The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-05
DON'T.

DON'T.
Not the least remarkable of the develop |
ments in the democratic primary of this |
State is the suggestion by Chas. 0. Cod
rington, editor of the DeLand News, that |
the Democratic Executive Committee, by |
some process of petition, place the names
of both Knott and Cats or the Democratic
ballot at the final election. This is Mr..
Codringtons idea of "ironing out the
rough places which now confrontthe party
and the people of Florida"
The reason for making this astonishing
proposition (which by the way is not at all
improved by the mixed metaphor), Mr..
Codrington gives as follows in a letter to
Geo. r. Raney, chairman of the Florida
State Democratic Executive Committee:
In the recent white (so-called Democratie)
primary, one candidate given clear plurality
of votes and was entitled to carry the party's
standard in the November election.
Carrying the case to court another candidate
has legally wrested from the first party this
standard-and is prepared to march through the
state and try to induce the voters to stand by the
decision of the courts.
But this is not all. The first party has himself
gone into the courts-and there is little if any
question: that, if fairness and justice prevail, he
will eventually again secure Certificate OF nom
It will then be 4p to the second party to dig
up votes and again appeal to the courts
Anticipating that he would lose the DEM
ocratic nomination, Cats has already made
arrangements TO jump the party to which
he swore allegiance. and as his name will
appear on the ballot in the final election
anyway, the above plan, viewed from one
angle, is unnecessary.
Knott, if he is defeated, will support the
choice of the majority and will refuse to
have his name put on the ballot lest he
weaken the democratic party, SO the plan,
viewed from another angle, is not feasible
And until we change our system of gov
ernment the plan is impossible, viewed
from every angle.
One party could nominate two candi'
dates if the executive department was
changed from Individual control to team
management-like the T>riumvirate of
Rome or the Council of Three of Venice; ;
but until that tip1e comes, we will have to
give up all hope Of choosing political bat
terry and conducting campaign along the
lines of the national sport
Democrat though he calls himself, Mr..
Codrington, by his plan, proposes to do
what it must be the duty of democrats to
prevent-divide the democratic party, and
enable the Republicans to carry the stated
Knott and Cats, being both democratic
nominees, stand for certain principles of
democracy. These principles are we'll
known Jour fathers fought and suffered
and died for them Those principles are
more important than any individual. As
long as the nomination is in doubt, it is
perfectly permissible to form Cats clubs
or Knott clubs under democratic auspices
but just as soon as the choice is known, the
partisans of the losing candidate must give
their allegiance to the partys nominee, or
be forever branded recreant.
Mr.. Codrington is perfectly right in say
ing that in the recent primary, zone can
didate was given clear plurality of votes. -
1t is to ascertain who received the plurality
that a recount is being made There should
be no problem when this is known, so Mr.
Codrington's suggestions are quite gratui-
tous.
Cats, in his avowed intention to disrupt
the democratic party, will no doubtinveigle
Icertain infrm democrats to his cause.-The
weaker vessels of the party-the reeds,
bending to every breezel But the great
majority of democrats are men of princi-
pie, men to whom party pledges NEAR
something; and no matter what their per
sonal preference, they will support the
rightful nominee, and will not bend the
pregnant hinges of the knee to any politica
sSchemer.