The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-10
FOR AN INSTRUCTED DELEGATION
Some Candid Observations CANNON
Some Candid Observations.

Certain newspapers urge that the
state should send an uninstructeC
delegation to the next Democratic con-
vention. This advice is doubtless well
meaning, but is it safe to follow? Il
the delegate goes TO the convention
publicly unpledged TO any candidate
how can there be assurance that he il
not privately pledged to some candi-
date far from a popular choice? And
if the people do not indicate the party
choice, is it not liable to depend on
the designs of scheming politicians or
hostile interests? A national political
convention as it is now constituted
cannot be a deIiberative body. Its I'M
wieldiness alone prevents it. It should
indeed be responsive to the crystalized
sentiment of the people of the political
faith it represents, but how can this
sentiment be made clear, or unnis-
taxable, except by popular instruction
of delegates?
Party Leader Important.
The success or failure of the Demo
Gratis in the next election lies in the
choice Of the party leader. For this
viii determine also the issue that must
be settled, and settled convincingly if
we would win, as to whether the party
means to pursue a conservative or a
progressive policy, should it control
the next administration. Some seek
to avoid this issue, or to obscure it.
Some would compromise it. or ignore
it altogether. But it must be met.
There is no middle ground. For with
in the party are two incompatible ele-
mer1ts, resting on two different and
irreconcilable interpretations of the
party's historic creed.
AS Harper.s Weekly says concisely:
One side stands for utter intolerance
of machine control; the other, for re-
monstrance and recognition. Both sides
believe in a tariff for revenue only;
but one side would apply the doctrine
uncompromisingly; the other with
mitigations. Both profess the Demo-
cratic faith; but "one side is for giving
the ballot it's MAXIMUM effectiveness,
by complete publicity and a leader
ship entirely candid; the other for all
the old caution and for not question
ing anything conventonally accepted
as Democratic"
Thus there are two policies to pur-
sue, but one to choose. Yet it is anal
ogous to the issue that divides Repub-
licans; and this is the key to the stu
alton. A final choice must be made,
and upon it depends the immediate
success and the long future Of the
Democratic party.
The Republican Hope.
The hope of Republicans in the next
election lies in the Democratic conven-
ton. 1t is their chance, their only
chance. If some Democrat can be
nominated in whom insurgents in the
west can find no sympathy, or if the
party can be deadlocked in convention
fand a compromise man nominated,
which would inevitably compromise
the party's position before the country,
Democratic defeat is certain. To these
ends efforts are being made unscrupu-
lousy to strangle progressive senti-
ment within the party by means Of a
subsidized press. by imputing to the
safest and most eminent uroeTessiva
leaders populistic and socialistic doc
trines calculated to disturb business
and industry If their policies are I'M
dertaken, and in the endeavor, through
a multiplicity of candidates, to bottle
up the party in convention. Demo-