Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-03
McoRAw AGAINST Two-THIRDs
Believes In Letting Well Enough
Alone and Says Majority Plan
Mioht Work Hardshiu


Baltimore, April 2g.-The PROPOSE
ton made Saturday by Col. T. Nc
Graw, of West Virginia. that the DEM
ocratic National Convention abolish
the two-thirds rule for nominations
was generally received with favor ty
Democrats who were questioned On
the subject. Several declared thar
they believed such proposal. if it did
not apply to the Baltimore convention
would receive considerable support.
Lieutenant-Governor Nicholas, OF
Ohio, campaign manager of Governor
Harmon, said that the practice of re-
quiring a two-thirds vote TO nominate
was undemocratic and should be a5ol-
ished.
This practice was started in 1874,
If my memory does not fail me. in an
effort to defeat Martin Van Buren,"
he said. ut was continued without
any real reason until after the Civil
War, when the Southern States in
dorsed it in order that they might re-
serve a veto power in making the
nomination.
Why He Would Change
1T was probably a good rule in
those days for the Southern States
furnished all the electoral votes to the
Democratic candidates, and with the
mere majority rule in effect they
could have been outvoted in every
case and the nomination made by the
States which did not give the candi-
date a single electoral vote.
These conditions do not exist now
States in the North and West give
electoral votes for the Democratic.
candidates and there is no need of the
Southern States reservinS veto pow
er. While / do not believe it would
be right to abolish the rule at the COM
ing convention, any such action look
ing to the future will receive my sane
ton"
Not Needed, Says Mr.. McComb
Mr. w. F. McComb, Gov. Woodrow
Wilson's campaign manager, is also in
favor of the Baltimore convention
abolishing the two-thirds rule for fu-
ture conventions.
while the Wilson supporters are
not taking any interest in that ques-
tion," he said, "and probably would
not be in favor of change at the
coming conversion, / believe it would
be wise to establish the majority rule
for the future.
There is no need of the two-thirds
rule at the present time, and / see
nothing to be gained by retaining it.
1t frequently ties up the convention
and gives chance for deals and ex-
changes which give the nomination
to a man who is not the real choice of
the party"
Ex-Gov. Brown Against Change
Ex-Gov. Frank Brown, on the other
hand believes the two-thirds rule
should be maintained.
1T has been in effect for long
time" he said, "and has worked well.
] see nothing to be gained by abolish
ing it. The majority rule might work
a hardship. For instance, in a close
campaign there are frequent charges
of crooked elections. Now, suppose
some minor precinct from which
fraudulent returns we're made would
control a State delegation. That dele
cation under the majority rule could
make the nomination. Then there
would be the feeling that a candidate
was unfairly nominated.
Under the two-thirds rule no one
State is large enough to furnish the
difference between one-half and two
thirds of the delegates. This prevents
any one State whose delegation may
be the result of fraud from making
the nomination.
Il believe in letting well enough
alone. Since we have. always had good
candidates under the two-thirds rule
and have frequently elected them,
see no reason for adopting the rule
that prevails in the Republican party"