New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-25
GETTJNg READY TO sEoEDE.

The Bailey Democrats are getting into
deep water In their controversy with
Mr.. Bryan about the binding force Of
national party platforms. The Nebraska
leader has laid down the principle that
the declarations of q national platform
should be respected by the representa-
tives in national affairs of the party
making them. A national platform, he
holds, is a pledge given to the country
which, In so far as the party is in
trusted with power to redeem it, be-
comes contract between the spokesman
OF the party and their constituencies,
Mr.. Bailey has said in the Senate-and
his newspaper supporters in Texas are
saying after him-that the last Demo
cratic national platform is not binding
on anybody because it was not ratified
at the polls by majority Of the voters
Of the country. The inference is that it
would have constituted a sacred pledge
if Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Kern had got
enough votes to be elected. Yet it is
difficult to see why a Republican victory
in the nation should invalidate Demo
cratic platform or release Democrats
standing on it, when elected to Con-
gress, from its pledges. Certainly states
which, like Texas, chose Democratic
electors and solid Democratic delegations
to the House of Representatives 'rati-
fed the Denver platform at the polls,
and are in no position to claim exemp-
ton from its promises simply because
not enough other states gave it their ap-
prevail to insure a Democratic majority
in the Electoral College.
As if recognizing the fallaciousness of
this claim of lack of national sanction,
the Baileyites have put forward the sec
Ond argument-absolutely inconsistent
with the first-that national convention
mandates have no validity anyway, even
If approved by a majority Of the voters.
'The Houston POST protests against
Texas having to take its party doctrine
from a Democratic national convention
which may be controlled by delegations
from the Northern and Western states.
1t sticks out for state rights and the
notification by state of party declara-
lions which do not suit it.. Says 1.-The
POST:
If local demOcracies are to have their
voices stified by a national convention,
what would become of the Southern
Democracy-the Democracy to which the
party looks for electoral votes? Their
desires, principles and ideals might be
utterly crushed by the delegates from
the great Republican states of the North.
Does Mr.. Bryan think that the Demo
cratic South ought to go to a national
convention and surrender it's convictions
ar the demand of delegates from Repub
lican New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
and Illinois?
Well the Democratic South will do no
such thing. Its Senators and Repre-
sentatives will go to Washington and
vote their convictions and the desires
and instructions of their constituencies.
That is secessiOnism revived and ram
pant. Local desires, principles and
ideals must be preserved st ally cost, no
matter what contrary professions the
national party organization subscribes to.
OF course, such a contention plays di-
rectly into Mr.. Bryan's hands, giving
him the chance to say that the Bailey
ties are disrupters of the national party.
If the party in any state or in any small
group of states can defy the party at
Ae'A 80 on Civ IL piI ~ tliC PONOh am
usefulness of the national organization.
The Baileyites say that they are neo-
Walkerites. In fact, they are neO-Cal-
hounites They will make little head
way against the Bryanites if they be-
tray so clearly their purpose to do what
they please regardless of the wishes and
opinions of a majority of the Democratic
voters.