New-York tribune., 1911-03-01
MAJORITY RULE MORE
VITAL THAN SENATOR
81 SAYS William F. Sheehan,
FIatIy Refusing to Withdraw
as Democratic Candidate.
WILL YIELD TO PARTY WISH
If Majority of All Party's Legis-
lators Sign Call for New
Caucus He Will Abide
by It's Action,

by Its Action.
Declaring that IT was far more I'M
,crtant that the attack on majority rule
bv the Democratic minority at Albany
bc frustrated than to have a Democratic
Senator at Washington from this state
William +. Sheehan, in long address 10
The Democratic members Of the Legis-
latme last night said emphatically that
he would never withdraw 50 long as he
was the candidate Of tho majority.
However. he ended. if a majority OF
the regularly elected Democratic MEM
hers Of the Legislature signed a call for
the rcaseembling of the caucus. he would
"loyally abide by the decision OF that
caucus" If another than he were
chosen he would give him unquanheu
support. although personally he believed
IN the doctrine that there should be no
reversal of the action Of caucus or con-
vention. once taken.
Democrats who have opposed the eIec-
tion Of Mr. Sheehan thought they sa" III
his suggestion for reassembling oi 'He
caucus possible plan on the part "l
the candidate 70 get out Of the running
gracefully. at the same time relieving
Charles r. Murphy from an embd rass-
ing situation. In other words, they fig
ured that word might be conveyed
quietly to a majority Of the Democratic
legislators that Mr. Sheehan would not
object to a reassembIing of the caucus
and the selection Of another candidate.
Others. however. were Of the opinion
that il was only another effort on the
rart Of Mr.. Sheehan and Mr.. Murphy to
place the blame for the future party dis
aster they realize must come Upon the
shoulders Of the minority.
The address from beginning to end is
Plea for the preservation Of the prin-
ciple Of majority and party rule. one
of the most dangerous tendencies Of the
times. Nir Shechan says. is 10 desert
party and give allegiance To man or
men holding tho centre of the stage II
such action SHOULD ever become general,
he declared. the republic could not last
much longer.
Opening his address. which is given in
full. Mr Shcehan wrote:
In accordance with time honored custom
and In the usual and regular way, a JOINT
ravcus OF Democratic Senators and Assem-
ilyrnen was called to meet at The CapitOl
an the 10th day % January last Tor tle
purpose Of determining, BY majority Note'
who should be The candidate OF the Dfillo
cratic parfv for United States senator.
TWentv-hVe Democratic senators out OF -
snd 65 Democratic 5scmblNmtn OUT o. %
attended this jOint caucus, I senators anu
- members Of Assembly did not participate
in the caucus The aggi egate plurahty
~ the last election Of the p DemocLduc
Senator's entering the caucus Was Was o.,og2,
and the aggregate plurality Of the 4 VINO
declined 20 participate was 2.Os6. The ag-
Grcg&te plurality Of the 90 DemoGrduc As
ser1blymen who participated IN the ca uVus Us
was q1C6l and the aggregate plurahty OF
the % Asscmblymen who were absent
amounted 10 5.t1.
Action Of Party Ca@o-s.
Tie n-.n,s Of Nr Shepard. Judse Her,
Iick and myself were formally presented
10 the caucus. After the merits oi i.e va
r.ouS candidates had been fully discussed,
the roll WAS called and resulted IN = votes
for MI. shepard, : for Judge Hernch enu
g for me. taNns thus receiver ~
votes Of a clear majority Of all the elected
DemocratI" members Ot the Legislature. /
was declared the candidate of the Demo
cratic party Tor United states senator
Prior 10 adjournment sine die the hohllhd-
zion was made unanimous, and tins was
evidenced 10y the fact that every one OF
the q men participating in the caucus Cdst
their ballots fcr me the next day. Wheh
the Senate and Assembly hdllOted sepa-
latel, ana on the following day. Wheh
the votes were cast in joint session
Before that. Ar shcehan declared. his
candidacy represented simply al indi-
vidusl hope. after the caucus he became
"the embodiment of a great principle
sacred TO all thoughtful men, He con-
tmued.
Tie effect Z the caucus action. from
Jartv point Of view. was that all who par
tiCpatcd therein and all those VINO SUD
mued or permitted their names 10 De SUD
lnttcd fOr consideration therein were
bound by tic rule 81 the majority. uch
the majority OF all the Democratic rep
IeseutaUyes made their UecislOn ] ceased
% be an individual candidate Tor TINS
Office. t'p 10 that moment J had ContrcI
ot my own actiOn-l simply represented the
hope. the desire or the ambition Of an IN
cNlcual, hut when tie decree OF the ma
guiitv II our party's representatives was
registered ] became the embodiment Of
great principle sacred 10 all thOughtfu
men regardless Of pOhtlcai opinion. in
this state ana thrCuEl out the country il J.
recognized that this Is a government Of and
by the people Though part rule ana party
Responsibility.
When the ma jOrity ceases 10 rule in a re
public founded a. ours has been upon party
rule there Will be substituted for the rep
IesentatVe government under which we
Lave developed into one Of the greatest
nations Of the world a government 10y ca
price, by prejuGlcc and by emotion. There
can be no middle ground IN this question.
Either We are 10 remain country IN which
parties and principles shall govern or we
must come 10 the point where men and not
parties are 10 control.
One Of the most dangerous tendencies Of
the present Cay is 10 ignore parties and
Iarty obligations and 60 be- swayed by the
sense Of devotion 20 some man or men who
for the moment occupy tie centre Of the
stage 20 the cN clusiCn Of the ideas or prin-
ciples By which former generations Of our
cOuntrymen were controlled. This destroys
party government and substitutes personal
government. and should We reach the point
where such action would be general and
men gave their allegiance 20 individuals
rather than 10 Darties the Republic could
not last much longer
Majority Rule Democratic Policy.
The Democratic National Convention OF
lam IN tfafiug . furta u1oufaT rrfr.gi,fas =