The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-10-18
The PLATFORM VS.. THE NoMl.
NEE

adopted the platform at the Baltimore
convention. We were a member of
that convention and member of the
platform committee. so speak with
authority. The tariff plank was made
so prominent that other parties who
seek 10 escape it as an issue cannot
DO so
In the same issue of the paper we
said that We believed that Mr.. Wood
row Wilson, the democratic candi-
date for the presidential nomination,
was sincerely opposed to the protect
i've system of taxation, and for that
reason, if for no other, he would COM
mand our loyal and enthusiastic sup
port
We went further and said that as
Ne participated in the primaries and
were delegate TO the Baltimore con
vention We would feel in duty bound
70 stand by its platform and its nom
iuees, all other considerations to the
contrary notwithstanding.
For saying which We are confront
ed by our esteemed contemporary,
the Estero American Eagle. with this
criticism: What a blind and unrea-
soning devotion to ones party"
In reply We say that in no other
way can the permanency and integ-
rity OF political parties be maintained.
When one participates in a primary
election and his particular candidate
fails to win out, and he feels that
there is no political obligation rest
ing upon him to vote for the winning
candidates at the general election,
there would at once set in a disinte-
grafton of parties and political chaos
would result.
We SLY in all sincerity that one
should lie as faithful to his political
as to his other vows.
In political organizations the con
trolling factor is the platform 1t
takes precedent OF everything else.
1t sets forth the party's creed.
An examination OF the platform
adopted at the Baltimore convention
Will reveal the fact that not one word
is said about the Initiative, referen-
dun and recall"
Surely one is not innocent enough
10 suppose that so important a matter
was not considered
1t was considered very thoroughly
and after grave deliberation was
turned down, the suggestion, We be
lieye, coming from Mr. I'ryan him
self.
As We have already said, the plat
form is the party's creed 1t is the
same as the creed of a church. Il
one cannot accept it. his place is
somewhere else. If he does accept it,
then it is his duty TO be bound by it.
He has no right to go beyond it be-
cause when he does so he involves
his party, the same as a preacher
would his church. in embarrassing
complications.
When preacher goes beyond the
creed of his church, and promulgates
doctrines not found in it he is discip-
lined. If he persists in it his vest
ments are taken away from him, and
he is no longer recognized as an eX-
FOUNDER of it's faith Or as a member
of its congregation.
The same rule should apply to po-
commission at its hands he should De
faithful to and bound by its creed.
Its creed is to be found in its plat
form That alone should be his chart
and compass. If he feels that he can
not be bound by it he should surren-
der his credentials
That at least is the view we take Of
it, and we shall always believe that
it is the correct one.
We call attention to the preamble
of the Baltimore convention, which is
its basic utterance 1t reads as fol
lows
We, the representatives of the
democratic party of the United
States. in national convention assem-
bled, reaffirm our devotion 10 the prin-
ciples of democratic government for
INFLATED by Thomas Jefferson. and en-
forced by a long and illustrious line
of democratic presidents.
In founding our government and
framing our constitution our fathers
did so with a profound knowledge Of
what they were doing. They We're
aware that pure democracy,
which finds expression in the "initia-
tive, referendum and recall" was al
tempted in Greece and Rome two
thousand years before, and over their
portals was written the word, fail
ure," in letters so large that he who
runs may read.
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