Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-06-11
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

-
The State convention of the demo.
cratic party for 1914 has passed into
history and the Democracy of Norta
Carolina finds itself united upon all
important issues which now confront
the people. The convention was com
lposed of patriotic men who love their
party and the State and they sought
to promuIgate only such declarations
| as the needs of the hour demand,
rather than burden the organization
with matters about which the people
generally are not concerned. 1T was
a democratic convention without any
Epre-fxes, suf-fxes, or af-fxes, and
truly representatives Of the militant
Democracy, State and National
There was division only upon a
single plank of the platform and this.
was happily adjusted without friction.
A majority of the platform commit
tee favored the enactment of a State
wide legalized primary law, applica-
bic in the selection of state and dis
trict officers, leaving to the counties
the privilege of naming their candf-
i dates for local offices in a manner
pleasing to themselves. From this
conclusion two members of the com
mittee dissented and submitted mi
nority report including county and
township officers, Happily for the
close western counties, the majority
report was adopted and the convention
went on record no further than en-
dorse the priciple of a legalized pri-
mary law which shall apply in maxi
ing nominations for National, State and
judicial officers, pledging the party 10
the enactment of law that will apply
alike to all political parties A wise
conclusion and one that will meet with
the approval of those who adhere to
the principle of local enlightenment,
In matters of this kind. Any county
desiring the enactment of a egalized
primary law may be accommodated
by application to the General Assem-
Ely. as 9 number of them have done
already, and the convention exhibited
the part of wisdom in leaving the
counties to select candidates for local |
offices in their own good way.
The endorsement of the wise admin I
istration of President Wilson and Gov
ernor Craig was to have been expected /
and the platform declarations with re-
ference thereto couched in the strong
est terms that could be written. The
platform is also strong in its endorse
ment of the proposition for a six
months school term, for rural credits
Tor the farmers, for the enforceme Mt
OF prohibition laws, for the conserya-
ton of the States natural resources,
for reform in our penal system, for a
continuance of the Investigation into
our insurance rates and the construc-
ton of improved public highways. 1t
commends and endorses the presi-
dents foreign policy and gives high
praise to the records of the States
Senator's and Representatives "a Con-
sress. President Wilson'S position
upon the question of canal tolls was
in separate resolution and
telegram, apprising official Washing
on of the conventions actor, was
dashed over the wires to the NationlI
apital.
4 i
A resolution destined to commit the
convention to the issue of woman's
uffrage hit the table with d du.l thud
nd the few advocates of the pgoposi-
ion made no attempt to recall it. AS :
whole, the platform is a mo%s com =
1endable declaration of the priaci- p
les for which the Democrat: pi rty
North Carolina stands and one that
ill be approved by the peopls lie Nov
mber.
The unanimous renominar,on f ~
ION. Lee s. Overman to succeed him :.
elf in the United States Senate and =
on. Edward L. Travis to continue in
le position of Chairman OF The North
arolina Corporation Commission :,
anne as no surprise and was the best
ork of the convention. Both of these
Die, capable and patriotic Democrats
ave been serving the people wisely :
I'D well and no good reason for dis
acing either of them could be pro-
osed. The State and Nation are for
nate in having men like overman =
d Travis on guard in their respective =
heres,