The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-05-01
FOR AN INSTRUCTED
DELEGATION,

There are a few newspapers in
Kentucky whose editors claim to
speak for the great mass of the
Democratic party in the State, who
are in favor of sending an unin-
structed delegation to the Balti-
more Convention.
The Herald does not set itself up
as the mentor of its party in the
State, nor yet as the director of po-
litical affairs in it's own county, but
from the opinions we have heard
expressed on the matter and after
an experience of more than 20
years from an editorial and politi-
cal viewpoint, we do not think 1t
would be either advisable or eX-
pedient to send such n meaningless
delegation to Baltimore. An UNI
instructed delegation generally en-
bodies an air of suspicion, to say
the least. The mere fact that it is
not committed to anything or any
body, gives the impression that it
is open to jugglery and trade, the
operations of which would in no
wise express the sentiments of the
constituents or voters left behind.
II would look too much like capt.
ulation to machine rule.
Kentuckians, as a class, are rath-
or positive, both in opinion and ac-
ton. They despise doubtful meth
DDS of any kind. They prefer to
stand out in the open and express
their sentiments in way that is
neither ambiguous nor misleading.
The voters are quite we'll informed
in political matters just now. They
know who are the candidates in
each of the leading political par
ties, and no doubt, most of them !
have either formed or expressed an
opinion of their choice.
, One of the most sacred rights of |
the American citizen is his privilege
of suffrage. Next to that, in a po-
litical way, is his personal choice |
of a candidate as expressed through |
the properly constituted party au-
thority. Few there be who do
not accede to the will of the |
majority in party affairs, but the |
loyal and Jealous party man first
wants to have a say-so in the mat
ter. That is his right in the prem
ises and he deserves to have that !
right recognized to its ultimate ex-
preston.
Kentucky Democrats have moth
ing to fear in naming their choice |
for President. The convention at
Louisville on the 29th Of this |
month should enunciate a principle |
and also, taking the various express
sions of the counties in delegate |
vote as a basis, let the world know
whom the Democrats of Kentucky |
prefer to see occupy the Presiden-
tial chair after the fourth of next
March. The delegates to Baltimore
should go with a definite mission
in their hands.
This is business, and it is also
good politics. Then, if another
man is nominated, all well and |
good, and we do not believe any |
loyal Kentucky Democrat will with
hold his support. We cannot con-
ceive that there is any other con-
tingency than this very open and
fair one. 1t is the essence of pure |
Democracy-the expression of the
will of the people. The action of
the different counties in their selec-
ton and instruction of delegates
will control the matter, and we
hope to see every county in the
State $500 Ohio especially-speak out |
in its choice for President.
Whoever develops the most
strength in the State Convention,
whether Clark, Wilson, Underwood
or Harmon, is entitled to the twen-,
ty-siX votes of Kentucky, and it
should be so recorded.