Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-01-31
Rec srdins instructed Delegates

sgainsi the tieing up Of delegates III the
fac. Of an uncertain situation, says the
St. Louis Globe Democrat. When the
current il Gil one way for particular
candidate, or the state has the name OF |
a citizen Of its own to present, instructed |
delegations can not be objected to.
Where one candidate is 30 far ahead
with the masses Of the party that his
nomi alton is assured, the instruction
of delegates has the warrant of the
highest authority, the people themselves,
Where state backs a favorite son other
states, if the candidacy is to make any
Roadway, must be drawn to his support,
and this ia usually matter that must be
worked out ia the convention itself.
But to attempt to forestall the action of
q national convention by lettering dele
gates when no candidate is positively in
the lead, aud months in advance of
the great gathering of the party that
comes once in four years, is wholly un-
justifable, a danger to a party, bur-
den upon its principles, and possibly
fatal obstacle to its success. This sub
iect has BY no means been neglected in
the deliberations and action of Repub-
licsn national conventions What has
been done has been decidedly in favor
of the freedom OF judgment of the in
dividual delegate. 1t is to the point to
consider the course of past conventions
ia regard to unit rules and castiron in
structious.
In the convention of 1880 two can
didates, Grant aud Blaine, were in the
lead. Neither had a majority, and nei-
Their Was nominated. More than that,
the man vino received the uumiuatiou
was without single vote OIL the As
ballot. Ii was a critical period foi the
party, for Grants nomination would
have involved making a fight for third
term brio'e the people for th' fl st time
IL tr- hist"r, al the countri. Tothls
day no patty has vrntured IL ii o lder
the responsibilities Of this test, aud any
attempting IT would have to reckon
with an unknown quantity III public
sentiment. This feeling was \ strong
restraint in the convention of 1880. 1t
was seen before the balloting began that
the questiop of the unit rule in instruct
ed delegations would have vital influ-
ence OH the result. Should the vote of
n delegate be recorded contrary to his
real visws2 On the fourth day Of the
convention the Committee on Rules re.
ported code including all important
amendment, requiring that when the
: vote of any state should be announced
by the chairman, il any exception should
be taken to the announcement, "the
president Of the convention shall direct
the roll Of members Of such delegations
to be called, and the result recorded in
accordance wit b the votes individually
given" The New York delegation had
been instructed TO vote for Grant, ye,
: some of its members aud their constitu.
ents were against the third term. The
convention not only removed the fette,
but directed the National Committee to
prescribe rules on this subject for the
next meeting in 1884.
1t is not necessary to describe here
how on the first ballot Grant had 3O4
votes, Blaine 28i, and Garfield 0. The
number necessary to a choice was 37S
0 Garfield received on the second ballot
aud on the thirtieth had but 2. On the
: thirty-sixth ballot he was nominated
' receiving 500 to 500 for Grant, 40 for
n Blsiue,E5 for Window and three for
: John Sherman. The convention acted
s for itself. Its wisdom in performing
I for itself the duty for which it was Great.
e ed was vindicated by the election of its
r choice. In 1884 the new rules called TO,
were adopted. A time was prescribed
n for electing delegates to national con.
), vention, and the right Of each congress.
}. sional district to choose it's own delega ter
= was recognized aud secured, A time was
y fixed in which "a state can elect its fou,
# delegates at large in a convention
;. These rules are aimed against the fore,
l. stalling process. Snap conventions are
+ prevented and minorities respected
y The manufacture of machine delegate,
!" representing oficeholding rings, wa,
l. curbed. The people should be caution,
o about allowing themselves to be used tc
- tie up delegates and conventions. Their,
t, are several worthy candidates in tn,
y field, but no distinctly defined concentra
K ton Of popular support for any one o.
them. No delegate has yet been elected
1t will be long time. before maiorit,
% Of delegates is chosen and it may b.
n much divided. The outlook as to can
:. didates in one of obscurties. Unde
!. such circumstances schemes to instruc
z are not in accord with the best interest
II Of the party, nor with the just delibera
70 tive rights Of the convention.