The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-11-30

cratic rarly derives ifs strength from
the people 1t is the party OF the
masses and not The classes The pee.
pic, therefore. have right to name
the candidates of their choice so pri
maries for the vote Of the humbliest
is as potent as the vote of the man
with many millions They have that
equality at the election and It is but
tair that they should be equal in the
choice Of the candidates.
THE right Of the committee to do
this has been challenged and it is
suggested that the committee has no
authority To go further than to call
convention TO select new commit
tee. The exponents of this idea, how
ever, have not been exactly consistent
Every suggestion OF this kind that has
been formulated into written resolu-
ton has contained other prsylsious
than the mere formation of a now com
mittee Most of them have contained
the idea of adopting a state platform.
This looks innocent enough at first
glance, yet il we will think It con
tains the elements ct serious danger
Ninety-nine per cent of the voters of
the party are Infinitely more intere T.
ed in the grinciples declared for in
the platform than they are in the per
sonnel of it's candidates. E the new
committee could be selected by con
yention and a platform Of principles
adopted by delegates selected by con
yention, platfoim could be prepared
which would drive every man out of
the race for office except those whose
candidacy dominated the convention.
A primary held later would he but
tail attached to the convention kite
'rhe committee was persuaded in its
course by the further facts.
"l.--That it Is The aniyersal rule
that the platform be written at the
time the candidates are nominated.
BY following this method the candl
dates discuss fully the various issues
uron which they seek the suffrage Of
the people and the people select Ger
tain candidates because of their
peculiar views on certain matters and
those views are written into the plat
form at the bohest OF the people. Thus
the platform expresses the iudglmcnt
Of The pc, pie and not of the politicians
80 No valid reason has been sag
gcstcd why the central committee and
the candidates Lor state Offices can
not be salected at the same time. WHY
the necessity OF holding a convention
within the next 80 days to select
new central committee and adopt
platform, and within G0isys thereafter
hold an additional convention or pri
mary to nominate state officers? The
people can not understand the reason
for srch great haste and SO many con
ycntions following each other in such
rapid succession
"3-lf such convention was called
# wo1ld result IN "A bitter political
scramble, Mrbitiols men would Inn
mcdlately begin campaign tc con-
troll it so as TO assist their ambitions
and it wcold result in much disson-
ion
4.T The constitutional convention
may create new cclnucs beth in Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory and if
the convention plan was adopted as
suggested, the nowly created counties
wo,ld have no representative ON the
new committee.
IS. The conditions existing IN the
new state, made up ass Il is from the
two territories, arc Unprecedented.
The plan of Misunderstanding the two
mmittocs Is the very best solution
of the aroper way Ia which 20 unite
the DEMOCRATS Of the two territories.
Under this plan the great victory at
tho recent cll.tion was won Our Gr-
eanization mest be kept Intact per
fectod and added TO on allowed 10 die
"rhis committee, With the RESPONSE
bility cf building up the organization,
cogld not In the face OF these existing
circunistmces hesitate or stop for a
moment Democracy g. engaged in a
mighty Struggle Of the poople and an.
rayed against il are the combined
forces q special privileges, greed aud
corruption II can not afford 10 en-
gaan I'M q nnoNaraN WITH The lra-Ian