The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-04
HOW TO DEFEAT BRYAN.

sible. through the application of what
is known as the unit rule of voting.
With the first ballot out of the way,
the opponents of Mr.. Bryan declare
that all instructions will then be off
and the convention can proceed to the
work of nominating ticket entirely
free from obligation to the Nebraska
leader. and in the true spirit of Dem
ocracy in convention
Just how this plan is to be worked
out and put into operation and just
what will be its effect on the official
roll call are questions to which no de-
finite answer can be given even by
those advocating the plan.
The operation of the unit rule, has
heretofore been imposed by state con-
ventions. Some states have thus uni
formly imposed on their delegates TO
the Democratic nation conventions the
duty of voting as unit in accord
ance with the decision of a majority
of the delegation on any particular
question arrived at by a caucus of the
delegation before the vote. Where
state conventions have failed to impose
the unit rule, it has been held that
the delegation could not. by it's own
action impose the rule upon itself. Not
withstanding this ruling, there are
those here who maintain that should
a state delegation by majority action
decide to vote as a unit in convention,
to renew that action.
In accordance with this idea. it was
stated today that Chairman Guffy, or
the Pennsylvania delegation contem-
plated calling a meeting of his delega-
ton for the purpose of taking action
on this question. The Pennsylvania
situation in this respect is, however.
slightly unique, as the enforcement OF
the unit rule has heretofore always
obtained upon a simple suggestion, but
hA -ta 70 aYl1l
convention. The last state convention
failed to make this suggestion and Mr..
Guffy's reported intention to put 1t into
effect as a caucus action is uniform
with past practices, with the exception
of lacking the suggestion to do so by
the state convention.
The Unit Rule.
With Pennsylvania making the pre-
cedent for state delegations to bind
themselves to vote in convention as a
unit, the following states could, with
the same propriety take the same ac-
ton:
Maine with II votes: New Hampshire
s: Vermont s; Rhode Island 8; Connec-
ticut IL; Pennsylvania 6S; Maryland 16;
North Carolina %; Florida 10; Georgia
%; Louisiana Is; Ohio 46; Alaska 8 and
Porto Rico 6. New York with IS un-
instructed delegates, votes under the
unit rule, as does New Jersey with "a.
Even with the inclusion of all these
delegations under the unit rule, II is
still difficult to figure just where the
gain in the anti-Bryan forces would
be made. The delegates in some of
these states are all instructed for
Bryan. In others a majority are in
structed for him. In still others it is
stated that a majority are unin-
structed In this connection it is
urged that the application of the unit
rule in states where some delegates in
Co. afl nr
might make it possible for delegates
instructed for Bryan. but personally
against him, to change their vote in
caucus and throw the entire vote of
that state against him.
With the machinery of the conven-
ton in the hands of the Bryan forces
it is stated by his friends that it will
be impossible to carry out this plan
there being no objection to it. Notice
that it was being considered however,
had the result to start the Bryan lead
ers to figuring, and should it de-
velop in this opinion that the result
would be a gain instead of loss to
the Lincoln leader, it might be de-
cided to make no interference. In
this event, precaution would be taken
to make sure that those states where
Bryan would make gains by the plan
should hold the necessary caucus on
the question, as well as those where
losses to him might occur.
The suggestion that instructions are
fulfilled and may be abandoned after
the first ballot is also declared by Mr..
Bryans adherents to be the ordinary
and not fact. Instructions which
have been given delegates to vote for
Bryan, they contend, mean continued
voting for him until a nomination is
made. The Bryan people regard the
conception of the plan to be rather
the evidence of a forlorn hope or
effort than as an opposing moment
fraught with danger to their success
at the convention.