more
men in this legislature who promised
I
to wipe out distillery towns than there
are those who promised to keep them
on the statute books.
The majority is ruling and ruling
along lines of Sobriety and consist