The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-06-03
DEMOCRATS AND PLATFORMS.

DEMOCRATS AND PLATFORMS.
The Democratic members In Con-
gress have found many excuses for
their last National plat
form. Many OF the Southern papers
tried to excuse them before their
on the ground that II
the North was going to have prOtec-
tion anyway that the South might
as we'll get her share. But the mem
bers in Congress didn't stop there
as they have voted for some very
high schedules on certain products
that are not even produced in thei,
sections. The Richmond Times-Dis
patch. the leading Democratic pa
per in Virginia. makes the following
observations On the Democratic sit
uation:
Senator Brown repudiated
the Democratic platform on the
ground that platforms were re-
ported at night when everybody
is tired, and nobody cares any
thing about them" Another dis
tinguished Senator repudiated 1t
on the ground that a prominent
plank was written by few Wes-
tern men, who had no power to
bind the party. Now Senator
Bailey definitely throws over the
same instrument on the ground
that it is not Democratic doc
trine."
Something Is evidently badly
wrong with the Democratic plat
form machinery. Here are seri-
GUS criticisms upon the time Of
its making, the men who make 1t
and the material of which it Is
made. The objection of the
Senator from Georgia might be
removed simply enough. 1t
should not be difficult to arrange
to have platforms reported here
after in the mornings, when ev-
erybody Is fresh and vigorous.
The other two objections go
deeper. II the Democratic party
is being ridden by few Western
men, that Is a bad thing; and If
they are using their mystery to
misrepresent Democratic doc
trine that Is worse But whose
fault is all this?
THE Times-Dispatch comedies
to Senators a certain right to be
critical of platforms to which
representatives are not entitled.
The latter are specifically elected
on the platform promises, while
the former are not. These Sem
ators who are here quoted have
been In the Senate a great many
years. Bacon was there before
anybody in this part of the
world ever heard of William J.
Bryan. Both Bacon and Bailey
were last reelected a year be-
fore the Denver platform was
born. They may pardonably feel
q greater personal responsibility
for the specified policies on
which they were elected than on
policies formulated afterwards
by others. But United States
Senators are supposed to be par
ty leaders. Where were the
voices of Mr.. Bacon and Mr..
Bailey when their party under
the influence of a few Western
men, was framing a platform
which misrepresented their doc
trine?
1.-THE time for party leaders to
express themselves about a plat
form Is when their views can
bear some fruit, not long after
the harvest Ia gathered. The
Democratic party is falling apart
for lack of leadership which can
dominate, lay down doctrine and
whip scattered elements together
again under a common stand
ard. Leadership which discov-
ers doctrine year too late is
Of no use to anybody"
The Times-Dispatch shows what
dilemma the Democratic party is
but 1t closes its article without
fering any solution. And, in ia
there doesn't seem to be any so
ton. The fact is, that many of tn,
have not only deserted their platfol
but have tried to Guido the "star
pat" Republicans for a high tar
Probably some Of the Democrat
Representatives have discovered tt
their last platform advocated t
wrong things. But as the Tim
Dispatch says: Leadership viii
discovers doctrine a year too late
Of no use to anybody In fact, su
leadership can never hope to CO
mand the confidence or respect of t
electorate.