The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-04-11
BIG Fight FOR CANDIDATES
democracy Gees Chance Of Change in
Sentiment Of State This Year and
Seeks FOR Best Possible Men to Head
Ticket Of Party in Campaign.


fCratic state central committee which
must, under the law, take place very
soon for the selection Of alternates
ITO the Democratic national convention
will be one of the most interesting
sessions of that body which has been
held for many years. At this session
The question of Democratic state
convention to be held some time in
August for the purpose Of nominating
Democratic state ticket will be dis
closed, and it is likely there will be
some pretty straight talk on the
scope Of the convention even if the
formal call for the session is not is
sued until later meeting of the COM
mittee is held.
There is no question there is very
broad difference of opinion among the
Democratic leaders az to what should
be dope in this proposed Democratic
convention A part desire that the
plan Of two years ago be followed and
that state candidates be recommended
for nomination in the convention
while still others desire that the work
of the convention be confined to the
building Of platform. In fact, there
are some leaders who do not want to
zee the convention held at all, and
were it not for the fact that it was
strongly pledged on all sides at the
time when it was decided not to hold
ia convention on the presidential ques-
tion, it is a question if a fight would
not be made in the state central COM
,lnittee session against any call being
ISSUED for state convention.
That a convention will be held is
assured by the pledges made by such
men as John A. Awkward and A. j..
Schmitz at the time Of the state cen
trial committee meeting at which it
was decided not to hold any conven-
ftion on the presidential delegate ques-
4 ton. There is a demand also on the
part of the Democratic rank and file
{for a convention which the Demo
fcratic leaders do not feel can be ig-
nored. The Democratic rank and file
believes that it has some rights of
recommendation in the drafting of the
platform and that these rights can
only be exercised in the holding of
convention, This fact, is known to
sthe leaders, who also are fully aware
Of the value of the convention as a
factor in accomplishing thorough or
gganization.
Persons who are aware of the work
that has been accomplished in the
organization line at the state conven-
tions of the Democratic parties which
have been held since the primary law
became effective say there is no
question that one of the main factors
in holding the party intact in this
state during the last few years has
been the state conventions where
members Of the party have been able
to congregate and make plans for
campaign work. Statements are even
made that without the state conven-
lions the party would have been al
most disrupted, and that state CON
ventions are practically a necessity
for minority party.
The question as to whether there
shall be recommendations MADE for
state nominations in the state con
vention is, however, an entirely diff
ferent one. There is sharp division
Of opinions on this subject which will
cause the clash in the state commit
tee. The leaders who desire that
recommendations be made are for the
most part the leaders who do not de-
sire a primary battle shall occur over
the Democratic gubernatorial nomi-
nation, but who desire that the Dem
coratic party shall reserve all of its
war paint for the election struggles
and allow no opportunity for breaches
in the party ranks because of sore
ness engendered in the primary cleo
tion battle. These leaders are advo-
eating that recommendations be made
81 candidates in the convention be-
cause they think in this way the
party leaders can get together and
arrange ticket which viii be salts
factory to all the Democrats in the
state and in this way a primary cleo
ton win be avoided.
The attitude Of the friends of
Charles II. Weisse and John A. Ayl-
ward, who are supposed to be cycling
each other with view to 4trying final
conclusions as to their strength in
the Democratic party IN guberna-
forial test in primary, will be
watched with interest when the state
central committee meets. IF they
consent to allow recommendations by
the state convention as regards can
Tates it win probably mean that