The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-07-06
VIII Hooker stirs % a Hornets Nest.


vile Friday, June %, Mr. Will Hooker,
| Of this county, member Of the commit
tee from the State at large, introduced
the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, This committee is heartily
IN favor Of the primary system OF nom
| nation, and
Whereas, The, present system Of
nominating certain committeeman and
minor officers unnecessarily encumbers
the candidacy of those running in the
primary for the more important offices
and
Whereas, We believe that it is TO
the best interest of the Democratic
party that each campaign should be
conducted by committee selected i'm
mediately before the beginning Of such
campaign, in order that such committee
shall reflect upon current issues the
sentiments Of the voters whom they
represent; be it
Resolved, first, That convention
Of delegates from the several counties
Of the State Of Florida, TO State Dem
ocratic Convention, is hereby called TO
meet in the city Of Jacksonville, Fla.
at such place IA the present chairman
Of this committee shall designate, at
the hour Of 10 O'Clock a. m. on the first
Tuesday in March, A. d. 1905 for the
purpose Of nominating o. an adjutant
general, (2) State chemist, and for
the purpose of selecting a national com
mittcCman and delegates 70 the national
convention, and for the purpose Of fix
ing a date for State and county prima-
ries for the nomination Of all other
officers; and for the purpose Of making
such rules and regulations for the gov
eminent Of such primaries as they see
fit; and for the purpose Of selecting a
State committee to conduct the cam
paign Of 1908, and perform such other
duties as said convention may instruct.
"SCcond, That each county shall be
entitled TO one vote in such convention
for every two hundred votes, or frac-
ton thereof, cast in such county in the
primary election held on the 18th day Of
May, A. ID 1906
Had this been bomb loaded with
dynamite II could hardly have produced
more confusion. Hon. John N G. Stock
ton, who was present as proxy, arose
10 his feet as if he had springs in his
legs and opposed the resolution. He
said that he would always be opposed
To- conventions that would be attended
by delegates travelling on free passes.
Mr.. W j Bryan and Mr. Arthur
Williams, who was recently elected
member Of the committee in place Of
N. A. Bitch, resigned, also opposed
the resolution
Mr. Hooker and Mr. Charles Daugh-
Crty favored the resolution and told in
very plain languag" why it should be.
adopted
This committee was elected four years
ago and vet expects 10 manage the
campaign of 1909 This Mr. Hooker.
and those who favored the resolution,
thought was too far removed from the
people They wanted u fresh expression
from the people, which il seems to US
Ought 10 obtain.
Mr. Hooker believes that had the
resolution been pressed 70 an issue il
would have carried, hut the purpose for
which it was introduced that is, to got
it before the public and provoke discus
SION through the newspapers, was aC-
cOmplishcd, and it was withdrawn.
Under the rules Of the executive com
mittCc, Florida has no way Of adopting
"A platform or Of letting the balance Of
the country know how she stands on
any of the questions constantly coming
up for settlement, and in order TO bC
represented at all in the next National
Democratic Convention she must hold u
primary election early in the spring of
1905 in order to elect delegates at the
same primary in which our State officers
are to bc nominated, and this will bo
entirely too early to have free and
full discussion and will be unjust to all
concerned. both voters and candidates.
We hope that the resolution intro
duccd by Mr.. Hooker will be generously
discussed by the newspapers Of the
State and will bc brought to the attcn-
ton Of the various county committees.
There is "A growing sentiment Of dissat-
isfaCtion at the way things arc now
being conducted, and we hope that MIR
Rockers resolution will be as an enter
inE wedge that will bring about whole
some change. - Ocala Banner Goth