The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-01
Democratic Majority Can
Call q New Caucus
n Il Chooses.
he WOULD ABIDE DECISION
Because II Would b q Decision
Of tho Party Msjorlty. Not
tho MInorlty's. -,

William +. Sheehan gave out yeeter-
day q letter addressed to the Democrats
in the Legislature. saying that a. the
choice Of the party for Senator he could
not now withdraw his candidacy. II he
would. without justifying the position
OF Mr.. Shepard that the minority and
not the majority should rule. II. how
ever. a call for reassembling Of the
Democratic caucus is signed by q ma
jority Of the Democratic members Of
the Legislature and the caucus decides
to put up another candidate he will abide
by the decision Of that caucus a. the will
OF the majority and loyalty support It's
candidate. This is the letter in full:
To the Democroic Members OF the Lcois-
lofnre Of the State Of New York:
In accordance with time honored custom
and in the usual and regular way joint
caucus OF Democratic Senators and Assem-
blymen was called to meet at the Capitol
on January 10 last for the purpose OF de-
termining by majority vote who shout.
be the candidate Of the Democratic party
for United States Senator. Twenty-Five
Democratic Senators out of twenty-nine
and sixty-six Democratic Assemblymen
out of eight-six attended this joint caucus.
Four Senators and twenty members Of
Assembly did not participate in the caucus.
The aggregate plurality at the last election
Of the twenty-five Democratic Senators
entering tho caucus was 81. .sss. and the
aggregate plurality Of the four who de-
clined to participate was 2.OOs.
The aggregate plurality OF the slxty-siv
Democratic Assemblymen who participated
In the caucus was 97 0sA and the aggregate
plurality OF the twenty Assemblymsn Who
were absent amounted to 5.055.
The names OF Mr.. Shepard. Judge Herrick
and myself were formally presented 10 the
carcus. After the merits OF the various
candidates had been fully discussed the
ROLL was called and resulted in % votes for
MIR. Shepard, : for Judge Herrick and 8.
for me. Having thus received the votes
OF clear majority OF all the elected Demo-
cratic members OF the LEGISLATURE | was
declared the candidate OF the Democratic
party for United States Senator. Prior
to adjournment sine die the nominal ton
by the fact that every one or the ninety -one
men participating in the caucus cast their
ballots for me the next day when the Senate
and Assembly ballOted separately. and
on the following day when the votes werc
east in joint session.
The effect OF the caucus action from
q party point Of view was that allawho par
ticipated therein. and all those $40 sub
mit'ed or permitted their names TO he sub
by the rule OF the ma aiority.
When the majority Of all the Democratic
representatives made their decision cea seo
to be an indy iduai candidate for this Office.
I y to that moment had control of my Own
aciion-l simply represented the hope.
The desire or the ambition OF an individual
but when the decree of the majority Of or
party's representatives was registered
became the embodiment o. a great principe
sacred to all thoughtful mcn regard!ess Of
political opinion
In this state and throughout the count
il is recognized that this is Government
of and by the people through party rule
and party respo visibility. When the ma
jority ceases to rule in a republic founded
as ours mas been. upon party rule. there viii
be substituted for the representative gov
ernment under which we have Developed
into one of the greatest nations OF the worlt
"A government by caprice. by prejudico
and by emotion
There can be no middle ground ia thiS
question Either We are 10 rem ain a coun-
try in which parties and principles shall
govern or we must come to the point whore
men and not parties are to control Ono
of the most dangerous tendencies of tho
present day ia TO ignore parties and party
obligations and to be swayed by the sense
of devotion to some man or men who Tor
the moment occupy'the centre of the stage
10 the exclusion of the ideas or principles
by which former generations Of our country
men were controlled
This destroys party government and sub
stitutes personal government, and should
We reach the point where such action would
be general and men gave their allegiance
to individuals rather than 10 parties the
republic could not last much longer. The
Democratic national convention of leo%
in stating the fundamental principles OF the
party declared for the absolute acquies-
cence in the will of the ma jority the vital
of republics. and further de-
clared that this was "A doctrine which
Democracy had esta blished as a proverb
Of the nation. and that it should be con-
stantly invoked. preached. resorted TO and
enforced" | quote the following editorial
of the New York World Of date June 20, 1904:
Whoever may be nominated for Presi-
dent at st. Louis. II is certain that he VIII
be a representative of safe and sane Democ-
rscy IL the ma jority shall exercise us un-
doubted and rightful power. The votes
% ie,i sed TO Judge Parker represent only a
part OF the conservative strength OF tho
Nearly all the unin'
strlcted delegates are in favor oi cam
paign of sanity and good hope When thes"
unite troy can name Judge Parker
or a Democrat OF his type. II not under tho
two-thiris rule then by the adoption OF q
Democratic majority rule. When con-
spirators combine 10 enforce minority ruls.
either M to committees. platform or nomi-
nations IL will be the duty OF those represent.
ing the majority to unite to give effect to
the dominant Democratic sentiment OF the
The question az TO the conven-
tion has narrowed itself TO this: Shall the
majority or the minority rulot'
Mr. Shepa rd in his recent letter says