The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
The Denver Convention Should be a Delhi
erative Body.
baltimore SUM-

Baltimore SUM-
There seems to be growing sentiment
throughout the United States among Dem
ocrats in favor of having the Democratic
National Convention this year act as de-
Lucrative body. The wisdom of sending
delegates tied hand and foot with instruc-
tons is doubted in many States. The OBJ
ject of party people is not only to nominate
a candidate, but to nominate one who can
be elected. 1t is manifestly bad policy to
tie the delegation from Maryland, let us
say, to a man who cannot possibly get the
electoral vote of New York, or New Jersey,
or Indiana. The theory Of a national con-
vention in former years was that the men,
bers should consult together and select a
candidate who, in their best judgment,
would be acceptable in the greatest number
of States, or rather in the States contain
ing the greatest number of electoral votes
which might be reasonably expected for the
party. The delegation from Maryland
should, it is commended, go to the Denver
convention free to consult with unhamper-
ed delegations from other States and agree
upon a candidate who might be expected
to carry New York and other doubtful
States. 1t is simply rainbow chasing for
Democrats to expect to elect their candi-
date for President without the electoral
vote of New York. And it would be most
notifying for the Maryland delegation to
go instructed for certain candidate and
then be assured by the New York delega-
ton that that candidate could not possibly
carry the Empire State.
That the candidate selected should be
acceptable to the party generally in large
number of States, and especially in the
Democratic States, was the main cause Of
the adoption of the historic two thirds rule.
1t was deemed especially important by the
first national convention that ever assem-
bled to prevent nominations being made
by combination of delegations from anti
Democratic States. Therefore, the first
national convention-that is, the Baltimore
convention of 1882, which nominated
Andrew Jackson-adopted this rule:
Resolved, That each State be entitled in the NOM
ination to be made of candidate for the Vice.
Presidency to a number of votes equal to the num-
Der to which they will be entitled in the Electoral
Colleges under the new apportionment in voting for
President and Vice-President, and that two-t thirds
of the whole number of votes in the convention
shall be necessary to constitute choice.
The rule was made to apply at that time
to the ice-Presidential candidate alone, as
there was but one candidate for President
and the vote for jackson was unanimous.
This famous rule has prevailed in the Sc
lection of candidates for President and
Vice President ever since, now about
three-quarters of century.
The candidate with the strongest personal
following in his party has not always
proved the strongest candidate throughout
the States. Men who are strong to attrac,
friendship are also strong to excite an
tagonisms. The three most conspicuous
instances of the failure 10 elect popular
candidates will occur to all. Henry Clay was
twice defeated, and he was the leader and
idol of large portion of the people of the
land. He could command not more than
1O5 electoral votes in 1874, while his
opponent, a comparatively unknown man
received 10. Mr.. Blaine, who was almost as
popular in his party as Mr.. Clay was in his
time, was beaten by a man who possessed
none of the personal "magetism'' fol
which Mr.. Blaine was distinguished. Anc
in later days no man has possessed SO large
personal following as Mr.. w. j. Bryan
and Mr.. Bryan has been twice defeated by
candidate who had not the same measure
Of personal popularity.
The Denver convention should be con.
trolled by reason, and not by enthusiasm
or impulse. The effort should be made t.
nominate man who can win, and not ont
who is preordained to defeat. For the frs
time since 1892 the Democratic party il
greeted by an opportunity. The question
for the Denver convention to decide i.
whether that opportunity shall be lost be-
yond hope.
Gems of Thought.
Hesoid: Emulation is good for mankind