Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-01-30

LaVOF OF the nOlolHB VI oLhJS COn'
vention for the purpose OF declaring a
platform for the party In Florida.
Now II the Argus man bad gone a lit
tie further and added also for the pur.
pose OF selecting National and State
committeeman, National convention
delegates and Presidential electors,
we would heartily be in favor OF the
idea. Does this sound undemocratic
in view Of the pledge Of the party to
elect all officers by primary system?
Let's analyze the situation:
First The Argus goes on to show
that the party in this State has made
no Official enunciatlon Of principles
since the memorable convention of
1900 at Jacksonville. How can the
party enunciate any principles unless
1t does 80 through a convention OF
delegates elected by the people7 Can
the executive committee act for the
party in such a matter? Clearly we
think not is the platform OF the sue.
cessful candidate for Governor to be
accepted as the platform OF the democ-
racy Of the State? It might be argued
that as the successful candidate. for
Governor received a majority Of all
the Democratic votes cast In the cleo
ton the platform Of this particular
candidate should be binding upon the
people. II 1t is binding on the people
then It ought, by any process Of
reasoning sought. be binding upon
every member elected to the Legisla-
ture during the four years tenure of
Office OF this particular Governor, and
those bodies should enact into law
every plank in the Governors plat
form upon which he went before the
people, and upon which he was elect.
ed. II this Is what the people mean
by platform then we have nothing
more to say, except that the last two
Legislatures have been derelict In
their duty.
"The other reason for the holding OF
a State convention Is almost as strong.
Four years ago the ticket was 80
long that In some OF the precincts of
the State 1t kept the inspectors at
work for several days checking and
counting the ballots. In addition TO
all the State and county officers there |
will be candidates for one member OF
the National executive committee, ten
delegates to the National convention, |
and candidates for members Of the
State executive committee and Presi- |
dental electors II all OF these we're
elected by a State convention It would |
reduce the size OF the ticket In this
years primary considerable,
But aside from the consideration OF |
the reduction Of the length OF the |
ticket there is every reason why the |
delegates to the National convention |
should be elected In State conven:
ton II MIR. Bryan is the choice OF
n majority OF the people Of Florida. |
expressed through the delegates In |
assembled, then he should |
have the solid support of the dele
cation from this State. With the dele
gates to the convention elected In the
primary Bryan delegates may win In |
the first and second Congressional dis.
triCts and from among those who are |
from the State at large. |
and Johnson. or Hearst. or Harmon |
delegates from the third Congressional |
district Thus MIR, Bryan would be
cut of from two votes that he should |
by all the reasoning OF Democratic
rulc heretofore. be- entitled to, and |
this notwithstanding the fact that his |
delegates from the State az large |
might have carried the State by a
vote of two or three to one.
Someone Is going TO bob up now
and say that II We consent 10 the hold.
Ing OF another State convention. uO
matter for what purpose, that II will |
be the means OF abollshlng the pri
mary, Hut this "a not so; the pri.
mary can only be abolished nv a
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