The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-18
NsAcoLA FLORIDA ruEsD AY MORNING JANUARY IS,

yention for the purpose OF adopting q
platform. Presumably also this plat
form should call for the abolition of
the railroad commission and the re-
peal of the anti-pass law.
The Ocala Banner wants a conven-
'tion for some reason, not clearly
stated, and proves it by putting up
straw man and proceeding to knock
him down. The Banners straw man
consists of an alleged proposition
that platform for the party be left
to a vote of the Democrats in the
primary. Who made the, suggestion,
or whether it originated in the fertile
Imagination of the Nestor himself, the
Banner does not state. The Journal,
however. has seen no suggestion to
that effect anywhere.
One of the clearest utterances on
the convention Is that of the Tampa
Times when it says:
In the first place the state executive
committee has no power to call state
convention under the circumstances of
its creation. Its powers are well de-
fined as being the conduct of pri-
maries and the state campaign. All it
can do in the matter Is to submit to
the voters at the primary it may order
this summer the question whether or
not convention may be called two
years later. If the voters at that pr1-
mary shall direct the state executive
committee to call a convention 1t
could only be after a full and instruc-
| tive discussion of the subject from the
| date Of the primary call and the hold
ing thereof.
II the committee should submit
such question to the voters-which
| is the utmost limit of it's power in this
direction-the Times, as at present
| advised, would oppose the assent OF
the democratic voters to the holding
of the convention. The voters of the
party had no great difficulty in elect.
| ing representatives to the last nation,
al democratic convention who reflected
their views. Preliminary to the pri-
mary sundry democrats who held dis
/ tinct views as to the party policy ad
dressed the candidates for delegate to
Denver and sounded them on the main
! point of interest. These candidates
replied varyingly, and then the voters
divided according to their respective
beliefs and chose eight men who
thought the same way on the main
point. 1t is unquestionable that the
eight delegates each and all represent
ed the views of the majority of the
party in the state-something that can
seldom be said of a delegation chosen
by convention.
Whatever may be the need or ad.
visibility of a state convention there
is nothing to be rightly done about ii
| now, because there is neither excuse
for its holding nor power to convoke
1t this year. All national issues are
settled for the four years between the
last presidential election and the cam
paign preceding the next. Let us have
the two years OF peace to which we
are entitled
Boiled down to the literal fact the
convention movement emanates from
the enemies of the primary system
| and Is intended to undermine and de.
stroy- it. Faulty, the primary system
may be. There is no perfect human
thing. But it is so much better than
the pareeling out of offices by a gang
of politicians that the people will
stand its imperfections and never give
it up.
The action of the committee today
will be awaited with more than usual
interest, but The Journal has little
fear that it will make the mistake OF
| calling convention without first get
ting authority to do so from the party
itself.