Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-07-10

NhFlu buouiu W Nuo ulhIU sbaNN l4Yu Fuo
coming Presidential esmpsiRpa
The Sun 10 In hearty accord with the
declaration, so far as the principles
expressed are concerned, bot we
question the right Of the State Demo.
cratic Executive Committee 20 pro-
nulRats q platform or 10 in anywise
commit che Democracy Of Florida 10
a0y issue OF TO any policy. This cues.
tion came before the committee, 90 We
understand IL, 10 roundabout way,
and as an endorsement Of . telegram
whish the chairman had sent to The
indianapolis Star. IL appears that
after the State Democratic Committee
OF Indlsna bad endorsed Bfysn and de.
clsFed that the tariff should constitute
the main lssne in the neKt PFesiden-
tisl csmpaign, the indianapolis paper
wired the chaiTmen Of tbe various
State executive committees, stating
the action on the part Of the Indiana
committee and Asking II the States
would join. Without waiting for an
expression from the other members OF
the committee, Chairman Fletcher
stated that Florida would Join Indi-
ana, bot he was careful TO add that bis
reply Was his personal opinion and not
to be considered 60 the sentiment Of
the committee, Al the last meeting
OF the committee Chsirman Fletche
referred To the telegram and asked II
the committee desired TO take any
action. This wac followed By the com.
mlttee declaring In favor OF Bryan.
and tariff as the main issue,
The Sun does not question the right
Of the members OF the Florida State
Democratic Executive Committee 20
express themselves and 60 resolute on
snything they desire, but We do quss-
ton their right to do 90 when sssem.
bled and conducting the STAIRS Of the
Democratic party Of Florida. II 10 q
dangerous pFscedent 10 establish, and
We predict that before many years
those who thoughtlessly entered into
this action will have sufficient cause 90
regret IL, II the State committee can
declare In favor 81 the natlonAl Issue,
IL has the sane power TO commit the
party In . question OF State policy. II
IL can with authority, whether real or
assumed, declare for Bryan for Presi.
dent, why could IL not declare In favor
OF some candidate for United States
SsnAtoff or course this idea may be
iAF.ietchee, and The Sun does not be-
lieve that the committee would ever
entertain such . thought, but We are
citing this to show what may follow
when once the bars have been let
down.
II maybe that the committee, In.
aated Win lite assumption OF power,
may st,smpt 10 put the Democratic
party OF Florida on record at come
future time:As fAvoFing some matter
Of State policy, such ~ the drainage Of
the Everglades, the building OF roads,
the leasing Of eonvictS, and any other
question which.msy ariSe In connection
with the administration Of the States
Affairs. An expression Of any one Of
the lssues named would not be taxing
the authority oi:the committee to .
greater extent than II was taxed when
the Bryan resolution went through.
The Democratic Executive Commit
tee did ell thls after IL had voted down
the proposition TO have state eonvsn-
ton 20 formulate q platform and 20
name delegates to the national con.
vention The Sun does no. care
whether there 10 a convention held or
not We're . convention TO endangsE
the primary systsm, We would oppose
10 aud oppose IL with vigor. Bu, the
people Of Florida are too welded 10
the primary system TO even outsider q |
return 10 the convention plan, and
there are fec who would darv 10 sug.
see, the old method Of making nomlnA.
lions. but u there are TO be express.
sions on matters Of public policy or In |
favor % any candidate, ,he convention |
ot the submitting Of the,s propositions
TO the Democratic party st q prissry |
are the only method, 10 be psnued.
Those whc fought the resolation az