The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-14

CT revelation is probably the meat of I tLe matter. He says that the Club
 will not make war on any Democrat desiring to go to the National Conven- l tfon as a delegate who will go there with the intention of doing everything in his power to promote the election of a Democratic President this time" Now what evidence is there that there is any man in Alabama calling himself Democrat who wants to go to the
 Denver Convention for any other pur- pose than of sincerely, honestly aiming
 at that very thing? If there is any such Democrat, we have not heard of
 him. We are constrained to believe that Mir. Tomlinson's imagination Is at
 work, if he has conjured up any sort
 of deep. dark plot on the line fnti-
 mated. While many Democrats may differ with the general judgment that Mr. Bryan is the most available lead
 CT. The Advertiser believes that with practical unanimity the rank and file of leadership of the Party in this State
 is convinced that Mir. Bryan is to be the
 leader. There is no idea anywhere in
 this State of trying to pack the delega-
 ton to Denver with men really op-
 posed to him.
 But MT. Tomllnson goes further and
 reveals his idea of the sort of dele
 gates who alone should go to Denver
 "men who will nominate vice-Presi-
 dent, adopt a platform and elect a
 National Committee to accord with the
 man Democrats have demanded with
 one acclaim as their leader" If we
 understand this alright. Mir. Tomlinson
 means in plain words those who will
 instantly accept Mr. Bryan's judgment
 in all these matters as law, and who
 will assist in making it the voice of
 the Convention.
 There we differ seriously with MT.
 Tomlinson, and there we believe, a ma
 jority of Alabama Democrats who are
 for Br. Bryan will differ with him. It
 is not wise to send delegation of
 automatons to Denver, men without
 convictions of their own, and unwill- ing to listen to counsel from the other States, the States which must be won
 if the Party is to win. Granted that Mr. Bryan is the most available lead CT, it does not follow that the Demo- ! cratic Party should follow the mani fest example of the Republican Party : in letting one man dominate the entire organization, name its leaders, write } its platforms and dictate it's entire
 campaign procedure. That is not in
 accord with Democratic principles or } precedent. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the will of a dic- tator, and this is emphatically a year demanding the marking of that differ ? ence.
 MT. Bryan is a magnetic leader. and , there are wise men who believe that he may win this time. But able as ht , may be on the stump, the past has not . makers or platform writers. He hal ' himself abandoned his once tenacious , adherence to free silver. and no longer ! contends for it. He has also thrus aside as inexpedient and premature s the question of government ownership . of railroads. which he suggested two t years ago. His tendency is toward
 getting far ahead of the drift of pol itical thought. Frequently he lets hi
 convictions or his impulses go be
 yond cold. practical political ex
 pediency It is not wise to in vite him to write the platform at Denver, or to dictate. all the othel
 matters which MT. Tomlinson implies . in his conception of delegates. It fl not prudent to send a delegation O . mere idolaters of Mir. Bryan to Den '' yer. who will be unable or unwilling to hear or see any wisdom outside O . his judgment.
 It is to be hoped sincerely that tn, Bryan Clubs which Mir. Tomlinson ha . been organizing are not made up O Democrats with that view. And | these clubs are to take the place of { State Convention of chosen represen !" tatives of the Party. in naming dele
 gates to Denver, 1t Is to be expeete
 that they will not let their enthusiasm for Mir Bryan as the leader run ava y with their judgment in selecting del
 eEates who are mere enthusiasts. Tn
 ablest, wisest, most sagaciou Democrats in the State should be pu r out. Calm, cool. long headed, cspahI n n men will be needed at Denver for eoun sel and decision. If such men go fEor
 every State they will be able to d