Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-11


the past nc years two things have been
solmenly agreed upon by the press
and BY the politicians. First Il u
time 10 limit the sic OF the conven-
ton hail so that orderly deliberatlOn
OF the serious minded delegates shall
not be disturbed by the clamor OF the
emotional rabble in the galleries;
second. that political platforms must
be made shorter IN order that the
busy man may read them carefully and
Judge OF the merits Of the rival pro-
grams.
AS a result OF this really unani-
NOUS expression Of opinion after every
co9sention since. 1896 the. convention
halls have continually grown larger,
Baltimore promises 1880 seats ana
the party platforms have continually
expanded until they make a fair sized
pamphlet In themselves.
The really colossal proportions Of
the expected attendance at Baltimore
are easy of explanation. Il Is The
FIRST Democratic convention To be held
In the east IN half a century The city
Is within q few hours ride OF half a
dozen OF the biggest cities OF the Unit
ed states. Sleeping cars are not es'
sential for visitors from Boston on
the north, Richmond on the south,
pittshurg on the west and all the con-
siderable towns that lie between
But more. Il is the frst convention
OF that party since 1882 In which q
large humber OF widely known candi-
dates are 10 be discussed and the re-
suit Of which three months before It's
date IS wholly IN doubt No man can
say with certainty or prophecy viii
any reason for the faith that h In hin
today whom that convention VIII nom
mate. The chances shifted from ilur'
mon to Wilson. from Wilson TO CLARK
and are wholly liable 10 shit baci
again, or even 20 favor some othel
figure. Missouri. Illinois, Ohio, Ala
hama, Indiana New Jersey MassG
chusetts and New York have al. ia
vorlte sons entered IN the race, ans
J every state candidate means a few
thousand boomers from nome.
The desire for q short platform thil
year Is very real and very genefaiil
expressed among public men here
, The opinion 81 practically universe
that the nght should be made on tn
tariff question and that tic tariff eai
; properly be expounded from the Dem
ocratic viewpoint Ia paragraph. tina
, seems remarkable, but ali experienc
rs against g. The Denver convention
was wholly dominated by Mr brfaH
and he wanted a short piatform. VIVA
he got was the longest platform eve
. adopted, formulated after an all nigh
5 wrangle IA tho committee on resOlt
d lions.
At Baltimore no one viii domlnal
the convention az the start. II !
wholly unlikely mat any candidal
! viii enter the convention with a ma
D ofit1 ui the dciesat piedfDl ~ hn
q Moreover, WAile ne aBpAanla are a
sterling Democrats there Is likely
be- a vide diversity In the issues the
ldesire to have discussed The plat
form for Governor Wilson, for exam
q pla, would hardly make good stand
81 Ing place for Oscar Underwood.
Moreover, however much the wise
y men IN the party may wish 10 hol
3 doRn the issues Of tho campaign
the tarin discussion, II viii be impos
lHlble Congress "a putting that pr
A, dent program out OF commission. m
- Democrats VIII nave 10 endorse N
action Of their majority IN the hous
r and that Enforcement will comps
utterances on pensions, on the Rul
Sian treaty, on the monetary trust ~
vostigation and now on the excise "a
on incomes With Wilson or Char
- the nominee. the initiative and rele
Is eudum win necessarily fll much spa,
In the declaration Of principles.
Harmon shall be- a dominant force n
Question of the literal enforcement
The sherman antitrust law and q
D. imposltion 81 personal penalties I
~ Individual vlOlaiOfa viii come IN x
'e extended discussion,