The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-03

me people nobody in Washington ex-
cept the administration circle believes.
The hostility of organized labor and
the bitterness Of the negroes In the
north against him will do more than IS
needed to overcome the strength that
may lie lent him by the Roosevelt and
administration support
Appeal of the Federation of Labor.
Heads of the affiliated unions In the
Federation Of Labor issued from Wash
lngton recently an appeal to the work
ingmen of the country for united po-
litica action. They ask that candidates
for the presidency, for congress or for
other offices I've requested to specifically
declare their positions - such matters
as the abuse of the power Of injunc-
tton. the eight hour law, the employ
ers' liability law and other legislation
directly affecting working people. The
appeal has been handled by many
newspapers as though it indicated 4
purpose on the part Of the Federation
of Labor to organize distinctly labor
party. AS q matter of fact it only eN-
presses a purpose to take such action
as is cmincntly proper for any such
great organization to adopt. That a
candidate for office, seeking the votes
Of worl:ingmen: should hesitate for n
nament in answering questions MS 10
policies that vitality affect the rights of
laboring classes would unfit him for
Office Here in the United States we
have not developed as we really should
have the methods of free debate In po-
litical campaigns that they have in
England.
There are only few men in our
public life who invite questions from
their auditors in public meeting. The
man who has most successfully adopt
ed this method is Mayor Tom L. John
son of Cleveland. A speech by Tom
Johnson is an inspiration to any one
who believes in a really frank discus
sion Of public questions. Nothing de-
lights him more than to abandon the
platform for the middle aisle and ask
any one who may be dissatisfied with
his argument to question him frankly
and to receive frank response.
have watched him time and again in
action and sincerely believe that his
readiness to enter upon discussions of
this sort is one of his greatest sources
liz,
or course it may not always be nee,
cssary, particularly on the part Of can.
didates for national Office. to repeated.
ly answer the same questions. But
am unable to see why the Federation
of Labor should not at the beginning
of a campaign ask the aspirants for
office for an explicit statement Of theil
views on pertinent matters and then
act accordingly.
The Two thirds Rule.
In all probability an effort will be
made at the next Democratic national
convention to modify or to abrogate
| the two-thirdS rule This will not be
attempted before the nomination, fol
| no wise man would care to become g
candidate before the Dem ocratlc voters
with the record Of having secured his
nomination by overturning established
Democratic practice, however unwist
that practice may be. That it IS un
wise is coming now to be generally al
mitted. Democracy means the rule Ol
the majority, and one moro than hall
constitutes majority. One more thar
half of the members Of the committee
on resolutions can send to the full con
vention the platform by which tho
party is to be guided, and q bare ma
jority of the convention can adopt thai
platform. The insiStence that two
thirds Of the convention must unite II
order to nominate candidate is made
illogical and ridiculous when the ability
of mere majority to fix its; principles
IS borne in mind. Moreover, under the
unit rule rhe vote Of one man NIGH
determine how the seventy-elght vote:
Of New York or the siXty-eiglt OF
Pennsylvania might be determined
Just now the two-thirds rule Is beins
strenuously appealed to by 4 group ol
utterly undemocratlc politicians who
hope to utilize 1t, not for the nomina
ton of any particular candidate, FOL
they have none, but for the defeat OF
the one candidate whom the great ma
jority of Democratic voters desire tt
see nominated. 1t is practical denin
of the principle OF majority rule, whlcl
Is q fundamental of Democracy.
Washington. d. c.
Beyond Control.