The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-02-08
PENSACOLA FLORIDA sATURDA MORNING FEBRUARY
Do We Need
a Party Platform?

The Tampa Tribune and q few
though a very few-other papers are
calling for a ate convention for the
purpose of formulating and adopting
q party platform for the state DEM
ocracy and for recommending a plat
form to be adopted at the Denver con-
vention The Tribune originally call
ed for the election OF delegates by q
state conven ion, but is now willing
to concede that this is not necessary,
and it says:
The Pensacola Journal disagrees
with the Tribune over the latter's ad-
vice that a state convention of demo-
era s be called to adopt a platform
On national issues, and to nominate
delegates 70 the Denver convention,
and also presidential electors. So far
as the selection of delegates and cleo
tors goes the TTibune's position is en-
tirely neutral as TO the manner III
which they shall be chosen. II is i'm
material. in fact, TO the point at is
sue. The primary system for the
choice OF all officers. II honestly and
1nexpenSively conducted, Is the best
in the weird.
mark when il suppCses the individual
members OF the states delegation to
the national convention could have
the same effect in influencing a party
platform 10 be adopted by that body,
even If he delegates were all Of one
mind and acted as = unit, As would a
pronunciameGtO coming from state
convention held some time before TIE
meeting of the national body. Tbs
should be perfectly pain 20 our able
eontena porary. II should require no
explanation.
Moreover. We doubt if any other
sou hern state will fail to held con
ventiCn and recommend 4 platform
Why should Florida be ba kward? II
IS plainly the duty Of the south, III
foregoing what IS really It's moral
right to select one OF its own sons
as the staudard-bearer OF the demOc-
racy, to dicta G the principal issues
to be incorporated in the pSatform-tO
insist that they conform to those
great fundamentals of democratic
faith for which Il has so long and gen
orally so pa iently but firmly contend
ed. It must be evident 70 ll-and
that all Will include Editor Mayes if
he will Just stop to think and not be
guided by prejudice or. swayed by sus-
IlclOu-Lul+L III AO OIlItE Why CdH tie
state speak ouo so definitely and eff
fectively as by strong resolutions en-
amazing from great conventions of
democratic citizens.
We are perfectly willing to concede
that IL the state democracy is TO have
a state platform q convention would
have to be called to prepare and adopt
one, but The Journals point is that
We do not need a state platform, and
that the national delegates who will
come fresh from the people are as
capable of presenting TO that eonven-
ton the wishes OF the majority of the
democrats OF the state as a state con-
vention could do.
The candidates for national delegate
can, and no doubt will, make clear
their positions on the great questions
which the coming presidential election
IS to settle, and the voters in the
primaries can easily choose those del
sgates who most accurately represent
The wishes of the voters
If The democracy of the state does
aOt know what it wants without hav-
Ing to be told by a state convention,
then Florida democrats are in
mighty bad fix We do not need the
convention.