The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-10
A SORRY PERFoRMANCE.

SOHHH kEMFOnMANSHks They had Democratic convention in Massachusetts last Saturday to nofn- mate State officers. At least 1t was called q convention, but from the ac- counts we have seca the affair very much resembled- sofhe of the Repubii- can performanccs in Alabama during reconstruction days The Boston Globe. e high-toned and conservative paper. has this editorial reference to. it:
 The Democratic convention at Spring field on Saturday resulted in an eg- hibftion appalling to the public sem timent of Massachusetts and to no one in the state more-than the honest rank nssaea ss s osy of the tS hsSs aksn psos the night, when the lights had gone out. to present complete picture Of pandemonium. A spirit of brute force ~ gree never before manifested in Mas sachusetts political convention.
 At the appointed hour one set of delegates took possession of the hall. while another set vainly endeavored to the proceedinEs. Two candIdates for Governor were nominated, Mir. Henry M whitney and Gen. Charles w. Bartlett. and tive pla rorms were % adoPts asar'ts of the candidates or the platforms. how ever. must be second to the great fun damental question of whether the rule of the majority shall prevail Tn poiit- vail by legal and orderly process.
 This is the question which at once confronts the ballot law commtssion- monweaith. regardless of party lines. will look for the protection, of the bal lot from any taint of fraud. It IS ear- nestly hoped that these commission- fties in discovering and determining the actual choice of majority of the du- ly elected delegates.
 An. honest ballot is the Ideal Tor which Massachusetts has labored longer than any other state in the union. The present occasion presents an oppoftu- nity to the ballot law commissioners to perform a public service .aa of the tSa, n., should never be forgotteu.
 The Democratic party or Massacnu- sefts has not been without us HIS has ever, been laid upon 1t than in this unhappy instance. 1t wli surViVe' but 1t will owe, It's survival to it's in born devotion. to the. very principles and fair expression of the will of the people is thwarted by sharp practice or violence.
 This is not a creditable showing for the old Bay State. and it is not pleas ant reading for Democrats down here. whitney was our choice. and if the Democrats had united en him and made a harmonious and determined campaign in his behalf they had a good chance 10 carry the State. The Republicans of Massachusetts are not very well sat- isfied with the course pursued by their party and the administration, and 1t is more than probable that if the nem- ocrats had nominated Whitney and gone into the fight united and earnest they would have elected him. As it is, they seem to have committed political hari-kari and completely destroyed all chances of succsAs. For various req sons we regret that the brethren made such 6 aiscreditable exhibition of them- selves and SC palpably failed to take advantage of their opportunity.
 It is interesting to note some ot the opinions expressed by Democrats of Massachusetts regarding the actior of the Garrett supporters. Ex-con grcssman Sullivan. of Boston. com ments in the plainest terms on thu proceedings. saying among othe things: .This is not the success O the lawfully ordered and moral fore of the community. It is the success o the burglar, the midnight prowler ant the assassin" And Josiah Quincy, an other old-time Democrat, asks: "Shal 1t go out that fraud. violence, thicker. and disregard of legal rights can pre- vail at tho polls in this common weaIth9' .
 These are fair specimens of com ments we find coming from good Demo crats when speaking of the extraordi nary proceedings at Springfield. wha is to be the outcome is not yet appar ent. The suggestion already made fl some quarters that the Whitney Dem ocrats shall vote for the Republical candidate is not good one. Eve though they were cheated and robbe of their rights it is no reason wh, they should go over to the enemy.