Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-06-23
CUfFEY ON The
COVERNORSHIP
Democratic Leader of Pennsylvania
Defines His Position.
PLEDGED DELEGATES RELEASED

Pittsburg. Pa. June 81. - Colonel
James NJ. Guffey. Democratic state
leader. gave out the following state
ment defining his position with refer
ence TO the action of the Democratic
state convention. which meets In Har-
risburg on June q for the purpose oil
nominating candidate for governor
and other state officers.
Much interest has been aroused
throughout the state over the question
as to whether the head of the ticket
in fusion campaign should BE- an In
dependent Republican or Democrat.
The question was raised by an inter
view OF June S. since which time Colo
mel Guffey has remained silent. In his
statement he says:
Some days prior TO the Lincoln
party convention In May met the ex-
ecutive committee of the Democratic
state central committee and number
OF state leaders In Philadelphia. The
coming Democratic state convention
was fully discussed. and II was the
concensus OF opinion then that fusion
should only be considered with DEM
ocrat heading the ticket. Two days
after the adjournment OF the Republic
can convention | again met the execu-
tive committee and number of state
leaders, and no change In the former
conclusions having occurred. the an
nonncement was made by me. in ac-
cordance with the sentiment Of the
two conferences. that n Democrat
should head the ticket. and only upon
those conditions would fusion be con
sidered in the Democratic state conven-
ton. Recent conferences. however,
had with the committee and state lead
ers indicate marked change in the
views of many
"The delegates comprising the con-
ventiOn--the only body authorized To
speak-are practically elected. and the
majority of them and many county
leaders are still Of the opinion that the
position originally taken is the correct
one. and Notwithstanding the volume
OF noise abroad in the land II IL still
impossible for me to believe that |
have committed a crime In recon-
mending the nomination of Democrat
In a Democratic state convention for
the head of the ticket.
Nevertheless. | want to avoid strife
in the party and Its organization. and
to the delegates TO whom ! have just
referred want 10 say that you are
nd OIL oh fCp
to me personally or to the policy in
Dictated.
Your own manhood will dictate 10
You your course In the coming conven-
dion ms IT has always done in those OF
the past.
Strife or even the semblance OF
strife. within an organization is al
ways 10 be deplored. and yet II Is well
to bear In mind that the time Is fast
approaching when 100000 Democrats
in Pennsylvania will be marshaled In
support of national ticket, as TO the
head of which | am sure there will be
no divergence of opinion between the
private in the ranks and those chosen
TO lead.
"And can II be true that in this vast
army of Democrats you cannot find one
big enough. honest enough. to meet the
conditions as they exist today? Re-
member you are in nowlse responsible
for these conditions. You have been
proclaiming. yes. begging. for common
honesty and the enforcement of the
constitution for many long years. Your
platforms have been saturated with
this demand year In and year out Your
representatives In the Legislature have
appealed. pleaded. reasoned and begged
for years for the enactment of these
reforms. Then. why transfer your al
legIance now?"