The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-23
A Question of Issues,
Not One of Men.

Judge Alton B. Parker's remarks
during his recent speech-making tour
o. the southern states, and especially
his views upon the question of nomi-
mating a southern man for the p7esi-
dency. have been extensively CON-
mented upon, the general impression
being that Judge Parker has an AK
OF some kind to grind. The Ssvan-
nah News has the following to say
relative to the matter:
In commenting upon Judge Par
ker's suggestion that Southern Demo
Gratis insist upon taking the leader
ship Of their party and naming a
Southern man as the Democratic can
didate for president in 1908, Senator
Clay said the democratic parry must
win the presidency on issues. if It
wins at all. The inference from this
Is that it doesn't make much differ
ence whether the democratic party
takes its presidential candidate from
the north or the south. so long as it
has issues which have the approval
OF the people.
AG -NEM 40Lh NOLAQr uLECueEAu4
the same subject, says: ct is not
sectional feeling that prevents the
nomination of a southern democrat for
president. but the parochial element
Of geographical availability which Of
ten denies the presidency TO the man
best qualified for the Office" Accord
ing to the World. therefore. a man
isn't nominated for the presidency be
cause he has made himself prominent
by the advocacy Of certain issues, but
because he lives in a certain part of
the country. The inference is that
the ideal candidate is the man who
is prominent because of his identif-
cation with a popular issue and at
the same time lives in a section of
the country that doesn't always vote
ore way-that is. a section that Is
doubtful, politically. New England
IS Republican and therefore dOesn' (
furnish presidential candidates. The
south is democratic, and therefore
the politicians do not look upon her
presidential possibilities with a
friendly eye, however available they
NAV be in other respects.
It is true Of course that the dispO-
sitiOn is TO take a candidate from
New York or the Middle West. be-
cause both are doubtful. The republi-
cans are sure they can carry New
England and the democrats that they
can carry the south. Hence the re-
publicans do not consider New Eng.
land men when hunting for a candi-
date and the democrats do not take
into account southern men. But II
what Senator Clay says is correct
that If the democratic party wins al
al. IL must be on issues. what differ.
ence does il make whether its can,
dinste is from the south, north, east
or west?
For a change, it might be well for
the democratic party to ignore rhs
politicians and their plan Of taking
q candidate from the section that Is
doubtful II the democratic party pre-
scented a platform that appealed
strongly to the people a candidate
from the south would likely get as
many votes in doubtful states as 2
candidate from a section REGARDED as
doubtful. A southern candidate
would be a novelty, and that fac
would be a source of strength. Their
there would be many in the doubtful
states who would vote for a south
ern man for sentimental reasons. II
s. a safe statement that a southern
man would be as strong a candidate
as a man from a doubtful section. Il
wouldn't be surprising IL that STATE
nent should be tested in the mex
presidential contest.