The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-05
IT SPEAKS TRUTH.

From a sound, safe and sane North ern Democratic newspaper. The Phila- delphia Record. we copy entire an editorial which we sincerely and earn estly commend to the consideration of our readers. That paper says.
 There Is no hope of eiecting Demo- cratic President In 1908 that is not conditioned upon the expectation of solid support from the solid South. For that very sufficient reason the selection of the candidate should be conceded to the South. The warriors entitled to name the commanding gen. eral. While 1t is true that there is preponderant part Of the Democratic vote north of Mason and Dixon's line, deeisively in the electoral college. It Is time that Southern Democrats should take the lead. If there were no other sufficient cause for such a change in the order of party movement blundering of Northern and Western leadership in past campaigns.
 There is no lack of good Presidential timber in the South. There never has been lack of capable political gener- Southern States have from the begin ming of our Republican experiment devoted themselves to political rather than commercial effort. They have not lost the trick of statesmanship in the forty years that have succeeded the ending of the civil war. Now that it is time to consider what may be done in 1908 to restore safe, conserve Federal Administration, it IS to De sincerely desired that Southern Demo- crats shall get together and conceh- trate behind some strong man: Gray, of Delaware, whose fitness for the highest office in the gift of the na- tion would be at once conceded in all parts of the country, backed by an insistent Southern support, would car- ry off the nomination and have fighting chance for election. The De- mocracy of the Union have won long line of brilliant victories following in the trail of Souther leadership. The time is ripe for new trial and Tor a restoration of the government run periIious wanderings.
 The Advertiser has more than once insisted that the Southern Democracy should assume control of the next na- tional convention. We have not in sisted that the candidate shall be Southern man, as that may be mat ter for future consideration and de- cision. What we do insist on, though, Is that the Democrats of the South should take the reins, frame the plat form and name the candidate. and we Insist on it as a matter of good pol icy and sound Justice. Ii is good policy because. as The Record says, those who are to elect the President, If one can be elected. should have the selection of the candidate. It is sound justice because this section must really be the battle-ground, must bear the brunt of the fight and the dele- gates from this section should domi- nate the convention.
 What The Record has to say about Presidential timber in the South is true and just. Without the least de- sire to make invidious comparisons, or to underrate the ability, soundness and loyalty of the many Democrats of the North we hesitate not to declare that in our section there are men as thoroughly qualified in every way for President of the United States as any men in tho Union. It is not necessary to pick out any one of them, easy as the fob would be. If the Democrats of the South will unite and work In harmony they cannot only dictate the policy of the party but can name it's candidate If they take true son of the South we shall say they have done we'll. We can see no prospect or hope of success under Northern or Western leadership,